This time, we will introduce a solution to the problem of the "0x800f0988" error that occurs when installing updates using Windows Update.
This error can occur if your system drive is out of space or if a required service is disabled.
This may be resolved by freeing up space and enabling necessary services.
1. Clean up the "WinSxS" folder
The "WinSxS" folder contains:System-critical filesis saved.
This includes Windows shared files, files for backed up or disabled features, temporary files, etc.
Additionally, after many system components are updated, older versions of the components are stored in this folder.
The cleanup we will introduce here does not delete the "WinSxS" folder itself, but instead uses tools built into Windows to delete unnecessary files in the "WinSxS" folder and reduce its size.
This may help you avoid the "0x800f0988" error.
Steps to clean up the WinSxS folder
1.Start buttonRight-click on the icon and click "Terminal (Administrator)".
2. When the "User Account Control" message appears, click "Yes".
3. Type the following command and press Enter:
dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup4. The cleanup of the "WinSxS" folder will begin, so please wait.
When the cleanup is complete, the message "The operation completed successfully" will be displayed.
5. Once the cleanup is complete, restart your PC and try running Windows Update again.
*In my environment, approximately 4GB of files were deleted.
2. Check the services you need
If cleaning up the "WinSxS" folder does not resolve the issue, please check the status of the following four services:
1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run, enter the following code and press Enter:
services.msc
2. "Services" will open, so please check the status of the following four services.
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service
It transfers files in the background, using idle network bandwidth. Disabling the service prevents applications that rely on BITS, such as Windows Update and MSN Explorer, from automatically downloading programs and information. - Cryptographic Services
There are three management services provided: Catalog Database Service: Verifies Windows file signatures and allows new programs to be installed. Secure Root Service: Adds and removes Trusted Root Certification Authority certificates on this computer. Automatic Root Certificate Update Service: Retrieves root certificates from Windows Update and enables scenarios like SSL. If this service is stopped, these management services will not function properly. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. - Windows Modules Installer
Allows the installation, modification, and removal of Windows updates and optional components. If this service is disabled, installation or uninstallation of Windows Updates on this computer may fail. - Windows Update
Enables the detection, download, and installation of updates for Windows and other programs. If this service is disabled, users of this computer will not be able to use Windows Update or its Automatic Update feature, and will not be able to use the Windows Update Agent (WUA) API programmatically.
How to check the status of the service
Double-click on the desired service to open its properties, as shown below, and check the "Startup type."
Check that the four services are in the following status, and if they are not, change them and click OK.
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service = Automatic
- Cryptographic Services = Automatic
- Windows Modules Install = Automatic
- Windows Update = Automatic (Delayed)
Once you've completed all the settings, restart your PC and run Windows Update.
*If there is a service whose status cannot be changed, try restarting the computer and then opening the service again.
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