Fix: Windows Update Error 0x800f0984 (5 Solutions)

If you encounter error code 0x800f0984 when trying to install the Windows 10 update, it means that the matching component directory exists but binary is missing. This means that the update you are trying to install could not find the essential files on the older Windows 10 version installed.

Windows Update Error 0x800f0984 Fix

This guide provides several methods to fix the error, but first, let’s explore some of the main causes:

Here are the methods you can try to fix the error:

Method 1: Manually Install the Update

If any of the essential Windows components used by the Windows Update are corrupt or missing, then installation of automatic Windows updates may fail. However, manually installing the same update as it uses different directories/services may solve the update error 0x800f0984.

  1. Launch a web browser and go to the Windows 10 section of Microsoft’s website.
  2. Under the latest update assistant, click on Update Now and then let the download complete.
    Download Latest Windows Update Assistant by Clicking on Update Now
  3. Right-click on the downloaded file of the update assistant and select Run as Administrator.
  4. Follow the prompts to complete the process and once completed, check if the error 0x800f0984 is cleared.

Method 2: Change the Power Plan of your System

In the Power Saving Mode, the system may favor the battery over performance, resulting in the low performance of many essential system services/resources. This low performance of the services/resources can hamper the way Windows Update works, leading to the error at hand. The same can be rectified by changing the PC’s Power Plan to high performance.

  1. Right-click Windows and select Power Options.
    Open Power Options from the Quick Access Menu
  2. Click the on Additional Power Options link in the right pane and in the new Power Options window shown, click on Create a Power Plan.
    Open Additional Power Settings
  3. Select High Performance and click on Next (you may enter the Power Plan name as per your likings).
    Create a Power Plan
  4. Click Create; once the new Power Plan is applied, retry the update to check if it can be installed without error 0x800f0984.
    Create a New High-Performance Power Plan

Method 3: Run DISM and SFC Scans on Your System

If the essential system files are corrupt, it may lead to the error 0x800f0984. In this case, executing the DISM/SFC scans may clear the files’ corruption, which may solve the problem.

  1. Click Windows, key-in CMD, and in the results shown, right-click Command Prompt.
    Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  2. Select Run as Administrator and then execute the following: 
    Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    Use the DISM Command to RestoreHealth
  3. This can take around 20-30 minutes to complete, and once completed, execute the following. This may take time to complete the execution 
    sfc /scannow
    Perform an SFC Scan
  4. Once completed, check if the update can be installed without error 0x800f0984.

Method 4: Reset the Windows Update Components

This error can occur due to corrupt Windows Update components, which are crucial for the proper installation and execution of Windows updates. To resolve this issue, resetting your system’s Windows Update components to their default settings may be necessary.

  1. Right-click on the Windows icon and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.
  2. Copy and paste the following commands one by one into the PowerShell window and press Enter after each one, ignoring any error messages: 
    net stop bits net stop wuauserv net stop appidsvc net stop cryptsvc Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%Application DataMicrosoftNetworkDownloader*.*" rmdir %systemroot%SoftwareDistribution /S /Q rmdir %systemroot%system32catroot2 /S /Q regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll netsh winsock reset netsh winsock reset proxy net start bits net start wuauserv net start appidsvc net start cryptsvc
  3. Once all the commands have been executed, exit the PowerShell window and restart your computer

Method 5: Perform an in-place Upgrade

In case none of the solutions mentioned above resolve the issue, you may consider performing an in-place upgrade of your Windows system. This process reinstalls the operating system on your PC and may help solve the problem with the update.

However, it is recommended that you create a system restore point and back up your essential files before proceeding with the upgrade. This will help ensure that you can easily restore your system and files in case of any unexpected issues.

  1. Open a web browser and go to Microsoft’s website for Windows 10.
  2. Scroll down and click on the “Download Tool Now” button in the “Create Windows 10 Installation Media” section.
    Download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft Website
  3. Once the tool is downloaded, launch it as administrator and accept the license terms.
    Launch the Media Creation Tool as Administrator
  4. Select “Upgrade This PC Now” and choose “Keep Windows Settings, Personal Files, and Apps“.
    Select Upgrade This PC Now
  5. Follow the prompts to complete the upgrade process, then check if the error is cleared.
    Keep Windows Settings, Personal Files, and Apps

If upgrading using the Media Creation Tool didn’t work, try creating a bootable USB with the Windows 10 ISO and using that device to upgrade the PC’s Windows.

If that fails, then you may download/ mount the ISO image of Windows 10 and use it to run the following DISM command in PowerShell (Admin):

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth /source:wim:F:sourcesinstall.wim:5 /limitaccess

Make sure to replace “F” with the driver letter of the mounted ISO and “5” with the edition of Windows you’re using. If the ISO file was created with Microsoft’s media creation tool, replace “Install.wim” with “Install.esd”. After running the DISM command, check if the error is resolved.

— Update: 19-03-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article [Solved] Run into the Windows 10 Update Error 0x800f0984? [Partition Manager] from the website www.partitionwizard.com for the keyword windows update error 0x800f0984.

When you attempt to update Windows 10, you may fail with the error 0x800f0984 which is also known as the PSFX_E_MATCHING_BINARY_MISSING (Matching component directory exists but binary missing) error. It is really annoying.

To help you remove the error code 0x800f0984 in Windows 10, some methods are available below.

Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

The Windows Update troubleshooter is a built-in utility on your device that is used to fix issues related to Windows updates. Therefore, you can try to run the troubleshooter first when you get stuck in the error 0x800f0984.

Step 1: Press Windows and I together to open Windows Settings. Then select Update & Security.

Step 2: Go to Troubleshoot and click Additional troubleshooters from the right panel.

Step 3: Select Windows Update in this window and then click Run the troubleshooter.

Step 4: The troubleshooter will automatically start detecting problems associated with Windows Update. If any issues are found, you are supposed to follow the instructions to fix them.

After the process is completed, try to install the update one more time to check if the Windows update error 0x800f0984 is repaired.

Method 2: Run SFC and DISM Scans

Sometimes, the error code 0x800f0984 in Windows 10 will come out if there are some corrupted system files on your device. In this case, you ought to run the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans to fix the corrupted system files.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.

Step 2: Type cmd in the box and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 3: In the Command Prompt panel, type sfc /scannow and then hit Enter to execute the command.

Step 4: Once the scan finishes successfully, restart your computer and try the original update again to see if the error disappears. If it doesn’t, you should continue with the DISM scan.

Step 5: Run Command Prompt as administrator again and type DISM/ Online/ Cleanup-Image/ RestoreHealth in the panel. Then press Enter to start the scan.

Source: us.suanoncolosence.com

After the scan, restart your computer and you might be able to update your Windows 10 without the error 0x800f0984. If the error persists, you should move on to the next solution.

Method 3: Clean the SoftwareDistribution Folder

The SoftwareDistribution folder is used to store the temporary files that Windows update needs. When certain files in the folder get damaged or corrupted, the error 0x800f0984 probably comes out and prevents you from updating the Windows system.

To resolve the error code 0x800f0984 in Windows 10 on this occasion, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Run Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2: Type net stop wuauserv and then press Enter to stop the Windows Update service temporarily.

Step 3: Press Windows + E to open File Explorer and navigate to the C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution folder. Delete all the contents in this folder.

Step 4: Open Command Prompt as administrator again. Type net start wuauserv and press Enter to start the Windows Update service.

After you apply the operation, you can go to check if the error code 0x800f0984 in Windows 10 has been fixed.

Via @: us.suanoncolosence.com

Method 4: Reset the Windows Update Components

In some cases, resetting the Windows Update components is also a good way to solve the error 0x800f0984. You can have a try.

If you have created a healthy restore point before the error occurs, you can perform system restore to get rid of the Windows update error 0x800f0984 as well.

If you cannot resolve the error with the above methods, you can try to manually update Windows 10.

Take it easy when you get into trouble with the error code 0x800f0984 in Windows 10. Try these methods mentioned above. They are likely to help you fix the error. What’s more, you can leave a message in our comment zone if you have any questions while resolving the error.

— Update: 25-03-2023 — us.suanoncolosence.com found an additional article How to fix Windows Update error 0x800f0984 from the website www.bugsfighter.com for the keyword windows update error 0x800f0984.

What is Windows Update Error 0x800f0984

0x800f0984 (PSFX_E_MATCHING_BINARY_MISSING) is an update-related error that appears on Windows 10. Such issues pop up quite often when trying to install incoming updates or patches. As statistics show, such problems are faced due to corrupted files or settings, incompatible software, and other reasons that conflict with the update center. Below, we will walk through all of the steps that are more likely to resolve the 0x800f0984 issue.

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

Whenever you deal with update-related issues, the very first thing you should try is Windows Troubleshooter – a special utility already in-built to your system. In order to launch the utility, here are the simple steps to do it.

  1. Open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  2. On the right pane, locate Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.
  3. Finish the process following the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

2. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan

As we mentioned in the introduction of this article, some update problems can be out-turn of missing or damaged files. Usually, these files are essential system components ensuring the proper connection between different processes. If some of these files fall out of the list, more likely it will raise up the error. Below, we are going to use both System File Checker (SFC) and DISM, which will detect and restore absent components. Here is how:

  1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
  2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
  3. Once the console is opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
  4. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.

After you finish this step, try to install the update again. If the error still reminds about itself, try the DISM scan below.

3. Run DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is similar to running an SFC scan. However, it uses different algorithms to find the problem and fix corrupted data that SFC could miss. Therefore, let’s try to run it using Command Prompt as we did already.

  1. Open Command Prompt as we did in the previous step.
  2. Copy and paste this command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
  3. Click Enter and wait until Windows ends the scanning and fixing.
  4. Once done, restart your PC and install the update again.

4. Turn off/delete third-party software

Third-party software like antivirus has a tendency to cause malfunctions in some services. It can both suspect and mistake suspicious processes happening in your system. For some reason, even Windows services may be blacklisted and restricted by anti-malware software. Because we do not know whether it is a case or not, try to disable a non-native antivirus if you have it installed. Besides antivirus being a culprit for such errors, unwanted or malicious programs can lead to the same ramifications as well. If you remember installing something new recently, try to delete it and check the difference. Maybe it will resolve the issue. If you are unsure how to delete malicious programs correctly, we recommend you to download a great and trusted antivirus by MalwareBytes (use the button below).

Download Malwarebytes

5. Install the necessary update in Safe Mode

Instead of deleting third-party software that raises a conflict with Windows Updates, you can boot up your PC in Safe Mode. This option will launch your system only with the default configuration settings, which will prevent third-party programs from interacting with Windows processes. Here is how:

  1. Open Settings via the Start menu or press Windows key + I buttons together.
  2. Navigate Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced Startup.
  3. Then, click Restart Now.
  4. Your system will restart and boot with the Windows Recovery Environment.
  5. Whilst there, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
  6. Now click on Restart and choose Enable Safe mode with Networking once it reboots.
  7. Finally, being in Safe Mode, try to install the conflicting update as usual.

6. Restart Windows components and Update service

This method helps you reset Windows Update settings. The whole procedure involves restarting BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update services as well as renaming some update folders (SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2). These folders contain special signatures for Windows Updates. Based on this, we will force Windows to delete corrupted elements and create update components from scratch. We are going to use the console to run the necessary commands. This is more advanced, but will not take too much time and knowledge to do it. Just follow the steps below:

  1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
  2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
  3. Copy-paste this list of commands one by one clicking Enter after each. (This action will disable services responsible for Windows Updates)
  4. Then, we have to rename the above-mentioned folders. Simply paste these commands by clicking Enter after each.
  5. Finally, all left to do is to turn the disabled services back. So apply these commands likewise we did previously.
  6. Now we are all done with it. Go to the Windows Update center and try to perform the installation again.

7. Try to download a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

If there is a problem receiving a KB update from the server, you can try to install it manually. Before doing so, we will have to note which update you need to install. For this:

  1. Press Windows key + I at the same time.
  2. Then navigate to Update & Security.
  3. On the right side of the window, choose View update history.
  4. After this, find and note the most recent KB update (on top of the list).
  5. Once done, search and download the noted update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

8. Use Media Creation Tool

Another option to install updates is via Media Creation Tool. It allows users to upgrade the system to the latest version existing. This procedure will not touch your personal data but simply update the PC. In order to do it, follow the steps listed below:

  1. First, you have to download the utility from the Microsoft website.
  2. Then, execute the downloaded file.
  3. After agreeing with the Terms of use, there will be two options to choose from. Select Upgrade this PC now.
  4. Choose to Keep Personal Files to ensure they will be untouched.
  5. Finally, launch the process and wait until it ends.
  6. Hopefully, this method helped you combat the 0x800f0984 error.

Summary

We are happy to announce this is the end of the guide. At least one of the listed solutions should resolve the issue at the end of the day. We hope this is the case and you are no longer troubled by any error warnings. On our website, you can also find articles helping to deal with malware, potentially unwanted programs, and other Windows-related errors that cause a lot of confusion around the users.

Source: https://appuals.com/windows-update-error-0x800f0984/

Article post on: us.suanoncolosence.com

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