Easily Fix Windows Update Error 0x8007042b [Complete Guide]

The Error 0x8007042b during installation of the Windows update is usually triggered due to a misconfiguration in the update files or corrupted files. In addition to that, there might be a third party antivirus or an app that is blocking the update process. In this article, we have listed a detailed guide filled with solutions to completely fix the issue on your computer.

Error 0x8007042b

What Causes the Error 0x8007042B during Windows Update?

After reading the user complaints regarding this issue, we came to the conclusion that the following must be the primary reasons due to which the error is triggered.

  • Antivirus: If the Antivirus installed on your computer is glitching out and blocking certain aspects of the update from being installed on the computer, we recommend that you completely remove the Antivirus from your computer and apply the update.
  • Windows Services: Some Windows Services related to the Windows Update can be glitched or blocked due to which the update process might not proceed smoothly. Therefore, we suggest that you try to refresh these services and check to see if doing so fixes the 0x8007042b – 0x4000d issue.
  • Disk Corruption: Sometimes the Disk on which Windows has been installed might have acquired some bad sectors or it might be glitched due to which the Error 0x8007042b might occur on your computer. Therefore, we suggest that you try to check for Disk Corruption and fix it.
  • Windows Update Components: In certain cases, the Windows update components might have been glitched or the folder in which the update is downloaded might have been corrupted. A simple alternative to this is completely refreshing the folder and the components as mentioned below.

Now that you have been taken through most of the reasons behind the issue, you can finally start implementing the solutions.

Fixing the Error 0x8007042B on your Computer:

Solution 1: Uninstall the 3rd Party Antivirus

The error can sometimes be caused if the Antivirus installed on the system is preventing the update from being installed. This can be due to Avast, AVG, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes or any other antivirus software. In order to remove the software:

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch Run, type in “Appwiz.cpl” and press “Enter” to launch into the application wizard.
    Typing in “Appwiz.cpl” in the Run box.
  2. In here, right-click on the Antivirus application installed on your computer and select the “Uninstall/Change” button.
    Select “Uninstall”
  3. From the next window, follow the on-screen instructions to completely remove the Antivirus from your computer and check to see if the 0x8007042b error is fixed.

Solution 2: Refreshing BITS Service

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch the Run prompt, type in “Services.msc” and press “Enter” to launch into the service management window.
    Typing in “services.msc”
  2. From here, locate the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and right-click on it.
  3. Select the “Properties” option from the menu and click on the “Startup Type” dropdown and select “Automatic (Delayed)” from it.
    Changing Startup type Automatic
  4. After this, click on the “Stop” button to stop the service and press “Start” to start it back up again after 5 seconds.
  5. Click on “Apply” and then on “OK” to save your changes and check to see if the 0x8007042b error is resolved.

Solution 3: Run DISM and SFC Scan

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch into the Run prompt, type in “cmd” and press “Shift + CTRL + Enter” to launch with admin permissions.
    Typing in cmd
  2. From here, type in the following commands one by one and press “enter” to execute them on your computer.
    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth sfc /scannow
  3. Check to see if doing so fixes the 0x8007042b error.

Solution 4: Reset Windows Update Components

  1. Press “Windows + R” to start the Run prompt, type in “cmd” and then press the “Shift + CTRL  + Enter” keys on your keyboard to launch in administrative mode.
    Typing in cmd
  2. From there, type in the following commands one by one and press “Enter” after each to execute them on the computer.
    net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 catroot2.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  3. After executing these commands, restart your computer and check to see if the Windows Update Error 0x8007042b is fixed.

Solution 5: Installing Windows Updates

  1. Press “Windows + I” to launch into the settings, click on the “Update & Security” option and select the “Windows Update” button from the left side.
  2. From there, click on the “Check for Updates” button and let Windows complete the checking process for any missing updates.
    Check For Updates
  3. From here, make sure to select the “Download and Install” button if there are any updates available.
  4. Check to see if doing so has fixed the issue.

Solution 6: Remove Extra Peripherals

In some cases, it is possible that you have attached some extra peripherals to the computer which is preventing it from being able to properly update your computer. Therefore, we recommend that you try to remove the extra peripherals and check to see if doing so fixes the 0x8007042b error.

Solution 7: Clear out Recent Items List

  1. Press “Windows + E” to launch the File Explorer and from the left side, click on the “Quick Access” option.
  2. Now, from the list of “Recent Items”, press the left-click button on the mouse and drag to select all the items.
  3. Right-click on the selected items and click on the “Remove from Quick Access” option.
    Selecting Remove from Quick Access

Solution 8: Perform System Restore

  1. Press “Windows + R” to start the Run app, type in “rstrui.exe” and press the “Enter” key to start the Windows Restore service
  2. On the next window, select “Choose a Different Restore Point” and click on “Next”.
    Selecting the Restore Point
  3. From the list, select the Restore point that is before the date on which the 0x8007042b issue started.
  4. Click on “Next” and follow through with the on-screen instructions to completely restore your computer.
  5. Check to see if doing so fixes the 0x8007042b error.

Solution 9: Install Update using Media Creation Tool

  1. Download the Windows Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft official site, once downloaded copy the file to a USB flash drive.
  2. After that, run the downloaded executable and select the “Upgrade this PC Now” option.
    Upgrade this PC now
  3. From the next screen, click on the “Download and Install Updates” button and select “Next”.
  4. Wait for the updates to be downloaded and from the “Choose what to Keep” option, make sure that the “Keep Personal Files and Apps” is selected.
  5. Now, proceed with the on-screen instructions to install the updates on your computer.

Solution 10: Clear Windows Update Cache

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch Run, type in the following address and press “enter”.
    %windir%SoftwareDistributionDataStore
  2. Press “CTRL + A” to select all the files in this folder and select the “Shift + Delete” buttons on the keyboard.
  3. Check to see if removing the cache fixes the 0x8007042b error.

Solution 11: Refresh Windows Update Service

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch the Run prompt, type in “services.msc” and press “enter” to launch into the service management window.
    Typing in “services.msc”
  2. From there, right-click on the “Windows Update” service and select “Properties” from the dropdown menu.
  3. Click on the “General” tab and select the “Stop” button to stop the service.
  4. After waiting for a while, click on the “Start” button to start the service back up.
  5. Click on “OK” to exit out of the Window.
  6. Check to see if doing so fixes the 0x8007042b error.

Solution 12: Clearing Update Download Location

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch Run, type in “Regedit” and press “Enter” to launch into the registry editor.
  2. From here, navigate through to the following address.
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdate
  3. From the right side, click on the “WUServer” and the “WIStatusServer” option and select the “Delete” button to remove them from the computer.

Solution 13: Rename your CBL Log

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch into the Run prompt, type in the following address and press “Enter” to navigate to the address.
    %systemroot%LogsCBS
  2. In here, try to rename the CBS.log to something else and try to update your Windows.
  3. If you are unable to rename the log file, press “Windows + R“, type in “services.msc” and press “Enter”.
    Typing in “services.msc”
  4. From the services window, right-click on the “Windows Modules Installer” option and select “Properties”.
  5. Click on the “Startup Type” dropdown and select “Manual”.
    Changing Startup type to Manual
  6. Click on “Apply” to save your changes and “OK” to exit out of the window.
  7. From here, restart your computer and try to rename the file again and check to see if the 0x8007042b error is fixed.

Solution 14: Troubleshoot Windows Update

  1. Press “Windows + I” to launch settings, click on the “Troubleshoot” option and select “Additional Troubleshooters” from the left side.
    Clicking on Additional Troubleshooters
  2. From here, click on the “Windows Update“ button and click on the “Run the Troubleshooter” button.
  3. Wait for the troubleshooting process to be completed and check to see if the issue is fixed.

Solution 15: Try Updating in Safe Mode

  1. Press “Windows + R” to launch the RUN prompt, type in “msconfig” and press “Enter” to launch into the ms configuration panel.
    Typing in “Msconfig”
  2. From here, click on the “General” tab from above and ensure that you check the “Selective Startup” option.
  3. After that, ensure that only the “Load System Services” option is checked and the rest are unchecked.
  4. After doing that, click on the “Services” tab and from there, check the “Hide all Microsoft Services” option and then click on the “Disable All” button.
    Hide All Microsoft Services
  5. Click on “Apply” to save your changes and “OK” to close out of the Window.
  6. Restart your computer and it will be booted into the safe mode.
  7. In this mode, try to install the update and check to see if doing so fixes the error while updating.
  8. Undo all the changes that we made after updating and restart the computer to boot out of the Safe mode.

Solution 16: Perform Clean Install

It is possible in some cases that the Windows Installation might have been corrupted due to which this particular issue is being triggered. Therefore, we recommend that you try to perform a clean install and then check to see if that fixes the 0x8007042b error.

Solution 17: Contact Microsoft Support

Sometimes the Microsoft Support might be able to troubleshoot the issue for you if it is being triggered due to a known glitch or fault. Therefore, contacting them might be the solution to this issue.

If all else fails, try contacting us for further troubleshooting.


— Update: 19-03-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article How to fix Windows 10 update error 0x8007042B? from the website www.auslogics.com for the keyword fix windows 10 update error 0x8007042b.

Updates usually bring new and more reliable features for Windows users. However, some upgrades come with issues, including the error code 0x8007042B. Because of this problem, users are prevented from installing the latest build. It is undeniable that some people find these updates an annoyance. However, it is almost impossible to avoid or disable them. So, the only choice is to learn how to fix Windows 10 error code 0x8007042b 0x2000d.

Common Error 0x8007042b Windows 10 Upgrade Scenarios

The error code 0x8007042b can interrupt the update process, leaving your computer vulnerable. If you encounter this problem, it is important for you to learn how to fix Windows 10 upgrade failed right away. Here are some of the scenarios associated with this error:

  • Windows 10 upgrade failed – In some cases, the Windows Update process fails because of the error code 0x8007042b. You can easily fix this by disabling your anti-virus.
  • 0x8007042b Windows 10 upgrade – This can show up while you’re trying to install a new build of Windows 10. If this error persists, it would be advisable to manually download and install the update.
  • Windows 10 error code 0x8007042b 0x2000d – There are other cases wherein the error message is accompanied by another error code. If this happens on your computer, you can try to repair your files and check if it fixes the issue.

Method 1: Disabling or removing your anti-virus

If you’re getting the 8007042b Windows 10 Upgrade error, it would be advisable to disable certain features of your anti-virus. Check if doing this resolves the problem. On the other hand, if the issue persists, then you should try completely disabling your anti-virus.

If that doesn’t work, you should just completely remove your security software. That said, it might be time to consider a different security tool. When you go online, you will find several anti-virus programs that can deliver great performance. However, for Windows 10, we highly recommend Auslogics Anti-Malware.

This can detect threats and attacks that your built-in anti-virus would miss. Aside from that, it is designed to be compatible with Windows 10. This means that it would not interfere with your main anti-virus.

Method 2: Manually downloading and installing the update

One of the simplest workarounds for the error 0x8007042B is manually installing the update. You just have to follow these steps:

  1. Click the Search icon on your taskbar.
  2. Type “updates” (no quotes), then select Check for Updates from the list.
  3. If you see an update that you need to install, take note of the code.
  4. Launch your web browser, then search for Microsoft Catalogue.
  5. In the search bar, type the name of the KB.
  6. Download and install the update file.
  7. Restart your computer to complete the installation process.

You won’t encounter the error message because you are manually downloading and installing the update. However, it is worth noting that the root cause of the problem still exists. So, the error will return when your system automatically downloads future updates. You can permanently fix this by using the next method.

Method 4: Launching an SFC scan and a DISM scan

Some users reported that the error 8007042B may be caused by file corruption. You can run an SFC scan to repair your files and resolve the problem. Just follow the instructions below:

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+X.
  2. From the list, select Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin).
  3. Type “sfc /scannow” (no quotes), then hit Enter.

The SFC scan should take a couple of minutes. Just wait and avoid interrupting it. Once the process is complete, check if the issue has been resolved.

If an SFC scan does not get rid of the error, your next resort would be to run a DISM scan. To do that, simply repeat steps first two steps in performing an SFC scan. In the Command Prompt, type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” (no quotes). Again, you have to wait until the DISM scan is complete. The process might take longer. So, be patient and avoid interfering with it.

Method 5: Resetting the components of Windows Update

Some users reported that they had been able to resolve the error 0x8007042B by resetting the Windows Update components. In order for your system to properly work, it has to rely on certain services. If these services are corrupted, it is possible for you to encounter the error 8007042B while installing updates.

On the other hand, you can fix this issue by running a couple of commands. That said, follow the steps below:

Source: us.suanoncolosence.com

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+S.
  2. Type “command prompt” (no quotes).
  3. Right-click Command Prompt from the list, then select Run as Administrator.
  4. Once Command Prompt is up, paste the following commands:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 catroot2.old

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

pause

After running the commands, check if you’ve gotten rid of the error.

Method 6: Performing System Restore

You can also try taking your system back to a previous state where it was properly functioning. In this way, the error 0x8007042B won’t appear, allowing you to smoothly install the updates. Here are the steps:

  1. Go to your taskbar, then click the Search icon.
  2. Type “system restore” (no quotes).
  3. Click Create a Restore Point from the list.
  4. You will see the System Properties window.
  5. Click the System Restore button.
  6. Once the System Restore window is up, click Next.
  7. Choose your preferred restore point, then click Next.
  8. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Once you’ve restored your system to a previous state, try installing the update, then check if the error has been fixed.

Method 7: Using Windows Media Creation Tool to install the update

If any of our aforementioned solutions did not work for you, you should try performing a clean install. If there are corrupted, missing, or damaged system files, the only foolproof manner of dealing with them would be to reinstall your system. Once you’ve done that, you can perform the updates and get rid of the error 0x8007042B. Here is the process:

  1. Go to Microsoft’s website and download the Media Creation Tool.
  2. Save it to a USB flash drive, then install it to your computer.
  3. Choose Upgrade this PC now, then click Next.
  4. The tool will now start preparing the necessary files.
  5. Select the ‘Download and install updates (recommended)’ option, then click Next.
  6. Wait while setup is downloading the necessary files.
  7. Follow the on-screen instructions until you reach the ‘Ready to install’ screen.
  8. Select the ‘Change what to keep’ option.
  9. Don’t forget to select the ‘Keep personal files and apps’ option, then click Next.
  10. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

To ensure that your computer will run smoothly after installing the updates, we also recommend using Auslogics Driver Updater. This tool will recognize your system and find the latest, compatible drivers. It will deal with missing, outdated, and corrupted drivers, ensuring that your computer will deliver its optimum performance.

Can you recommend other workarounds for this error?

Share your ideas in the comments below!

Source: https://techisours.com/0x8007042b/

Article post on: us.suanoncolosence.com

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