Whatever I try to update my windows it keep saying RETRY why is that ?

Question

Whatever I try to update my windows it keep saying RETRY why is that ?

udantha hirushan 0

Screenshot 2025-05-06 180636

Screenshot 2025-05-06 181426

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Jose Benjamin Solis Nolasco 12,941 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-05-06T12:49:07.82+00:00

Something is happening that windows is unable to install those updates, do you have enough space on disk ? did you try to restart your machine?
udantha hirushan 0 Reputation points

2025-05-07T06:45:01.8666667+00:00

I have enough space on disk, and yes, I have tried multiple time after restating my computer.
Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2025-05-07T07:33:14.8+00:00

Did you also check the free space of special reserved partitions (using Disk Management) near the disk C? Sometimes they should be increased too, though it is not a trivial operation, but there are articles that describe the process.
Reza-Ameri 45,911 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-05-07T21:09:03.8033333+00:00

Hi,

Are you able to download and install other updates?
Trevor Hughes 0 Reputation points

2026-11-03T05:39:29.74+00:00

Tried S. Sengupta suggestion. Didn't work.
JuliaMarvin 23,870 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-11-03T07:32:21.74+00:00

@Trevor Hughes
Please start your own thread. Do not resurrect old threads.

1 answer

Jose Benjamin Solis Nolasco 12,941 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-05-06T12:49:07.82+00:00

Something is happening that windows is unable to install those updates, do you have enough space on disk ? did you try to restart your machine?
udantha hirushan 0 Reputation points

2025-05-07T06:45:01.8666667+00:00

I have enough space on disk, and yes, I have tried multiple time after restating my computer.
Viorel 127.3K Reputation points

2025-05-07T07:33:14.8+00:00

Did you also check the free space of special reserved partitions (using Disk Management) near the disk C? Sometimes they should be increased too, though it is not a trivial operation, but there are articles that describe the process.
Reza-Ameri 45,911 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-05-07T21:09:03.8033333+00:00

Hi,

Are you able to download and install other updates?
Trevor Hughes 0 Reputation points

2026-11-03T05:39:29.74+00:00

Tried S. Sengupta suggestion. Didn't work.
JuliaMarvin 23,870 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-11-03T07:32:21.74+00:00

@Trevor Hughes
Please start your own thread. Do not resurrect old threads.

Answer 1

The error code 0x80070306, indicates "The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable." This usually points to a problem with the system files, disk corruption, or issues with the Windows Update components.

Open Command Prompt as Admin and type:

chkdsk C: /f /r

Follow the instructions accordingly.

Open Command Prompt as Admin and type these:

sfc /scannow

then:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Open Command Prompt as Admin and copy-past the following:

net stop wuauserv

net stop bits

net stop cryptsvc

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

net start wuauserv

net start bits

net start cryptsvc

Reboot and retry.

Aleta Smith 0 Reputation points

2025-06-30T00:51:01.8266667+00:00

did CMD as administrator and would not let me do any of these? What the heck?