What to do about Failed Updates?

Hi all

May sound like a dumb question, but here goes:

We occasionally see in Installed Update History "Failed to install on ‎(Date - Error code)".

I've never done anything about this in all the years I've been using Windows let alone Windows 10. Other updates have followed and I've always assumed that whatever was in the failed update magically found its way onto my system through one of the subsequent successful updates.

But a thought has finally dropped on me like an elephant (as in, the one in the room. I'm not a fast thinker).

Where I don't see KB######## repeated as a successful update, should I be taking steps to download it?

Cases in point are:

(1) From Quality Updates: 2017-11 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1709 for amd64-based Systems (KB4048955) - Failed to install on 17/11/2017 - 0x800f0922.

(2) And from Driver Updates, Intel - net - 10/31/2017 12:00:00 AM - 18.33.11.2. Failed to install on 17/01/2018 - 0x800705b4. This one I'm concerned about as I gather* it relates to CPU vulnerabilities. It seems a bit too early for the Intel-AMT one reported only this month by F-Secure and which Google reported somewhat earlier. That one wouldn't worry me so much as I believe my system doesn't have AMT. However, losing a Spectre/Meltdown patch would.

(*Note: I have to "gather" because the Settings link opens a webpage stating "Driver Information / Driver Information: Coming Soon / Thank you for using Windows Update. The More information feature is not available yet. We apologize for any inconvenience.")

Many thanks for any and all advice

ausgumbie

1. No. You want the latest cumulative update which is January (KB4056982). That includes previous cumulative updates.
2. This Inter - net isn't Spectre/Meltdown - you get that either via BIOS update (comes from your manufacturer) and/or the cumulative update above. 0x800705b4 means timeout. I don't know what inter - net is - a Wi-Fi driver perhaps?

What you could do is reset Windows update (see Reset Windows Update in Windows 10 Windows Update Activation Tutorials ) or download the specific update from Microsoft Update Catalog

On the whole though if Windows Update is working (downloading Windows Defender updates is a good test) you shouldn't worry about previous failures as they may have been superseded/withdrawn.

Many thanks Ix07,

I don't seem to have shot myself in the foot or anything. The cumulative updates working that way takes that worry away.

I'll check that inter - net update. We in Australia are all being forced by the government onto what is called NBN (National Broadband Network, or if you're a typical cynical Aussie, "No Bl**dy Broadband! - because it's rather shambolic). The modems and routers are dubious but that's all you're given when you get on the NBN. So, if it's an update for our NBN connection, I'd better make sure I get it.

Cheers

ausgumbie