Updates confusion

In my taskbar, I have a Windows Defender Security Centre shield, constantly showing a red cross over it. I click on it and it takes me to Settings, Windows Update, which shows ..


Updates are available
• 2018-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1709 for x64-based Systems (KB4088776)
Status: Awaiting restart.

Your device is at risk because it's out of date and missing important security and quality updates. Let's get you back on track so Windows can run more securely. Select this button to get going:

.. and the button is Restart Now

This has been the case for about 10 days now. And I have re-started dozens of times, but the red cross still keeps coming up. It is green initially, then goes to yellow, and always ends up red within half a minute or so, even if I re-start over and over again within a few minutes.

Eddie Doc said:

Under Settings-Windows Update-View installed update history, is the update showing as repeatedly failing to install successfully?

It is showing as installed there.
However, when I click the 'uninstall updates' button on the same page, it takes me to a page titled 'installed updates' and it is not showing there at all, and the most recent one showing there, being KB4058702, installed on 04 01 2018

Edit .. although I have my computer set on automatic updates.

You could try troubleshooting windows update to see if that sorts it out.

settings/update & security/troubleshoot

There has been another cumulative update (KB4089848) since the one you mention in your original post. It sounds like windows update may not be working as it should. Troubleshooting it may fix that.

This sounds all too familiar. I bet the OP is suffering from the KB4090913/KB4090914 corruption. What build does the system say it's at? Settings/System/About. KB4088776 won't install and the prior updates won't uninstall in that situation.

Thanks for the recent suggestions.
Before I go further I should advise the build number is 16299.125

Also, used the trouble shooter.
No luck, though the report is interesting.
How do I post a snip of it here (PNG file type) ?

Try the Snipping Tool. Drag the mouse around the area you want to copy and save it, then copy it in your post.

jplx said:

Thanks for the recent suggestions.
Before I go further I should advise the build number is 16299.125

This is FAR behind on updates. Build 16299.125 was current as of 12/12/17. Update history here -
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4054517

Try downloading latest cumulative update (top of list on L) from the Windows Update catalog (link at bottom under 'How to get this update') and manually install. Links in this News post too - Cumulative Update KB4089848 Windows 10 v1709 Build 16299.334 - Mar. 22