Windows 7 - Windows Update Repeated Problems

Is it common for Windows Update to go bonkie ? ... In past years, used to do fresh installs on most of our boxes in the downtime between XMas and New Years. It's a SOHO network and as the employees learned by experience and lectures, the kids grew up and learned reason and wifie ... well, she still can't resist clicking on anything that says free and now we let here suffer with the newest but slowest box on the network (her hardware outside GFX card is best). Anyway, after trying to address some issues, figured after 5 years the office CAD workstation / SOHO Data & Media Server / and my gaming box (at one time) was due for a refresh.

After creating a new USB based ISO via Rufus, installed windows, installed original drivers / utilities, updated drivers and then did Windows Update. First two times, did with DISM++ ... had quite a number of KBs that failed and eventually got most in after several tries. Ran WU at end and got a few more that were "needed" including Windows Defender. Each time I install that one, get error messages.

Tried using Windows Update... did all the important security ones, then all the ,NET, and then what was left over. Then did all the optionals, leaving the same 7 KBs that DSIM++ recommends not be installed (and which also were never installed originally). When done still no go.

Finally.... tracked my steps. Eventually got it done but it shouldn't require all this effort.... well not done, Windows Update can not install Windows Defender Update (KB915597)without crapping out. Anyway, this is how I finally got thru it ... I don't think it was DISM++, just took it out of the recipe to reduce number of variables.

Installed Windows from USB
Installed Drivers from original MoBo CD
-Ran sfc /scannow (no issues)
-Ran chkdsk (no issues)
-Ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth (can not function in this context)
-Ran WU, installed Windows Update Update
-Ran WU installed oldest 34 critical updates
-Ran WU installed oldest 34 critical updates
-Ran WU installed oldest 33 critical updates
-Ran WU installed last 33 critical updates - 1 (Update KB915597) failed Code 8050800c
-Ran Windows Update Troubleshooter (found registration missing or corrupt - repaired)
-Ran WU installed last Update KB915597 - 1 Update failed Code 8050800c
**Registration Error and Problem Installing Updates
-Ran Windows Update Troubleshooter (fixed registration missing or corrupt - Still Problem Installing Updates ... imagine ir's just reminding me last install didn't go well)
-Ran sfc /scannow (no issues)
-Ran chkdsk (no issues)
-Ran DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth (can not function in this context)
**Log Error says "2018-12-07 13:22:23, Error DISM DISM.EXE: Failed validating command line: dism /Online /CleanImage / Restorehealth"
-Rebooted
-Ran sfc /scannow (no issues)
-Ran chkdsk (no issues)
-Uninstalled KB3126587 (unwelcome, missed hiding it on group install)
-Hid KB3126587 and Optional KB3126587, KB3184143, KB3161102, KB3133977, KB3080149, KB3068708, KB3021917
-Installed 32 Optional Updates, Oldest 1st
-Redownloaded and ran Update TroubleShooter, says everything fixed ... No Windows Defender Update Installed as yet
-Found new 5 Important Updates and installed.
-3 Updates Failed Code 8007038 (13:59) KB4467107, KB3075226, KB3020388
-Ran Update TroubleShooter, says everything fixed, rebooted
-Ran Update TroubleShooter, registration error fixed, but problem Installing recent updates
-Ran chkdsk and sfc /scannow
-Ran WU, installed KB3075226, KB3020388
-Ran Update TroubleShooter, says registration error fixed, but problem Installing recent updates
-Ran WU, installed KB4467107
-Installed remaining 49 optional WU updates, success
-Installed remaining 3 optional .NET updates, success
-Installed remaining 1 important and 2 optional .NET updates, success

Questions:

1. Are WU failures all that common now ? ... been about 18 months since my last clean install on an older box.

2. Any idea why Windows Defender Update won't install ? Not all that worried as have a Kaspersky Site license. Nut being an engineer for 40+ years has left me a bit anal on finishing things.

3. Any idea why DSIM remains unfunctional ?


4. Any idea why forum keeps adding a return so that all my paragraphs are double spaced and require an edit to remove ? Leaving 0 spaces between paragraphs winds up with 1 lines of space; leaving 1 space always turns into 2.

I just did a clean install of Windows 7 on a handful of computers, and every one of them got hung up on Windows updates, with an 8007000E error.

Go to Search for Windows Updates takes forever? - A possible solution for instructions how to get past this error and then fully update your computer.

After I followed the instructions at that site, I scanned for and installed Windows updates about five times, that is, till it didn't find any more updates to install.

And I installed only the "important" updates, not the "optional" updates.

I did use DSIM++ .... twice. See 2nd paragraph in original post.


And yes, I remember dealing with the Windows Update takes forever thing. But this is ONLY the Windows Defender thing


Do have this in the Windows Setup Log


Windows update could not be installed because of error 2359302 ""
(Command line: ""C:\Windows\system32\wusa.exe
"R:\Download\Asus Max VI Formula\MoBo\Intel\Chipset\Intel_Chipset_Win7-8_8-1_VER9401026\Driver\hotfix\KB2505454_x64\Windows6.1-KB2505454-x64.msu" /quiet /norestart ")


Now Im not sure if it's telling me to reinstall that hotfix or uninstall it :)


R:\Download\Asus Max VI Formula is the location where I stored all drivers for that build over the years ... that KB i a subfolder in an installed driver update that was installed.