Your device is missing important security and quality fixes problem

Tyler815 · 29 Aug 2019

I am running Windows 10 Pro, Version 1803, Build 17134.885

Over the last few days I constantly have a notification appear in the task bar indicating that my device is missing important updates. When I click on the task bar notification, or go into Update & Security, it shows a message saying "Your device is missing important security and quality fixes."

I then proceed to click on the "Check For Updates" button and then, after a few seconds, it just returns to the same error message shown within Update & Security. Also, no possible updates are offered and no change in the message saying "Your device is missing important security and quality fixes" after clicking on Check For Updates.

Is there anything I can do perhaps to fix this problem?

Thank you very much...

dalchina · 29 Aug 2019

Hi, that message typically indicates that MS is offering you a build upgrade.

Build 1803 is nearing its end of life, and MS's policy is to deliver build 1903 to PC's deemed compatible.

You now need to decide if you want to upgrade to 1903 (to be superceded by 1909 - perhaps in October??) - or take special steps to avoid this.

It also seems that it is failing to download the new build.

Your options are:
- Manually download to 1903 by downloading the iso using the Microsoft Media Creation tool (Google) and then upgrading
- Stay with 1803 (special steps required to block updates) - and only necessary where there is an incompatibility.
- Try to fix your current build and let it upgrade via Windows update

Meanwhile, you will keep getting this message unless you disable Windows Update e.g. using
WUMT/Sledgehammer (free)
or
StopUpdates10 (free).

Given the failure, i would in any case recommend the following basic maintenance steps:
- check your disk e.g. HD Tune (free) Health and Error scan tabs
- If ok- run
chkdsk c: /scan
from an admin command or Powershell prompt (checks only)
- check you have at least 30Gb free on C:

Also post a full screen screenshot of your partitions using e.g. Minitool partition wizard (not disk Management) expanding columns as necessary so text is visible.

Tyler815 · 29 Aug 2019

Thank you for your great and detailed update.

Before I make a decision on the various options you suggested, I was curious if you feel I should stick with 1803 or should I upgrade to 1903?

By the way, C is a stand alone 256GB SD drive and it has about 86GB free on it at the moment.

Bree · 29 Aug 2019

Tyler815 said:

...I was curious if you feel I should stick with 1803 or should I upgrade to 1903?

I would not recommend trying to stick with 1803. It reaches end of support on November 12, 2019, after which there will be no further security updates or patches.

Your choice should be what to upgrade to, not whether to upgrade. 1809 or 1903 are both currently available, but 1809 reaches its end of support in May 2020. I have been running 1903 without issues on a number of machines, that would be my choice.

dalchina · 29 Aug 2019

1903 is stable. You've been offered it via WU so MS thinks it should be ok. E.g. if your PC is, say, 4-5 yrs old or less should be no reason not to. Only reason not to would be reasons of incompatibility- which a few only discover after upgrading.

Also, as ever, create a current disk image before any major change to give you a second chance should it become unbootable. E,g, Macrium Reflect (free).

Tyler815 · 29 Aug 2019

Sounds good, thank you. Is there any simple perhaps way to fix my current build so it can upgrade normally via Windows update?

- - - Updated - - -

dalchina said:

1903 is stable. You've been offered it via WU so MS thinks it should be ok. E.g. if your PC is, say, 4-5 yrs old or less should be no reason not to. Only reason not to would be reasons of incompatibility- which a few only discover after upgrading.

Also, as ever, create a current disk image before any major change to give you a second chance should it become unbootable. E,g, Macrium Reflect (free).

I think my hardware is OK to handle the upgrade. I am running an i7 CPU from a few years ago, have 16GB of Ram, a pretty decent graphics card, etc.

I normally use Acronis for creating drive images before making any major changes. I have Kyhi Windows 10 Recovery Tools on a bootable flash drive with Acronis on there as well.

dalchina · 29 Aug 2019

Start with

Given the failure, i would in any case recommend the following basic maintenance steps:

above in any case.

Are Windows updates working normally? See your Update History.
Run the WU troubleshooter (via Settings)

Trying to fix the problem is likely to be more demanding than doing the basic checks and trying to get WU working. Sometimes that even requires an in-place upgrade repair install.

Before an upgrade attempt:
You should disable any 3rd party security software or uninstall it (esp. Comodo).
Disconnect any unnecessary devices.

Tyler815 · 29 Aug 2019

Thanks again. I checked WU update history and some successful updates were made 1 day ago on the 28th. And at that time I was already getting the troubling notification in the task bar I mentioned in my OP.

I was running Malwarebytes, but I shut that off and tried to run WU again and still the same result. I also have Avira anti-virus running, but that has never caused a problem.

I ran WU troubleshooter. It made some repairs and changes, but it didn't solve the current problem unfortunately.

dalchina · 29 Aug 2019

What did the troubleshooter report? (Screenshot).

Have you done this? (Post #2)

Given the failure, i would in any case recommend the following basic maintenance steps:
- check your disk e.g. HD Tune (free) Health and Error scan tabs
- If ok- run
chkdsk c: /scan
from an admin command or Powershell prompt (checks only)
- check you have at least 30Gb free on C:

Also post a full screen screenshot of your partitions using e.g. Minitool partition wizard (not disk Management) expanding columns as necessary so text is visible.

And if all that's ok, attempt a manual upgrade using a 1903 iso. (As above).
(You don't say if you've attempted this).

Tyler815 · 29 Aug 2019

Thank you again.

Attached is a screen shot from the troubleshooter report.

Your device is missing important security and quality fixes problem-wt.jpg

After I ran it, I did a reboot and then ran WU again and still no success.

I tried running the Media Creation Tool using a 64GB Sandisk Flash Drive. It got to about 90% complete and then failed. Below is a screen shot of the error message:

Your device is missing important security and quality fixes problem-mct.jpg

I am now in the process of downloading a direct Win10 1903 Build ISO. I assume once the 4.6GB ISO file download completes then I will be able to use rufus-2.18.exe to install the ISO onto the Sandisk Thumbdrive?

I installed HD Tune. I went to the Health tab and wasn't sure what to do there. Then I started running an Error Scan and it looked like it was going to take a huge amount of time so I aborted it. I haven't tried chkdsk c: /scan yet, but I assume I don't have any disk issues. It just ran and installed updates successfully yesterday.

As I mentioned, I am still working on getting a thumbdrive created with a manual 1903 installer so I haven't attempted a manual upgrade using a 1903 iso yet.

Once the ISO file download completes in about another 10 minutes I will probably stop working on this for the moment. Where I am it is really late and I need to get some sleep. Will come back in about 8-10 hours.

Thanks again.