How to manually install Windows updates?

How to install latest updates when Windows Update is borked?

1. Install the latest updates with PowerShell

   Here’s what to run in PowerShell:
   
   [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12
Install-Module -Name PSWindowsUpdate -Force
Import-Module -Name PSWindowsUpdate
Get-WindowsUpdate -AcceptAll -Install -AutoReboot
   
   And there you (might) go!
   
   Oh, it didn’t work, either? Well, on you go then…

2. Windows Update Catalog

   I have never had luck with this option but in theory you can navigate to https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx and just pick and choose which updates to install.
   
   I don’t know how this works for someone if Windows Update is down, but I guess it’s still worth mentioning.

3. Download Windows installer

   This step – which finally worked for me – I only did after all of the script steps, and that was dumb. It’s really quick and easy, so please do this first. You’ll need to download Windows Update Assistant and see if it can install the latest version of Windows.
   
   You can get it from the same page as you get the Windows Media Creation Tool, and just hit the big “Update now” button and you should get the updater.
   
   
   I have Windows 10 (because I like to be able to move my task bar) so that’s what I went with. Links to download pages at the bottom of the page.

4. Weird command line hacks

   If you really want to, you can do the long dance below to completely reset Windows Update and possibly get Windows Updates to be downloaded again.
   
   I did – and after a few hours, Windows Update finally ran again. But only to encounter a new error…
   
   So I don’t think you should do this. But here are the commands anyway:
   
   net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc

Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\*.*"

rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q
rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q

sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU) sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)

cd /d %windir%\system32

regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
regsvr32.exe /s shdocvw.dll
regsvr32.exe /s browseui.dll
regsvr32.exe /s jscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s vbscript.dll
regsvr32.exe /s scrrun.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml3.dll
regsvr32.exe /s msxml6.dll
regsvr32.exe /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe /s softpub.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wintrust.dll
regsvr32.exe /s dssenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s rsaenh.dll
regsvr32.exe /s gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32.exe /s sccbase.dll
regsvr32.exe /s slbcsp.dll
regsvr32.exe /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32.exe /s oleaut32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s ole32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s shell32.dll
regsvr32.exe /s initpki.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuapi.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wucltui.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wups2.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuweb.dll
regsvr32.exe /s qmgr.dll
regsvr32.exe /s qmgrprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wucltux.dll
regsvr32.exe /s muweb.dll
regsvr32.exe /s wuwebv.dll

netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset proxy

net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc
   
   Restart the computer and try running Windows Update again.
   

5. Check your Windows installation’s health

   This is kind of a classic – running sfc (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) will help Windows verify all system files are ok.
   
   Running these is very hands-off, but takes a while. So you might not want to run them while you have something important to do
   
   Anyway – here’s what to run:
   
   dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow
   
   After restarting, try again.