Solved Where does Windows 11 download updates etc to?

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

Trying to 'fix' Widgets on Win 11, and the 'Get' for "Windows web experience pack" fails with the error x80070057.
Ok - a quick history overview.
When this PC's OS was Win 10 this error had been with me for a year, and I had used the MS update catalogue to update.
A few weeks back there was an update which was listed on Windows Update as purporting to improve 'Windows Update' so I went to the catalogue and was surprised that the associated KB4023057 was NOT available for my OS version.
I ending up doing and 'in-place upgrade' - not my favourite thing. Didn't help at all.
As there seemed no way getting past that particular KB, and I found out that Win 11 was available I upgraded to Win 11 (Yes my PC was and is eminently suitable).
So I am at Win 11 and now want to install the above app from the MS store.
BUT IT FAILS with the error x80070057 same as windows update.

I am guessing that there is a problem with running the code, as using the catalogue runs the standalone in a place where I put it, rather than where the OS puts it.
(Windows update and MS store seem to download okay but give the error on trying to run)
If I know where they put code to run, I can check permissions etc
Any help welcome.

TigerTom · Oct 25, 2021

I think it's either
C:\Windows\servicing\Packages
or
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

I usually keep the Windows program "Resource Monitor" running, the tab "Disk-Disk Activity" will always tell you where files are read and written:

Fabler2 · Oct 25, 2021

Have you tried resetting Windows Update?

Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

How to Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

There's also the 'FixWin' tool from The Windows Club. I've not used it to comment if it works well though.

How to fix error 0x80070057 on Windows 11/10

Fix error 0x80070057. It occurs when one or more arguments are not valid, during Windows Update, Installation, Backup, The parameter is incorrect, etc.

www.thewindowsclub.com

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

TigerTom said:
I think it's either
C:\Windows\servicing\Packages
or
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

I usually keep the Windows program "Resource Monitor" running, the tab "Disk-Disk Activity" will always tell you where files are read and written:
View attachment 11287

Both of these folders have the latest files as 22/10/21 which is when I upgraded from Win 10 Pro to Win 11 Pro (3 days ago)
The 'Get' definitely showed as download 100% then installing and immediately failed. Unless the download was deleted, there must be another folder that is pertinent.

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

Fabler2 said:
Have you tried resetting Windows Update?

Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

How to Reset Windows Update in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

There's also the 'FixWin' tool from The Windows Club. I've not used it to comment if it works well though.

How to fix error 0x80070057 on Windows 11/10

Fix error 0x80070057. It occurs when one or more arguments are not valid, during Windows Update, Installation, Backup, The parameter is incorrect, etc.

www.thewindowsclub.com

Doing the last year I have tried everything I could find on the internet (from sources I could trust). I sorta gave up eventually and thought if I use the MS update catalogue forever, then what's the harm in that.
However, new OS, give it another go even though the error situation is the same on Win 11 as it was on Win 10.
Will let you know how it goes.

AddRAM · Oct 25, 2021

Just a side note, I delete all the Windows update log files, and all of the files in the Software Distribution/Download folder every single day.
I use Windows Automatic Update Manager and check for updates myself, and yet the Update log files build and build, if I didn`t delete them myself there would be thousands of them taking up space.
So, I wonder how they build up if I`m using WAUM.
Also, after a CU I delete the Rollup folder in Servicing/LCU

Ghot · Oct 25, 2021

BaJohn said:
Doing the last year I have tried everything I could find on the internet (from sources I could trust). I sorta gave up eventually and thought if I use the MS update catalogue forever, then what's the harm in that.
However, new OS, give it another go even though the error situation is the same on Win 11 as it was on Win 10.
Will let you know how it goes.

It probably won't help. If the In-Place upgrade didn't help on Win 10, then updating to Win 11 won't fix the problem.
You need to do a clean install of Windows 11.

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

Ghot said:
It probably won't help. If the In-Place upgrade didn't help on Win 10, then updating to Win 11 won't fix the problem.
You need to do a clean install of Windows 11.

Thanks Ghot, that kinda confirms my suspicions.
Can you give me an idea of how long this would take, so I can plan it?

Ghot · Oct 25, 2021

BaJohn said:
Thanks Ghot, that kinda confirms my suspicions.
Can you give me an idea of how long this would take, so I can plan it?

A clean install is fast. Equal to or less than the time it takes to do an In-Place upgrade.
It takes me about 30 mins to do a clean install, and then another 30 minutes to do the tweaks linked below...

And here's most of the things in Win 11, that folks want to change back to the way they were in Windows 10...

Windows 11 Tweaks - Leader Board.

These are tweaks I've seen asked for... many times. They are collected here for easy access. All of these and more can be found in the Eleven Forum Tutorials section. Make sure to read the "notes" in the various tutorials. At the bottom of the first post in all the "tutorials", there are...

www.elevenforum.com

AddRAM · Oct 25, 2021

It`s reinstalling your programs and customizing windows to your liking that takes all the time, installing Windows takes maybe a half hour or less. I just did a clean install of W11 on a new 980 Pro when W11 was released..
I didn`t time it, but was well under a hour.

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

AddRAM said:
It`s reinstalling your programs and customizing windows to your liking that takes all the time, installing Windows takes maybe a half hour or less. I just did a clean install of W11 on a new 980 Pro.
I didn`t time it but was well under a hour.

I'll do a Belarc Advisor dump first, which will remind me of all the stuff I have installed.

Ghot · Oct 25, 2021

BaJohn said:
I'll do a Belarc Advisor dump first, which will remind me of all the stuff I have installed.

If it was me, I'd just lose... Belarc Advisor. ^^
IMHO, it breaks more things than it fixes.

Windows 11, and even Windows 10 are very good at getting themselves... up and running.

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

Ghot said:
If it was me, I'd just lose... Belarc Advisor. ^^
IMHO, it breaks more things than it fixes.

Windows 11, and even Windows 10 are very good at getting themselves... up and running.

Oh that's interesting, I thought Belarc Advisor was 'passive' in that it did NOT change anything, but just collected information and reported.

Ghot · Oct 25, 2021

BaJohn said:
Oh that's interesting, I thought Belarc Advisor was 'passive' in that it did NOT change anything, but just collected information and reported.

It is passive. It's when the user "listens" to it, that things get broken. :)

I use Bitdefender AV/Firewall. It has a "Vulnerability" module. I don't listen to that either.
CCleaner has a "PC Health Check". I ignore it completely.

In fact, any program that tries to advise me, or tell me things I should fix... I ignore.
The guy(s) who write those programs, aren't sitting in front of my computer... I am.

You know what you want your computer to do... better than anyone else.
Just follow a few common sense rules of thumb, and you won't "have" problems.

1. Use backup software.
2. Update drivers manually.
3. Anything you download, even a .pdf file, scan it at Virustotal.com
4. See rule #1
5. See rule #1
6. See rule #1

Macrium Reflect | Free 30-Day Trial

Macrium Reflect - Incredibly powerful software that allows you to create and schedule effective backups

www.macrium.com

Clean install Win 11. Install your drivers. Update Windows. Make a backup.
Install your programs, do your settings, do your tweaks. Make a backup.

Any time you're gonna make changes to your computer, make a backup first.
After the changes... let things run for a few days. If no problems... make a new backup.

Backups aren't a chore, they are a tool.

Use backups like a mountain climber uses pitons. Climb a little bit (make a few changes on comp), drive in another piton.
Climb a bit more, another piton, etc., etc., etc.

Then... if you ever slip (Windows goes nuts)... the piton (backup) below you, will save your *ss. :)

You don't have to be an expert at Windows. But you should definitely be good at backups.

AddRAM · Oct 25, 2021

But let`s get back to your original question.
"Trying to 'fix' Widgets on Win 11, and the 'Get' for "Windows web experience pack" fails with the error x80070057."

Why are you bothering with either of these ?

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

Ghot said:
It is passive. It's when the user "listens" to it, that things get broken. :)

I use Bitdefender AV/Firewall. It has a "Vulnerability" module. I don't listen to that either.
CCleaner has a "PC Health Check". I ignore it completely.

In fact, any program that tries to advise me, or tell me things I should fix... I ignore.
The guy(s) who write those programs, aren't sitting in front of my computer... I am.

You know what you want your computer to do... better than anyone else.
Just follow a few common sense rules of thumb, and you won't "have" problems.

1. Use backup software.
2. Update drivers manually.
3. Anything you download, even a .pdf file, scan it at Virustotal.com
4. See rule #1
5. See rule #1
6. See rule #1

My first three rules are your rules 4, 5 and 6 (at least for my data).
I backup (1) internally from SSD to a hard drive, then (2) externally to an attached disc drive and then (3) via LAN to a NAS in the garage.
Even my partner (totally hates computers) has been trained to press 'Backup and Close' icon (in red) on the desktop.
I also generate a recovery disc for the OS every now and again. (via 'Win 7 backup and restore').
I'm not mad keen on image backups (don't do them), but I know they have a place for some people.
All downloads get scanned by ZoneAlarm.

To understand me you have to realize that I have a good Sat Nav in my car, but often tell her to shutup and ignore it and go my own way.
It's a tool not my master.

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

AddRAM said:
But let`s get back to your original question.
"Trying to 'fix' Widgets on Win 11, and the 'Get' for "Windows web experience pack" fails with the error x80070057."

Why are you bothering with either of these ?

I think that Ghot is saying that the real root cause requires a clean install of Win 11, and nothing else will fix the problem.

AddRAM · Oct 25, 2021

Of course it will. But that`s not answering the question.
You said you have done a inplace upgrade and that didn`t fix the problem either.
The problem was carried over from W10.

Ghot · Oct 25, 2021

Backing up your data is great.

You also need to backup Windows.
You first posted about KB4023057 on Oct. 20th, 5 days ago.

IF you had had a backup of Windows from before the time that problem popped up, you could have fixed it in 5 minutes.
We back up data so we don't lose the data. We back up Windows so we don't lose... 5 days or however many days.

BaJohn · Oct 25, 2021

AddRAM said:
Of course it will. But that`s not answering the question.
You said you have done a inplace upgrade and that didn`t fix the problem either.
The problem was carried over from W10.

To specifically answer your question - I would like my OS to be flexible and have the ability to use ALL the features that should be there.
I feel that if one part of it doesn't work, the impact may be felt later elsewhere when least expected (and probably at a bad time).
That was why I tried for a year on and off to fix the original error 0x80070057.
And YES your last 2 sentences are correct.
I'm not quite certain if you agree with Ghot that a clean install of Win 11 is the way forward.

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