Have you ever been in a situation when you get the issue saying the Windows Update service could not be stopped? Fortunately, there are some methods that you can try to fix the issue. Feel free to try these but you are recommended to try the first one and then move to another.
Fix 1: Stop Wuauserv process
When the Windows Update service cannot be stopped, you can try to use the Command Prompt with administrative permissions in order to get rid of the issue. You will use the command to end the process that is recognized by its PID. In case you want to use the Windows Update functionality in the future, you can just have to restart the process with the Service tool once you stop it.
First of all, you will have to press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys at once to run the Task Manager utility. Another way is to press the Ctrl + Alt + Del key simultaneously and then select the Task Manager from the pop up window to open the Task Manager utility. Once it opens, click More details to expand the Task Manager. do not forget to click the Services tab and navigate to the wuauserv service located under the Name column. Do not forget to write down the PID number. Next, enter “cmd” in the search bar, right click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. After that, type the command “taskkill /f /pid PID” and hit Enter on your keyboard. If the Command Prompt displays that the process with the PID has been terminated, meaning you have successfully solved the issue.
Fix 2: Clear the contents of the update folder
When resetting the components of the Windows Update or trying to solve the issue of the automatic updates, this set of commands can be used. They can delete the contents of the folder to stop the Windows Update service.
To be able to clear the contents of the update folder, you will need to type “cmd” in the search bar, right click Command Prompt and then select Run as administrator. Then, type the command “net stop wuauserv” and “net stop bits” and hit Enter on the keyboard. After that, open the Windows Explorer, click This PC, and navigate to the location: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution on the computer. In the next step, click SoftwareDistribution if you want to open it and press Ctrl + A key at once to select all files, right click on this window, and press Delete from the content menu in order to delete the contents placed in the SoftwareDistribution folder. You can just type the command “net start wuauserv” and “net start bits” in the Command Prompt and hit Enter to run them if you want to restart the Windows Update service and the BITS. After you have followed all the instructions above, you can stop the Windows Update service successfully.
Fix 3: Perform a repair installation
Performing a repair installation requires you to create bootable Windows 10 media and then perform a repair installation. Do not worry if you are afraid of losing your personal files with this method as you will not lose anything. This way will install the newest version of Windows. It means if you want the Windows Update to work, please try this one last time.
- Make bootable Windows media
To make the Windows media bootable, the first thing that you will have to do is to click Download tool now to download the media creation tool from Microsoft. Please open the file that you have downloaded before, read the Applicable notices and license term well and click the Accept button to continue. Then, select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and press Next. The next thing that you will have to do is to choose the language, architecture, and edition that you want to use. You can also check the Use the recommended options for this PC and then click Next to continue. Another thing that you need to choose is the media that you want to use. Feel free to select either USB flash drive or ISO file. Actually, everything depends on the device that you want to use to store the image on. Please click Next if you want to continue. By doing so, the storage media that is connected to your computer will be displayed on the list. Please choose a USB or DVD drive from the list and click Next. In the end, the Media Creation Tool will download the important files and the process of downloading may take a few times, so please wait patiently. Once you have completed all the steps above, you will have your recovery media. In this stage, please start the recovery drive in order to fix the booting issue through the following steps.
- Perform a repair installation
First, insert the installation drive that you just have created in order to boot the computer. Keep in mind that the initial screen will be different, depending on the operating system that you have installed. Second, choose the language to install, time, and currency format and keyboard or input method, and then hit Next. Third, click the Repair your computer option to enter the Windows Recovery Environment. Fourth, choose Troubleshoot first and then select Reset this PC. Fifth, choose Keep my files and wait while the Reset this PC process prepares to start. Sixth, once Reset this PC is on its way, type in the password for the account and then click Continue. Seventh, click the Reset button once you are really sure that it is what you want to do. After following the process of Reset this PC, you should be able to get access to your Windows. Now, it is time for you to check to see if the BSODs still show up in a loop.
There are some common reasons that cause the Windows Update service could not be stopped. Some of them include missing administrator privileges and there is something wrong with your computer. To fix the issue, you can try to stop Wuauaserv, clear the contents of the update folder, or perform a repair installation.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
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