Can’t install updates KB5063523 & KB5042320 after manually enabling WinRE

JoMcKen-9333 80 Reputation points
2025-08-26T08:11:50.6266667+00:00

A few weeks ago I was forced to reimage my system drive using Acronis True Image, which fixed the issues I was having. However, the reimaging process somehow disabled my system’s Windows Recovery Environment. A few days ago, I looked up how to manually re-enable WinRE and, after some troubleshooting (I got the “image was not found” error, so I had to extract the Winre.wim image file from my Win10 v22H2 ISO and save it to Windows\System32\Recovery before “reagentc /enable” finally worked), I finally got WinRE working again.

Since then, Windows Update has been showing me two available updates, KB5063523 and KB5042320, both of which are apparently WinRE updates. However, whenever I try to install either update, I get an “internal error” message, and nothing installs.

I’ve tried deleting the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders, which didn’t help.

To save some time, here’s the info that was requested of someone else with a similar problem in another thread:

Disk Management screenshot:

User's image

Command Prompt WinRE & Windows version info:

User's image

And finally, a ZIP of my C:\Windows\Logs\WinREAgent folder (original post suggests OneDrive or GoFile.io, neither of which I use, so I hope Dropbox is okay):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rnkpl4qppq3c3fewu7ot9/WinREAgent.zip?rlkey=ropuils9oxzzdb5gzddad0bbp&e=1&dl=0

Please let me know if any further info is needed.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update
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Answer accepted by question author
Ramesh Srinivasan 90,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-08-27T12:22:55.4666667+00:00

That's it. Now, please run this command:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v "WinREVersion" /d "10.0.19041.6094" /f

Restart Windows and check for updates. Hopefully the July 2025 WinRE update shouldn't appear.

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  1. Ramesh Srinivasan 90,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-26T21:19:31.16+00:00

    I have no idea how to manually apply a WinRE update, so hopefully you can walk me through it?

    Hi Joé,

    There are two options.

    Option 1

    Repair install Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool. It installs the updates during the setup.

    The repair installation instructions are below. Before that, i suggest deleting the D drive (your custom partition)

    1. Download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool (MCT) from this link:

    https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2265055

    1. Run MCT and accept the license agreement.
    2. Click "Upgrade this PC now". This starts the repair installation.

    Your apps, settings, and files will be kept by default during a repair install/in-place upgrade.

    Option 2

    Install the Safe OS Dynamic Update (KB5062691) by mounting Winre.wim

    KB5063523: Windows Recovery Environment update for Windows 10, version 21H2 and 22H2: July 8, 2025 - Microsoft Support:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5063523-windows-recovery-environment-update-for-windows-10-version-21h2-and-22h2-july-8-2025-4a2e9e50-bb67-474f-9da7-6bcebe6737f5

    If you wish to install this manually, let me know so that I can post the step by step instructions.

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  2. Ramesh Srinivasan 90,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-26T13:17:19.92+00:00

    Update:

    I checked the 22H2 ISO and you're correct. It does include the RTM version of Winre.wim.

    So, we may need to apply the WinRE update manually.

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  3. Ramesh Srinivasan 90,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-26T13:07:48.75+00:00

    Let's check the version of extracted Winre.wim. Please move winre.wim to the C drive's root directory, and run this command:

    Dism /Get-ImageInfo /ImageFile:C:\winre.wim /index:1

    Post the output.

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