2016 server won't install updates from WSUS or manually

Question

I have a 2016 windows server that will not pull down and install updates from the WSUS server. I have manually d/l the updates and they still won't install.

This is a virtual server under vmware, it's the only one that is having this problem.

I have restarted the server. I have stopped the windows update service and deleted the SoftwareDistribution folder.

I have tried to update in place the server to 2019 and it unwinds the update at the very end (I gathered the screen shots and event logs).

Not sure what else I can try at this point to get the updates to install. any thoughts?

thanks

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Q&A.

Based on the description, I understand your question is related to update.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Select Windows Update and run the troubleshooter.

Ensure that the WSUS client settings are correctly configured:

Run gpresult /v > gpresult.txt to check the applied Group Policies.

Verify that the WSUS server settings are correctly applied.

Try run below commands to check system files:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Have a nice day.

Best Regards,

Molly

============================================

If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it

Answer 2

as stated, manually d/l the patches from the catalog and trying to install them also fails

Answer 3

As Molly suggested, and I concur:

sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Then if that doesn't fix the problem, uninstall the last patch that was applied and try the new patch manually.

If that still doesn't work, remove all existing patches until you get back to the 2016 RTM version and try again manually or via WSUS.

If the issue still exists, run an install of 2016 OVERTOP of itself to attempt to fix the issue.

If that fails, wipe/reinstall/migrate.