Windows Update Error (0x80070003), Troubleshooter, SFC/ DISM won't fix

Hey folks. Sorry if the start of this is a bit long, but some background is needed.

Specs before we begin:

OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 22H2 Build 19045.2965 PC: Dell Optiplex 3020. Machine was purchased second-hand from an estate-sale type place, so I have zero discs, keys, or anything. Replacing programs on there... I'm sol.

Short version: Cousin's teen kid was over my house and did a system restore on my pc while there was a windows update pending (after I told him to to mess with it!) while I was in the bathroom. >

(had to edit this after the "long version" was too long.)

When I try to run windows update, it gets as far as "10 percent", then reboots twice (with the "whirlygig thing under the logo", then "it tells me it cannot update and it's removing updates". The updates center in settings keeps telling me "error 0x80070003" on it. And it does this for every single time I attempt it.

I've tried:

Chkdisk (/f /x /r); this got the pc running again. Also: Windows Update Troubleshooter (didn't do squat), SFC ("some files could not be fixed"), DSIM Online(cannot find "source") and even followed a friend's suggestion to "use an ISO for the source" (and it still couldn't find it). I also tried downloading the update from the repository online and installing it, with the same result as the regular update. I've also tried clearing the update cache, with the same results.

Any suggestions? Please keep in mind I'm kind of a dinosaur here, so be kind. It's been a rotten week. I can't afford a new one here.

FreeBooter said:

In this video, i will guide you on how to resolve "The source files could not be found" dism error message.

Thank you; I tried this with both esd and wim, and neither worked.

Here's a screenshot of it:


I got an error code: "0x800f081f"; the Windows.ISO image I have is downloaded directly from Microsoft's page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10 And I used their Media Creation tool as they said, and saved it to a USB. I mounted it from the USB first and tried it with no luck; then I put the file directly on my desktop and mounted it, same result. I made sure to get the drive letter (in this case, "F") after it was mounted both times.

I'm a bit puzzled here; could it be the image from Windows, or am I still doing something wrong?

Megahertz said:

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Okay... let me look into this.

dalchina said:

That's easier than it looks.
I've posted how to start that once you've downloaded an iso file (e.g.) - 4 steps to start the process- many many times.

Like any 'upgrade' procedure- keeps accounts, progs, most settings.

N.B. as has been posted thousands of times here- if you use 3rd party disk imaging regularly and routinely, you can get your system back to a previous good state without needing help. Provides a full backup of all partitions imaged.

A question I have about now is I have the Windows ISO that I downloaded from MS's page today, but the tutorial says I need the exact version (Win 10 pro 22H2 Build 19045.2965) or newer. Can I use that for the repair install, or am I off on the wrong track here?

I just want to make certain I'm not using the wrong one or going where I shouldn't be. Easier to ask first than to panic later!

pepanee said:

Check out this checklist:
Fix Error 0x80070003: Some Update Files Are Missing - Technipages

I followed that list earlier, and none of it worked. The update troubleshooter would say it fixed it but didn't, I did the "restart update components" part and all it did was make Norton 360 deny me access to the CMD module, so I turned off Norton and retried it with no luck. And as I mentioned previously, I did SFC/ DISM/ DISM Offline with no change (cannot find source" error). I also tried installing the update manually and that failed, so I'm thinking it's the files on my side and not the update.

I just wonder if I'm doing the DISM source wrong? The only thing I haven't tried is the "offline version method 2":

Dism /Image:C:\offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows.

The reason I haven't used this is because the instructions said to mount the ISO (which became drive "F"), but the line here says "C". I know this may sound really dumb on my part, but I tend to take things slow and ask about everything: am I supposed to change "C" to "F" or is there some sort of address like "C:/desktop/F/whatever"? (The iso is on my desktop).

Before I do a repair install, I'd like to see if there's anything else I should try.

Thanks for putting up with my questions.