Windows update service unable to run error 1053, BITS service unable to run due to no file specified etc

Rukii 40 Reputation points
2026-10-02T16:03:43.73+00:00

I've been looking on the forum for a few hours and cant seem to get anything to work.
Windows updates basically just dont work at all; Ive tried using sfc check health and corruption fixing tools, ive gone into service msc to check whats running and what isnt.
windows update = unable to run due to error 1053

Screenshot_1

BITS = unable to run due to Error 2

Screenshot_2

I want to upgrade to windows 11 to stop my firefox and other applications from slowing and crashing unexpectedly (this includes file explorer tabs as well).
I've tried several restarts etc and even clearing my storage hoping that maybe it was a bottle necking issue, but I just cant seem to fix it! please help!! ><

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade
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Answer accepted by question author
Ramesh Srinivasan 88,460 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-10-02T16:43:26.1366667+00:00

Hi,

The system is infected by coin miners. Please share your Farbar scan logs for analysis.

  • Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool 64-bit FRST64.exe
  • If the OS language is not English, rename FRST64.exe to FRST64English.exe.
  • Run the program. Don't check or uncheck any options. Click "Scan".
  • Add the two logs, FRST.txt and Addition.txt, to a zip archive.
  • Share the zip file on OneDrive or GoFile.io, and post the link here.

Note: If Microsoft Edge or Chrome mislabels the Farbar Scanner executable as PUA/malware, choose to keep it by tapping … in the bottom bar, choosing Keep, and then choosing Keep anyway in the dialog that appears. See this screenshot. It's a safe tool used in most antimalware forums.

Standard Disclaimer: There is a link to a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to provide accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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Answer accepted by question author
Atif Naseem Ahmed 80 Reputation points
2026-10-02T16:48:48.3433333+00:00

Thanks for the screenshots; they help a lot. Look at the path bar at the top: you're in wuauserv_bkp and BITS_bkp. Those aren't standard Windows keys. They're backups, and they usually come from an "update blocker" tool or script that someone ran on the PC at some point. The values in the backups look correct, which probably means the real keys are the ones that got changed.

Scroll up a bit in regedit and open the keys without _bkp:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv\Parameters

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS\Parameters

I guess that Parameters or ServiceDll is missing in one or both of them.

If you remember installing anything to stop updates, open it and use its restore or enable option first. That's the cleanest fix. If not, you can restore the keys from the backups:

  1. Right-click wuauserv_bkp > Export, and save it as wuauserv.reg
  2. Open the file in Notepad, use Replace to change wuauserv_bkp to wuauserv everywhere, and save
  3. Double-click the file to import it
  4. Do the same for BITS_bkp, replacing it with BITS
  5. Restart, then try starting both services

Leave the _bkp keys where they are until everything works. If the services still won't start, post a screenshot of the real wuauserv key (the top level, not just Parameters) and we'll go from there. The in-place upgrade from my first reply will also fix this if you'd rather skip the registry work.

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  1. Atif Naseem Ahmed 80 Reputation points
    2026-10-02T16:22:21.0266667+00:00

    That "Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified" on BITS is a useful clue. Both BITS and Windows Update run inside svchost and load their code from a DLL listed in the registry. If that registry value is missing or points to the wrong place, you get exactly this pair of errors: 1053 on wuauserv and Error 2 on BITS. sfc won't fix it because the files themselves are fine. The service just doesn't know where to find them.

    Check these first. Open regedit and look at:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS\Parameters
    There should be a value called ServiceDll (type REG_EXPAND_SZ) set to %SystemRoot%\System32\qmgr.dll

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv\Parameters
    ServiceDll should be %systemroot%\system32\wuaueng.dll

    If the Parameters key or the value is missing, add it back and restart. Export a backup of the key before you change anything.

    One more thing. Some malware deletes these values on purpose so Windows can't update and patch it out. With two update services broken plus Firefox and Explorer crashing, I'd run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan (Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Microsoft Defender Offline scan) before anything else.

    Since you want Windows 11 anyway, you don't need Windows Update working to get there. Run PC Health Check to confirm your PC qualifies. Then use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, or download the ISO from Microsoft's Windows 11 download page, mount it and run setup.exe. Pick "Keep personal files and apps." That's an in-place upgrade. It replaces the system files and resets the service configuration, so it will most likely fix the update services and the crashing at the same time. Back up anything important first, just in case.

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