We have already seen how to reset Windows Update to default using the Reset Windows Update Components Tool. Our Fix WU Utility re-registers all Windows Update related dll files and resets other settings to default. But if you want to know how to manually reset each Windows Update component individually to default in Windows 11/10/8/7, then this post is what you are looking for.
Reset Windows Update Components in Windows 11/10
Here is the summary of all the steps you need to take to reset Windows Update Components to defaults in Windows 11/10:
1] Stop Windows Update Services
First you will need to stop the Background Intelligent Transfer, Windows Update, Cryptographic Services. The services basically allow Windows to download all files and update that are used by Automatic Windows Update and other Windows components. It uses the idle bandwidth of network connection when your connection is idle and silently downloads files in the background. It is, therefore, the best practice to disable the BITS service before proceeding. To do so, in an elevated command prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after you type each command.
2] Delete the qmgr*.dat files
Next, you need to delete the qmgr*.dat files. In order to reset Windows Update components, you will need to delete the files. To do this, at a command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter: It’s worth mentioning here that if this is the first time you are trying to resolve your Windows Update issues by following the steps in this post, it is advisable to skip this very step and jump directly to the next step. The step should only be followed for troubleshooting when you see no solution in sight despite trying all steps outlined in the article except this step since the step is performed by the “Aggressive” mode of the Fix it Solution.
3] Flush the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders
Rename the SoftwareDistribution and catroot2 folders. To do this, at a command prompt, type the following commands. Make sure that you press Enter after you type each command. Read: Windows Update keeps disabling itself automatically.
4] Reset the BITS service and the Windows Update service to the default security descriptor
To do this, at a command prompt, type the following commands. Make sure that you press Enter after you type each command. Now, in the command prompt window that is opened, type the following command, and then press Enter:
5] Re-register the BITS files and the Windows Update related DLL files
Re-register the BITS files and the Windows Update related dll files, in the command prompt window, type the following commands. Do not forget to hit the Enter key after every command you type.
6] Delete incorrect Registry values
Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following key: Right-click COMPONENTS. Now in the right-pane, delete the following if they exist:
PendingXmlIdentifierNextQueueEntryIndexAdvancedInstallersNeedResolving
Restart your computer.
7] Reset Winsock
It is a technical specification that defines how Windows network software should access network services, especially TCP/IP. Windows OS comes with a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file called winsock.dll which implements the API and coordinates Windows programs and TCP/IP connections. Due to some reason, Windows Sockets popularly referred to as Winsock may get corrupted. As such, a user may experience difficulty in establishing a connection to the Internet. It, therefore, becomes necessary to repair Winsock by resetting it. To Reset Winsock, in the command prompt window, type the following command, and then press Enter: TIP: Reset Windows Update Tool will restore settings & components to default automatically.
8] Restart Windows Update Services
Once all is done, restart the BITS service, the Windows Update service, and the Cryptographic service. To do this, switch back to the command prompt and enter the following commands. Again, make sure that you press Enter after you type each command. Finally, make sure that you have installed the latest Windows Update Agent on your computer.
Restart your computer to complete the process. The Windows Update Troubleshooter basically automated the entire manual process and helps you fix Windows Update problems in a click.
