Fixing failed MSRT update in Windows 7 (KB890830 v5.119 )

Windows 7 Professional has been updating fine until 11/15/2023, when Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - v5.119 (KB890830) Failed

Then, when shutting down, the shield with an exclamation point indicates that there’s an update to be performed. The ‘don’t shut me off or kill my power’ message is displayed, regarding update 1 of 1. The shutdown takes a long time. The next startup appears to be normal. Retries don’t succeed. ‘Manually’ install and running 5.119 seems to eliminate the update message during shutdown for one cycle; it will be back on the next shutdown.

Numerous subsequent attempts have failed. I have stopped and started Windows update.

It looks to me as though Option 2 of How to Reset Windows Update in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 might solve this problem. (Under Windows Update – Reset at Windows Update - Reset .)

Can you confirm that's a safe, sane, logical next step?

Thank you!

Paul in Wisconsin

This is most certainly a safe thing to do. I'm pretty sure an admin of Windows 7 Help Forums would not try to make you hurt your computer without you knowing.


If you're not sure, try and following these steps:

- Open Control Panel.
- Click on System and Security > Windows Update.
- On the side panel of Windows Update, there should be an option at the bottom labeled "Installed Updates". Click on that.
- If you see the update that you failed installing, right click on it.
- Click Uninstall in the list of options when you right click it.
- This update will uninstall.

Thank you, LukeWT107.

Per your instructions, I checked Installed Updates. As best I can tell, 5.119 isn't installed, and so I can’t remove it. (I don’t understand why I don’t see the previous monthly MSRT KB890830 updates there.) If I got to View Update History, I see the successful installation of 5.118 on 10/12/2023. The many failed attempts to install 5.119 begin on 11/15, with one, two and sometimes three attempts per day, and also some days with no attempts.

Then I did the procedure suggested To Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components. That ran 'successfully,' and Windows update declared that I was up to date – but it still showed that the installation 5.119 had failed. Then I downloaded another copy of the update and ran it, and ended up back where I started.
Late last night I went through the process again. This morning when I started, Windows update seemed happy, with green highlights and the ‘you’re up to date’ message displayed. I left home for a couple of hours, and when I returned, Windows Update again displays its amber highlights, failed attempts to install 5.119, and messages that I should install 1 important update.
Do you have any further suggestions?
Thank you,

Paul in East Troy WI

- - - Updated - - -

I hope that it’s ok to ask another, question that’s related, without starting a new thread:

Would someone explain to me, or tell me where to find an explanation of, how the MSRT update process works?

My expectation is:

• there’s a program that runs to search for malicious software;
• that program relies on some data / definition file for information on what’s thought to be malicious;
• that data file is periodically updated.

But the update that I down load is an executable – at least, it has an exe filetype. What actually happens after downloading the ‘monthly update’?
Thanks,
Paul