Windows Update error 80070002
If you receive Windows Update error 80070002 while checking for updates, you need to remove the temporary update files that Windows uses to identify updates for your computer. To remove the temporary files, stop the Windows Update service, delete the temporary update files, restart the Windows Update service, and then try to check for Windows updates again.
Show allYou must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
Open Administrative Tools by clicking the Start button
, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Administrative Tools.
Double-click Services.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Right-click the Windows Update service, and then click Stop.
Open Computer by clicking the Start button
, and then clicking Computer.
Double-click the local hard disk where Windows is installed, typically drive C.
Double-click the Windows folder, and then double-click the SoftwareDistribution folder.
Double-click the DataStore folder to open it, and then delete all files and folders in the folder.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Click the Back button. In the SoftwareDistribution folder, double-click the Download folder to open it, and then delete all files in the folder.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
Open Administrative Tools by clicking the Start button
, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Administrative Tools.
Double-click Services.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Right-click the Windows Update service, and then click Start.
Deleting temporary update files will help solve the problem, but it will also delete the history in Windows Update. You can still see which updates are installed on your computer by going to Installed Updates.
Open Installed Updates by clicking the Start button
, clicking Control Panel, clicking Programs, and then, under Programs and Features, clicking View installed updates.
If the problem continues after you have followed the steps above, check for updates again using the following steps. When checking for updates again, if you are offered the option to download and run the System Update Readiness Tool, do it. The System Update Readiness Tool is only offered to computers that have a condition that the tool might be able to resolve.
Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button
, clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.
In the left pane, click Check for updates.
If you are offered the System Update Readiness Tool, but you encounter a problem using Windows Update, you can manually download and run the tool. You'll need to know the version of Windows and system type you are using.
Go to the System Update Readiness Tool
webpage. In the Information for advanced users section, find the version of Windows and system type of your computer, and then click the link to download the System Update Readiness Tool. If you don't know which version of Windows you have, see View your computer information.
Run Windows Update again.
Note
Typically, the scan takes 15 minutes or less, but it can take longer on some computers. The Windows Update progress bar is not updated during the scan, and progress seems to stop at 60% complete for some time. This behavior is expected. The scan is still running and you should not cancel the update.
If you continue to see this error, see this automatic troubleshooter
on the Microsoft Support website, or go to the Microsoft Answers
website for more assistance.
Error codes this applies to:
WindowsUpdate_80070002
0x80070002