Windows 11 update repeatedly fails

zbook · Sep 27, 2025

For Sea Tools and HD tune please post images instead of text reports.

Today is 09/27.
The CBS files were 09/22 and earlier.
Later in the thread new files can be collected as needed.

Post a new V2 share link into the newest post after completing all of the steps in posts 95.

Graham S · Sep 30, 2025

zbook said:
For Sea Tools and HD tune please post images instead of text reports.

Today is 09/27.
The CBS files were 09/22 and earlier.
Later in the thread new files can be collected as needed.

Post a new V2 share link into the newest post after completing all of the steps in posts 95.

Hi zbook:
Images of SeaTools and HDTune results windows are in the share:

zbook Test Results - Google Drive

drive.google.com

Versions of my CBS and CBSPersist log files, taken today, are in the "CBS Logs" folder.

I can see that my computer tried again to download and install the W11 update - still failing!

zbook · Sep 30, 2025

When available please update the progress with post #95 steps #7 - 15.

Graham S · Oct 7, 2025

zbook said:
When available please update the progress with post #95 steps #7 - 15.

Hi zbook,

I have done steps 7-11 and the HD Sentinal, Chkdsk and event logs are here: 251007 – Google Drive

I have enabled Driver Verifier - I don't see any change in my system. Do I need to keep it running? Is there some kind of reporting output?

Graham S · Oct 7, 2025

Meanwhile my computer is still trying to install the update and is still failing:

Screenshot 2025-10-07 175335_Update Fail.webp

KevTech · Oct 7, 2025

Is .Net Framework 3.5 installed?

Setting >System > Optional Features > More Windows Features

You only need the 3.5 checked not the foundation entries.

Graham S · Oct 7, 2025

KevTech said:
Is .Net Framework 3.5 installed?

Setting >System > Optional Features > More Windows Features

You only need the 3.5 checked not the foundation entries.

View attachment 148070

This is what it looks like on my computer, so I am assuming yes...

KevTech · Oct 7, 2025

So try clearing out software distribution folder.

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Just delete everything in that folder as Windows will recreate the folders.

If you can not delete some of the folders/files you need to stop windows update and bits services then you can delete them.

In Administrator command prompt

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

After you delete the files then start the services again.

net start wuauserv
net start bits

Reboot then check for updates.

Graham S · Oct 7, 2025

KevTech said:
So try clearing out software distribution folder.

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Just delete everything in that folder as Windows will recreate the folders.

If you can not delete some of the folders/files you need to stop windows update and bits services then you can delete them.

In Administrator command prompt

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

After you delete the files then start the services again.

net start wuauserv
net start bits

Reboot then check for updates.

Thanks Kevtech - I tried that a while ago without success and I have just repeated it just now. The installation still fails.

It seems that the download is successful and it gets to 100% installed, but then just says "Update failed", always with the same error code; 0x800f081f.

It's now several weeks since this problem occurred and I just cannot get any further forward in solving it, despite my computer working absolutely fine otherwise!

KevTech · Oct 7, 2025

You should just run the repair install or does that fail too?

Setting > Recovery

Graham S · Oct 7, 2025

KevTech said:
You should just run the repair install or does that fail too?

Setting > Recovery

View attachment 148076

Yes, I've tried that. It does fail too

Graham S · Oct 7, 2025

If I clear out the Software distribution folder, restart and search for updates it will download the update and install, then tell me I am up to date, BUT it will then begin to download the SAME update, which then fails!

I have noticed that when I use the stop bits command it always says "The Background Intelligent Transfer Service service is not started". Not sure if that's a related issue...

KevTech · Oct 7, 2025

Graham S said:
Yes, I've tried that. It does fail too

So there should be logs available.
You can use setupdiag which will point you to why it is failing.

Run it and let it analyze the logs in C:$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther

SetupDiag

SetupDiag works by examining Windows Setup log files. This article shows how to use the SetupDiag tool to diagnose Windows Setup errors.

learn.microsoft.com

Graham S · Oct 7, 2025

KevTech said:
So there should be logs available.
You can use setupdiag which will point you to why it is failing.

Run it and let it analyze the logs in C:$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\Panther

SetupDiag

SetupDiag works by examining Windows Setup log files. This article shows how to use the SetupDiag tool to diagnose Windows Setup errors.

learn.microsoft.com

So, I run this while windows update is running?

KevTech · Oct 7, 2025

Graham S said:
So, I run this while windows update is running?

No you should already have the folder from trying to update in recovery and from the USB.

Look in C: for $WINDOWS.~BT folder.

It will be a hidden folder so you have to turn on the folder option to show hidden files and folders.

zbook · Oct 7, 2025

Graham S said:
I have enabled Driver Verifier - I don't see any change in my system. Do I need to keep it running? Is there some kind of reporting output?

1) Please run upgrade_failure_info > post a share link

https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/bsod-crashes-debugging/353454d1638278360-batch-files-use-bsod-debugging-upgrade_failure_info.bat

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

2) Read this link on Windows Driver Verifier (WDV):

Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

How to Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

3) Create a new restore point

Create System Restore Point in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to manually create a restore point in Windows 11. Turning on system protection for a drive allows System Restore to include the drive when restore points are created so you can undo undesired system changes by reverting to a previous point in time. System...

www.elevenforum.com

4) Learn the methods to recover from BSOD caused by WDV by booting into safe mode and running one or more of these commands:

verifier /reset

verifier /bootmode resetonbootfail

(option nine and seven)

Boot to Advanced Startup (WinRE) in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to boot to the advanced startup (WinRE) in Windows 11. The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a companion operating system installed alongside Windows 11, typically in a separate partition, that can help with troubleshooting, recovery, or booting from...

www.elevenforum.com

5) Plan to run the tool with various customized test settings.

a) Test all non-Microsoft drivers

b) Test no Microsoft drivers

c) For the first run of WDV select the 3 customized tests displayed in the TF tutorial

6) Whenever the WDV tool is started if there is no immediate BSOD then open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

verifier /querysettings

Post a share link.

Customized tests will then be posted for the next run of WDV.

WDV can run continuously during the testing.

For any BSOD post a new V2 share link into the newest post.

glasskuter · Oct 8, 2025

This 4 page thread goes on and on and around in circles.. The error code 0x800f081 you encountered has a very clear technical meaning: CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING. In layman's terms, when Windows Update tried to install, it found that one or more source files it needed were not found

You've been told several times to do an repair install using the iso, not through recovery. Have you done that?

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Graham S · Oct 8, 2025

zbook said:
1) Please run upgrade_failure_info > post a share link

https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/bsod-crashes-debugging/353454d1638278360-batch-files-use-bsod-debugging-upgrade_failure_info.bat

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

Batch files for use in BSOD debugging - Windows 10 Help Forums

Information This thread is for use by the BSOD team to store batch files that can be used to collect additional data, fix settings or anything else that is useful in debugging BSOD problems in Windows 10. The way I see it working is the first

www.tenforums.com

2) Read this link on Windows Driver Verifier (WDV):

Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

How to Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

3) Create a new restore point

Create System Restore Point in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to manually create a restore point in Windows 11. Turning on system protection for a drive allows System Restore to include the drive when restore points are created so you can undo undesired system changes by reverting to a previous point in time. System...

www.elevenforum.com

4) Learn the methods to recover from BSOD caused by WDV by booting into safe mode and running one or more of these commands:

verifier /reset

verifier /bootmode resetonbootfail

(option nine and seven)

Boot to Advanced Startup (WinRE) in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to boot to the advanced startup (WinRE) in Windows 11. The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a companion operating system installed alongside Windows 11, typically in a separate partition, that can help with troubleshooting, recovery, or booting from...

www.elevenforum.com

5) Plan to run the tool with various customized test settings.

a) Test all non-Microsoft drivers

b) Test no Microsoft drivers

c) For the first run of WDV select the 3 customized tests displayed in the TF tutorial

6) Whenever the WDV tool is started if there is no immediate BSOD then open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:

verifier /querysettings

Post a share link.

Customized tests will then be posted for the next run of WDV.

WDV can run continuously during the testing.

For any BSOD post a new V2 share link into the newest post.

Hi zbook,
Upgrade failure info.bat results here: 251008 - Google Drive

I will go through the diver testing process in my evenings - I really have to catch up on my work!

Graham S · Oct 8, 2025

glasskuter said:
This 4 page thread goes on and on and around in circles.. The error code 0x800f081 you encountered has a very clear technical meaning: CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING. In layman's terms, when Windows Update tried to install, it found that one or more source files it needed were not found

You've been told several times to do an repair install using the iso, not through recovery. Have you done that?

Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install of Windows 11 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything. If you need to repair or create a new recovery partition or having problems with the Windows 11 operating system on your PC, and the usual solutions will not fix it...

www.elevenforum.com

Hi glasskuter,
I had a few attempts at a repair install using the iso (one from UUP Dump in combination with the Media Creation Tool) and, while it seemed to complete successfully, I still get a failure of this particular W11 update.

That was almost three weeks ago now, and, yes, I do seem to be just going around in circles. Happy to have another go in desperation (maybe some of the many repair routines I have gone through may have changed something?). Which repair install method do you recommend?

Graham S · Oct 8, 2025

KevTech said:
No you should already have the folder from trying to update in recovery and from the USB.

Look in C: for $WINDOWS.~BT folder.

It will be a hidden folder so you have to turn on the folder option to show hidden files and folders.

View attachment 148106

Hi KevTech,
There is no $WINDOWS.~BT folder on my C drive - only a $Windows.~WS. Should there be one?

Windows 11 update repeatedly fails

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