Server Essentials 2016 hasn't installed updates in months.

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bbarbe3

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Joined
Nov 29, 2024
Posts
25
I have a WSE 2016 machine that shows the following behavior:

  1. Hasn't installed any updates, except virus definitions, since approximately 2/2024
  2. Is unable to list Features and Roles with error 0x800700ea
  3. The WSE Dashboard shows Windows Defender status as N/A, although when you open Windows Defender through settings the status is green.
I have tried:

  1. Manually resetting Windows Update Components.
  2. Manually installing various updates all of which state that the update isn't applicable to this computer.
  3. Running DISM and SFC. At one point I would get an "Array Out of Bounds" error. Now, both state that no corruption was found.
  4. Read through the first tutorial at:
niemiro

Thread 'How to fix Windows Update errors using DISM (DISM.log) or the System Update Readiness Tool / SURT (CheckSUR.log)'

Welcome to the Sysnative Windows Update Academy!

This tutorial is the first in a long series of many guides and resources that we host here at Sysnative. Specifically, it is the first tutorial in our Windows Update Academy where we teach you how to fix many different Windows Update problems on your own - some simple, some very complex.

Warning: This article is extremely technical. It is only intended to be accessible to those with plenty of prior computing experience.
  • If you have a Windows Update problem you want to get help with without needing lots of computer experience...
  • Thanks

and attempted to apply what I learned to no avail! I consider myself reasonably competent, but am obviously out of my depth on this issue,

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kindest regards,

Billy

CBS.zip and ComponentsScanner.txt attached.
 

Attachments

Hi @bbarbe3,

Welcome to Sysnative Forums!

If you haven't already, please review the posting instructions here, and attach the requested log files. Without log files, our helpers will not be able to assist, and this will slow down fixing your machine.

If logs have been already been provided, our team of volunteers will analyse the provided log files to build a fix for your system. Please be aware that this may take several days from your initial post, due to the high volume of threads that we receive.


- Sysnative Windows Update Team
 
Hello and welcome,

Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.
  1. Download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop:
    64-bit: Downloading Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
    Note: Your antivirus program may report FRST incorrectly as an infection. If so, disable the real-time protection when downloading and running FRST.
  2. Download the attachment fixlist.txt and save it to your desktop.
  3. Right-click on FRST64.exe and select "Run as administrator".
  4. Press the Fix button.
  5. The tool will now process fixlist.txt.
  6. If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
  7. When finished, a log called Fixlog.txt will appear in the same directory the tool is run from.
  8. Attach the logfile Fixlog.txt to your next reply.
 

Attachments

Restart the machine.
Run the command sfc /scannow in an elevated commandprompt and report the result.
If it fails, copy the file C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\cbs.log to your desktop.
Zip the copied file and attach the zipped cbs.log to your next reply.
 
See below:

C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.


Billy
 
Great.
Check Windows Update again and report the result.
 
Copy the files C:\Windows\logs\cbs\cbs.log and C:\Windows\logs\dism\dism.log to your desktop.
Zip the copied files and attach the zipfile to your next reply.
 
Export registry as hive
  • Click on the Start button and in the search box, type regedit
  • When you see regedit on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
  • When regedit opens, using the left pane, navigate to the following registry key and select it by clicking on it once.
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing

  • Once selected, click File > Export....
  • Change the Save as type: to Registry Hive Files (*.*).
  • Name this file ComponentBasedServicing (with no file extension) and save it to your Desktop.
  • Right-click on the saved file and choose Send To -> Compressed (zipped) Folder.
  • Attach the .ZIP file to your next post.
  • If the file is too large to upload here, please upload to Gofile or WeTransfer and just provide the downloadlink here.
 
Provide the System Hive
  1. Start the program Regedit.exe.
  2. In the left pane of Regedit browse to the key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM
  3. Right-click on it and select “Export”.
  4. Choose as file location your desktop.
  5. Typ for the file name "SYSTEM" and choose as type “Registry Hive Files (*.*)”.
  6. Click the button Save.
  7. When completed you can close Regedit.
  8. Attach the file SYSTEM which should be now on your desktop to your next reply.
 
Zipped System hive attached. When I attempted to attach it as is, the "Attach Files" utility complained that it didn't have an allowed extension.
 

Attachments

It looks like a registry key is corrupted beyond repair. Do you have a backup ?
 
Can you identify the specific Registry Key? I back this server up 3 times/day. Unfortunately, this issue started back in February! I've been periodically troubleshooting since then. It sounds like an "In-place Upgrade" may be my best option. Do you concur?
 
The registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ComponentBasedServicing\Packages is completely empty which is not good.
The registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ComponentBasedServicing\PackageIndex is almost empty which is not good either.

We can try something if you like. Please do following.

Step 1:
Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.

Download the attachment and extract it.
Open the extracted folder, double-click the file regfix.reg.
When prompted allow to change the registry settings.
Report the result.

Step 2:
Restart the machine.
Check Windows Update again and report the result.
Copy the files C:\Windows\logs\cbs\cbs.log and C:\Windows\logs\dism\dism.log to your desktop.
Zip the copied files and attach the zipfile to your next reply.
 

Attachments

Result of running regfix:
The keys and values contained in "Drive:\Folder\regfix.reg" have been successfully added to the registry.

Result of reboot and running Windows Update:
Only new virus definitions found which has been the case since the beginning of this issue.

Zipped log files attached.

Billy
 

Attachments

Step 1:
Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.

Download the attachment and extract it.
Open the extracted folder, double-click the file regfix.reg.
When prompted allow to change the registry settings.
Report the result.

Step 2:
Restart the machine.
Check Windows Update again and report the result.
Copy the files C:\Windows\logs\cbs\cbs.log and C:\Windows\logs\dism\dism.log to your desktop.
Zip the copied files and attach the zipfile to your next reply.
 

Attachments

Result of running regfix:
The keys and values contained in "Drive:\Folder\regfix.reg" have been successfully added to the registry.

Result of reboot and running Windows Update:
No updates found!

Zipped log files attached.

Billy
 

Attachments

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