Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80073701

Question

Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80073701: Security Update for Windows (KB5049993)

No updates are able to install, getting the same error for any update: 0x80073701.

Host is a Windows Server 2016 x64

We have tried a number of the listed solutions and its pretty frustrating, any help is appreciated!

Here are some things we have tried:

1. sfc /scannow : completed successfully, didn't find any errors.
2. Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /restoreHealth : failed, error: 0x800f0906
3. Dism /online /add-package /packagepath:c:\temp\cab{.cab file with extension} : failed,

An error occurred - Package for RollupFix Error: 0x80073701

Error: 14081

The referenced assembly could not be found.

4. Tried to reset the Windows Update Components, didn't work.
5. Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth : completed successfully, didn't find any errors.
6. Event ID: 20 ; Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80073701: Security Update for Windows (KB5049993)
7. DISM Logs:

2025-02-12 14:37:23, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=6760 TID=10068 Failed finalizing changes. - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_Finalize(hr:0x80073701)

2025-02-12 14:37:23, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=6760 TID=10068 Failed processing package changes - CDISMPackageManager::ProcessChanges(hr:0x80073701)

2025-02-12 14:37:23, Info DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=6760 TID=10068 Loaded servicing stack for online use only. - CDISMPackageManager::RefreshInstanceAndLock

2025-02-12 14:37:40, Error DISM DISM Package Manager: PID=6760 TID=10068 Failed while processing command add-package. - CPackageManagerCLIHandler::ExecuteCmdLine(hr:0x80073701)

2025-02-12 14:37:40, Error DISM DISM.EXE: DISM Package Manager processed the command line but failed. HRESULT=80073701

Further steps performed:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptsvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver 

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C: \Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

net start wuauserv 

net start cryptsvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

 Here is the error given when running the above commands:

C:\Windows\system32>Dism /online /add-package /packagepath:c:\temp\cab\Windows10.0-KB5049993-x64.cab

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 10.0.14393.4169

Image Version: 10.0.14393.4169

Processing 1 of 1 - Adding package Package_for_RollupFix~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~14393.7699.1.9

[==========================100.0%==========================]

An error occurred - Package_for_RollupFix Error: 0x80073701

Error: 14081

The referenced assembly could not be found.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

Reply

Answer 1

Hello

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

Here are a few more advanced troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Sometimes, a pending.xml file can cause issues. Check for this file in C:\Windows\WinSxS and rename it to pending.xml.old if it exists.
2. Download and run the Windows Update Troubleshooter from the Microsoft Support website.
3. Sometimes, specific updates can cause issues. You can try hiding the problematic update using the Show or Hide Updates Troubleshooter.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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