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# Fixing failed windows updates
- URL: https://blog.elvatis.com/fixing-windows-failed-updates/
- Published: 2025-11-21T19:03:01.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-31T09:53:35.000Z
- Author: E. Kohler
- Tags: Windows, Troubleshooting

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to troubleshoot and resolve failed Windows updates.

### Steps to Resolve Failed Updates

**Check Logs for Errors**

- Navigate to `C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\cbs.log`.
- Open the log file and search for entries with `ERROR` to identify the problematic package.

**Download the Failed or Missing Package**

- Visit the [Windows Update Catalog](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx).
- Search for and download the required `.msu` file for the failed update.

**Copy the Downloaded MSU File to a Temporary Folder**

- Move the downloaded `.msu` file to a temporary folder, e.g., `C:\temp`.

**Extract the MSU File**

- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Run the following command to extract the contents of the `.msu` file:

```cmd
expand -F:* "C:\temp\windows6.4-kb3025096-x64_b18971964e8480df545aa2f1828629aa19033983.msu" C:\temp\KB3025096_msu
```

**Extract the CAB Files**

- Create a new folder for the extracted CAB files:

```cmd
mkdir C:\temp\kb1234567_msu\update
```

- Extract the CAB files from the `.msu` file:

```cmd
expand -F:* "C:\temp\kb1234567_msu\Windows10.0-KB1234567-x64.cab" C:\temp\kb1234567_msu\update
```

- Ensure to replace `kb1234567` with the correct update name and point to the downloaded `.msu` file.

**Restore Missing Files**

- Run the following command to restore the missing files:

```cmd
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth /LimitAccess /Source:C:\temp\kb1234567_msu\update
```

- Replace the path with the correct location of the extracted files.

**Wait for the DISM Command to Finish**

- Allow the DISM command to complete the patching process.
- Once finished, check for updates from the Settings app.

**Restart the Machine**

- Sometimes, Windows may take time to recognize the installed patches. Restart the machine to ensure all updates are applied correctly.