Windows Update Error code 8024800A

Windows update suddenly this month refused to run coming back with the red shield and ERROR CODE 8024800A.
I tried a few things like SCF/Scannow but nothing worked except this:

Click on Start button, navigate to Accessories and Command Prompt
or Type: cmd

Right click on cmd in start menu and select 'Run as Administrator'

Type: net stop wuauserv

Press Enter

Type: ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old

Press Enter

Type: net start wuauserv

Press Enter

Type: exit

Press Enter


Now download updates.You have deleted the history of the updates so it may be a while scanning.

Thank you so much! I have been struggling with my PC for 48 hours but your thread seems to have solved this problem.
I am really grateful! I am only surprised that the problem never showed up on my Asus Zenbook Ultrabook with exactly the same win7 64bit version, only on my custom built PC. At least, not so far

I'm having this problem on a W7 Home Premium x64 laptop.

I followed the instructions in the first post, ran cmd as admin, stopped the service, but when I tried to rename the folder it said that access was denied, even though I didn't have Windows Update open.

What could be preventing the renaming?

NoelDP said:

Open a Command Prompt window and run the following command

ICACLS C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

post the results.

C:\windows\softwaredistribution NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerI)(F)
NT SERVICE\TrustedInstallerI)(CI)(IO)(F)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMI)(F)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEMI)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsI)(F)
BUILTIN\AdministratorsI)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\UsersI)(RX)
BUILTIN\UsersI)(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
CREATOR OWNERI)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

Yes, it said stopped. I checked the processes when I saw the 'Access denied' message and didn't see it running. I'll give it another go in the morning straight after another reboot.