Windows Update - Reset

How to Reset Windows Update in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8​

   Information

This will show you how to reset Windows Update view update history, and how to reset and re-register Windows Update Components if you are having a problem updating with Windows Update.

OPTION ONE

To Only Reset Windows Update History

   Note

Resetting Windows Update using this option will clear the view update history details list (cache).

This will not actually uninstall any of your currently installed Windows Update. They will just not be listed anymore. Any new Windows Update installed after the reset will show up in the view update history list as normal though.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download this file below.
Reset_Windows_Update_History.bat


Download


2. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC click/tap on Run, then Yes/Continue (if administrator) or type in administrator's password (if standard user).

5. You will now see an elevated command prompt open and run. When it's finished, it will close automatically.

6. If opened, close and reopen Windows Update to verify that it has been reset.




7. Resetting the Windows Update history will also restore the default language packs being listed in Windows Upate again in the Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions after you check for updates next.

OPTION TWO

To Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components

NOTE: This option is the Windows version of: How do I reset Windows Update components?. It will reset Windows Update Components and re-register the BITS files and the Windows Update files to help fix Windows Update errors. This option will not clear the view update history details list as it does in OPTION ONE above.
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download this file below.
Reset_Reregister_Windows_Update_Components.bat


Download


2. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC click on Run, then Yes/Continue (if administrator) or type in administrator's password (if standard user).

5. You will now see an elevated command prompt open and run. When it's finished, it will close automatically.

6. Restart the computer afterwards to apply.

7. If this still does not help, then run the Microsoft Fix it tool here:
How do I reset Windows Update components?

See also: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

OPTION THREE

To Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components AND Reset Update History in One Easy Click

   Note

This option combines OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO above in one .bat file.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download this file below.
Reset_Windows_Update_Full.bat


Download



2. Save the .bat file to your Desktop.

3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC click/tap on Run, then Yes/Continue (if administrator) or type in administrator's password (if standard user).

5. You will now see an elevated command prompt open and run. When it's finished, it will close automatically.

6. Restart the computer afterwards to apply.

7. If this still does not help, then run the Microsoft Fix it tool here:

Download



How do I reset Windows Update components?

See also: Unable to install updates in Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• Windows Update Error 80246008 in Windows 7 - Fix
• How to Create a "Windows Update" Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Change the Windows Update Settings in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows Updates from Automatically Restarting the Computer
• How to Uninstall a Windows Update in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Restore Hidden Windows Updates in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a Installed Windows Updates Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows Update Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Uninstalling Windows Updates in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Access to Windows Updates in Windows 7
• How to View Windows Update History Details in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Reset the Common Log File System (CLFS) Logs
• How to Enable or Disable the Windows Update "Who can install updates" Setting
• How to Download the Standalone MSU Installer File of a Windows Update
• How to Restore Default Services in Windows 7
• How to Trace what Windows Update a Manifest File Originated From
• How to Use DISM to Fix Component Store Corruption in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

LOL, yeah it is funny that the typo is still there after all this time in the KB article. I submitted feedback in the KB article to point this out so that it may get corrected soon.

 

[georgeiulian89]

Thanks alot...i've finally managed to install Japanese language pack!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome George, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Sevenjro]

Correcting Windows Update History?

Brink - Nice info
I did a system restore and lost update history for 1 fix (KB 2587634). Security program not happy. Windows Update site thinks everything is fine. MS tech support not able to solve. Will Option Two under your "Windows Update - Reset" tutorial enable reconstitution of actual updates installed and restore the missing item in the history listing? If not, do you know of a way (short of reinstalling Win 7?)

 

[Brink]

Hello Sevenjro, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but OPTION TWO in the tutorial will not restore the Windows Update history list of previously installed updates. It will only reset and reregister the Windows Update feature itself instead.


Since you did a system restore, you most likely undid the installation of the Windows Update if the restore point you used was dated before you installed the Windows Update. If this is the case, then you should be able to just reinstall the Windows Update to have it added back to the update history list.

 

[Sevenjro]

Correcting Windows Update History?

Thanks! The normal sequence -- sys resture, re-install updates -- just didn't do it this time. Since the update is not listed in WU history or installed updates, WU won't recognize the absence or list it in optional updates, and the dowload center does not have it available as an individual download, I am thinking that SP1 made it moot and all of the "normal" solutions are not going to work. Will have to see if I can come up with something on the security software side!

 

[Brink]

If you were needing KB2587634, then you might see if this is may be it.

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS11-073 - Important : Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2587634)

 

[Sevenjro]

Thanks again! But been all over it. Links take me back to Windows Update (which does not recognize the absence) or to the download center, which, even in the ISO downloads, skips this particular update. Have tried looking on the Office download center as well as other web sites. The bulletin shows in some places but not a downloadable.

 

[Sevenjro]

Update. The "problem" has gone away. I suspect that the security program database has been updated (took more than a month) and it is probably an unusual circumstance for Microsoft to make an update "disappear" - so all is well.

 

[Brink]

That's great news Sevenjro. Thank you posting back with your update and findings.

 

[statsboy]

finally...

my windows update stopped working in March 2011...

and it's working again !!!

thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Statsboy, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[jre]

Reset Won't Work

Tried both options to reset. Neither worked. Now what?

 

[Brink]

Hello Jre, and welcome to Seven Forums.

How about giving full details of what issue you are having along with any screenshots that show the problem.

 

[jre]

Found another forum thread with a fix that worked, so far everything is working fine.

Thank you.

 

[Brink]

JRE,

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted. To bad you didn't give us any details about your issue so that we might of been able to help you with here.

 

[ilialaliashvili]

still i cant see my language packs ( i need french language pack ... but though i this link helped me ) >>>>>

Download Windows 7 MUI Language Packs (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life

hope it will be helpful for you too )

 

[Brink]

Hello ilialaliashvili, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you have Windows 7 Home Premium installed as per your system specs, then that would be why since language packs are available via Windows Update as optional updates in only the Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions.

Sorry.

 

[ilialaliashvili]

Thanks for the infromation brink ) but i've downloaded from that link
Download Windows 7 MUI Language Packs (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) « My Digital Life but i can't install it it do not executes ... i checked in my firewall but therese everything allright ... so can you help me ?

p.s now i'm studing in france so i do really need to lern french language fast ... so its one of the greatest solution to have computer in french ... ))

 

[Brink]

Sorry, but you will not be able to install it since you have Windows 7 Home Premium. That feature is not available in that edition of Windows 7. See my post above, and the top of the link you posted.