Update failing - Windows 10, version 1607 - Error 0x80240fff

Benmason · 07 May 2017

I have Windows 10 Home 64-bit installed on a PC and have realised that it's been failing to install the anniversary update 1607 for a few months (I'm always seeing the 'Update and Shut Down' option but then getting a notification after start-up which says 'Updates failed to install').

In the Windows Update settings I can see the following message "Feature update to Windows 10, version 1607 - Error 0x80240fff". Some other updates for Windows 10 1511 have successfully installed through Windows Update last month.

I've created a USB stick using the Windows Media Creation Tool. I first tried running setup.exe from the USB - it seemed to be working until the upgrade just stopped, went back to my desktop and gave me a dialog which said 'Windows 10 installation has failed'. I also tried booting from the USB and upgrading that way but it suggested that if I wanted to keep my documents and programs I'd need to do it from within Windows rather than booting separately.

This is now driving me a little crazy! Does anyone have any suggestions to fix this? I'd like to keep my documents, programs and settings if possible.

dalchina · 07 May 2017

Hello,
I suggest you start with a couple of basic checks:
- your file system
From an admin command prompt
[Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)]
chkdsk C: /F
Your PC will need to restart.
Post back the result, which you can get after a restart as follows:
How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!
Make sure the result is clear or fixed- else do not proceed.

- your system files
At an admin command
sfc /scannow
Wait, and post the summary result.

Please post a screenshot of Disk Management
(Windows key + R, click Disk Management)
- use the icon to the left of the video icon above your post 'Insert Image'.

Assuming the above is ok and you have some 20Gb spare on C: and 500Mb of unallocated space on your system disk (in case a new recovery partition needs to be created) then

Do a manual upgrade. Having the iso download (as you have) has the following advantages:
- you can use it again- for other PCS, to try again,
- should you need to do an in-place upgrade repair
- for certain repair and boot options
(written to a DVD or bootable drive).

But: before you do the upgrade, use Macrium Reflect (free) (or similar) + its boot disk + large external storage for disk images and create a disk image for recovery in case anything goes wrong (and it can!).
(Macrium option 'Windows Backup')

However, I expect your USB drive will now install the new Creator's upgrade, not 1607.
When you attempt the upgrade, disconnect all unnecessary peripherals, esp. wireless mouse

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
Basically, boot normally, insert your USB drive and run setup.exe on the USB drive.

If the update fails, you can discover how to examine the update logs.

Benmason · 07 May 2017

Thanks for the quick reply Dalchina.

See attached the results of check disk and system file checker. Nothing looks untoward to me - how about you?

Update failing - Windows 10, version 1607 - Error 0x80240fff-dskmgmt.png

I'll try upgrading from a USB again - I hadn't thought of disconnecting my wireless mouse/keyboard.

dalchina · 07 May 2017

I'd suggest creating 500Mb unallocated space on your system drive just in case as I mentioned.
That said, I'd guess it's unlikely to be the cause of the failure.

This looks like a legacy BIOS system (not UEFI). Is that correct?

*** do take the precaution of creating a disk image before upgrading. There are reports of various strange problems in upgrading to the CU, although this may represent a very small %ge of total upgrades of course.

Benmason · 07 May 2017

Hi there,

Yes it's a legacy BIOS, not UEFI.

I just tried upgrading from USB and unfortunately got the same error message. There's no sort of error code. Could you advise on how I can troubleshoot this?

Update failing - Windows 10, version 1607 - Error 0x80240fff-fail.png

AddRAM · 07 May 2017

Have you considered a clean install ?

Clean Install Windows 10 - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

If you want to stick with the AU, you can get an Iso from here and choose to Defer feature updates once you have it installed.

Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool

dalchina · 08 May 2017

Hi, you can try to sort this out, but you may well end up spending more time doing so than doing a clean install.

Trying to find out why it failed from the Windows update logs is not straightforward. Here are some guides.
Generating the Log Files for Troubleshooting Windows Updates for Windows 10 | Windows 10 content from Windows IT Pro
Windows 10, WindowsUpdate.log and how to view it with PowerShell or Tracefmt.exe Charles Allenâ€™s Blog
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/read-w...-in-windows-10

This may be useful once you have readable logs as a indication of what to look for. As to accessing them,the info at the start is out of date. See above.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...pdate.log-file

If you have a lot installed, then you could consider using a Laplink program (Easeus does something similar) which will package your installed programs, and 'reinstall' them on your clean installed OS automatically.

I've used Laplink 3 or so times, with 95% or more success with 100s of programs.

And obviously you need a full backup of what you have- for which disk imaging is a great option.

Indeed one Lapink program can use your disk image as a source for the programs- much more convenient than simply using Laplink I found.

Benmason · 17 May 2017

Ok I've generated the log file but not having much success interpreting it. There are a few instances where it says, "Call error code = 0x80240022".

I've uploaded the log file here as it was too large to attach TinyUpload.com - best file hosting solution, with no limits, totaly free

Any more suggestions for how to fix this?

dalchina · 18 May 2017

Best do a clean install. Create a disk image of what you have now, as you can mount the image file after installing and extract anything you need from the image file- it's a complete backup. So you don't have to worry about forgetting something.

There is of course a risk of different problems with the Creator's Upgrade (which is what you'll get using these links). Best just try it.

Download Windows 10 ISO File Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
Clean Install Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

Note- a DVD is a really easy way to do this is you have a DVD drive- burn the ISO to a DVD.

(I tried to download the log file, but on clicking the link, Avast warned me a threat had been detected.)