Solved Can't repair Windows Update using Powershell

I recently did a clean install of Windows 11 Pro using Dell recovery tool. Everything is working as intended except Windows update keeps attempting to install four Intel driver updates that don't apply to my system.

I ran the Update Troubleshooter but it didn't solve the problem. My next step was to open Terminal (Admin) and reset Windows Update using the following commands:
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak
ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
net start bits
net start wuauserv

This where things started getting strange. First, the command "ren %systemroot%\softwaredistribution software distribution.bak" was rejected by Powershell. After some thought, I tried "ren C:\Windows\softwaredistribution softwaredistribution.bak". This command worked.

Next I tried "ren C:\Windows\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak". I got "ren : Access to the path 'C:\windows\system32\catroot2' is denied".

I've done this procedure in the past and never ran into this. I went and checked the security settings for the SoftwareDistribution, System32 and catroot2 folders under Properties. Windows security is not letting me change ownership or permissions in the System32 and catroot2 folders. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

Tink009 said:

Everything is working as intended except Windows update keeps attempting to install four Intel driver updates that don't apply to my system.

Click to expand...

Then your problem was not with windows update not working so you should not have messed with windows update itself. The problem is with the update catalog attempting to install incorrect drivers.
The correct solution would be to hide the defective updates. Or better yet, do what most of us do here...we disable including drivers with windows update completely. Instead, we manage our drivers ourselves using our OEM or mobo manufacturer site.

Glasskuter,
I appreciate the references. I didn't discover this one until I did a restart and the computer went into the update process. When the updates fail to install, it reverts back and the updates show up as failed when checking installed updates. I'm still on a learning curve here. Thanks.

glasskuter,
I went to Local Group Policy Editor and disabled include the driver update with Windows Update. The problem drivers no longer appear in the installed update list and the computer restarts normally.
I didn't notice this right away because I use Macrium Reflect to backup my computer each night and to shut it down when the backup is completed. The computer is set to automatically start in the morning and is up and running by the time I finish making the first pot of coffee for the day. So it wasn't until I did a restart manually that I saw it.
My usual practice when reinstalling Windows is to load the drivers from Dell after Windows is finished installing. This time I had used the Dell recovery tools. I didn't pay close enough attention to what Windows Update was doing.
I'm still curious about the "Access denied" message I got in Powershell, though. As I noted before, I've performed that procedure in the past on other computers with no problem.
Thanks again. Your suggestions fixed the reason I was poking around in the first place.