Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 Failed To Install - EVERYTIME [SOLVED]

[Ransome]

This is my old, work-PC.
This has been going like this for months. The list is longer than what you can see in the screenshot.

Every single Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 KBXXXXXX - FAILS TO INSTALL.
I am now trying to download KB3197954 which also failed a bunch of times.

The computer had a clean install recently, I think back when I installed the Anniversary Update. Since then, pretty much nothing had changed in terms of applications. I am doing regular maintenance with CCleaner. This really makes no sense.

I have researched online and found no solution.
I rather not do a clean install all over again, if I can help it. I don't even know if it will fix anything.
I really need help solving this issue. I can't run without updates forever...

EDIT: I tried to run Troublershooter for Windows Update as Administrator and Retry Windows Update, I got many failed updates now:

 

[Ransome]

i don't even know why it keeps failing.

Try steps 4 & 5 here: http://sihmar.com/fix-update-kb3197954-stuck-fail-install/

see also: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/kb3197954-does-not-download-to-completion/6a0af741-aa38-42e2-a760-dfcd824c7d72

seems you not alone here (though I may not be here much longer, i was meant to go to sleep by now)

I understand, and once again I appreciate your constant support with this.
These issues are beyond logic. Nothing works!
I'd like to just ignore this update and move on - but as you can see from my 1st screenshot - it seems Cumulative Updates repeatedly fail to install, which means not being able to update Windows 10 - ever, which is really bad and risky.

I am trying the WU Reset program now. It looks like a really crazy Powershell/CMD based application.
Just commanded it to reset WU components.

It is strange that so many users like yourself and some of the guys in the other link you sent me, are having the same issue, but for them it is repaired by downloading and installing the update from Windows Update Catalog. Not the case here. It completes the installation but fails to install regardless.

As we speak, I've also prepared a USB Bootable ISO using MCT on my other computer, and also backing-up stuff (copying) into my External HDD. Saving time in case I have no choice to go with a full system format and clean install. (which may or may not help here).

 

[Colif]

if you were stuck on this version, it wouldn't be forever. Just wait 8 or so months and get newer version of win 10, make an ISO using media creation tool and fresh install then. if so many having problem then another update likely be pushed out to fix this one.

you could post on windows forums as they might have a solution or post a question on http://www.tenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/ and see if they have any better ideas (can link to this if you want, save them doubling up on ideas)

 

[Ransome]

if you were stuck on this version, it wouldn't be forever. Just wait 8 or so months and get newer version of win 10, make an ISO using media creation tool and fresh install then. if so many having problem then another update likely be pushed out to fix this one.

you could post on windows forums as they might have a solution or post a question on http://www.tenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/ and see if they have any better ideas (can link to this if you want, save them doubling up on ideas)

I'll consider it. Never signed up to Tenforums before.
EDIT:
OK get this, something very weird happened:
I've started by deleting the content within: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.
Then, I launched ResetWUEng (Windows Update Reset Tool) > Yes > 2: Reset WU components.
After a while the process was complete.
I've opened Windows Update, and found that the history was all erased and Windows Update was reset to its original state. Make sense so far.
So - I ran Windows Update and waited, at about 35% installation of the cumulative update KB3197954 -my PC crashed.
-It happens sometimes, this is my old work-station PC (and minor gaming) with some power-out issues (that I was unable to fix for well over a year now).
Anyway, after the PC reboots by itself, Windows boots up into a red loading screen, saying something like: "Getting your PC/Updates ready". In other words, it was preparing & finalizing installation of downloaded updates (!!!!).
At 30% it restarted automatically, loaded Windows up, and then advanced all the way to 100%. Windows finished booting up.

Once it was done, I opened Windows Update and although it said something along the lines of: "failed to install updates since the computer shut down" - I've checked the Update History and found this line:
Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems (KB3197954)

WHAT..... THE... HELL?

My theory is, that - remember when I installed the Update from Windows Update Catalog? WU completed the process but said: "was unable to not install the following update"...
Maybe it HAD actually installed it, but in order to finish the process, a reboot was in order?
Or maybe, the actions I took with WU RESET had put things into motion ? A string of actions perhaps (DSIM, WU RESET etc) ? I do not know.
It could also be a corrupted update due to the sudden crash and shutdown...

EDIT x2: I just tried to run the patch I downloaded from Windows Update Catalog (kb3197954) and it said: "KB3197954 was already installed by Windows Update".

EDIT X3: Running Windows update again, it says:
Your device is up to date. Last checked: Today, ‏‎12:15 AM

Could it be?! HOLY @#$%?*!
Such a lust for revenge? WHOOOOOOOOOOO?
https://youtu.be/31dsolM10ng
Sorry I totally lost it by now, its late and that was exhausting and mind boggling as hell.

 

[Ransome]

OK one last thing for the night:
I re-ran ResetWU and chose option 5: Scan the image and check for corruption -
Which is supposedly the exact process of SFC /scannow - and here are the results !

UPDATE: Just ran SFC /scannow through CMD:
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.
-------------------------------------------------
YUP. Looks like we've done it!! Amazing.
Countless thanks Colif! You have my profound gratitude friend. Also Rocky Bennett for stepping up proposing a fix.

It seems something, along the path you've suggested, and the tinkering and fighting I've done here , eventually solved the issue.
Perhaps with some luck to boot. After all that bad luck and oddities - I certainly can't complain haha!

I hope the next Cumulative Update won't pose any more issues, but you know, we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Colif]

Looks like sleeping on it was all I needed to do. You look to be up to date now with no corruption.

I think I got that update today, i should have checked the number last night instead of assuming it was same code as the one that had not worked last month. I also got KB3199986 today but lets just ignore that one, as its not cumulative.

 

[Ransome]

Strange. Still not sure what happened exactly and how I got the update despite that crash and all the errors we encountered before. What do you think it was?

 

[Colif]

if the update had got to 35% installed before the crash, its likely it just kept installing it after the restart... just like it did. If you watched before, normal updates get to about 30% and then restart PC and install remainder before you login

i think all the updates just confused windows update as you did try to install it via a file and via WU without a restart in between. IT might have been easier to explain and solve if i was there but only so much can be down online.

 

[Ransome]

Agreed, although I think Reset WU had a certain hand in the matter as well.
I wonder how/why the files and resources suddenly became free of corrupted files, when I used FSC /scannow after the successful update.

It's almost as if DSIM worked, but somehow traces of corruption remained within WU. Then I've reset WU and cleared it's old DL data. Finally when WU Cumulative was successfully installed after the reboots- no traces remained and it was all clean. Which is a great sign.

I am just happy to have finally solved this issue.
Have a great day!