Fall Creators Update Fails 0x800704c7

What is the make and model of your computer?

 Have you checked the manufacturers website to determine compatibility?

Check this List to Determine if Your Computer is Compatible with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update 1709

perform the following tasks:

12 Things You Should Do Before Installing Windows 10 Creators Update (Version 1709)
 

If the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant becomes stuck or unresponsive at various percentages: 0%, 32%, 62%, 87%, 99%, please wait at least 4 to 7 hours. If you are updating through Windows Update, when the download reaches 99% disconnect from the Internet LAN (Ethernet) or Wi-Fi then proceed with the installation.

If setup does not progress, close the wizard then restart your computer. Follow the instructions to upgrade manually using the Media Creation Tool or the Windows 10 ISO file.

How to download official Windows 10 ISO files

How to Upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update version 1709 using ISO File from Versions 1507, 1511, 1607 and 1703 

“Fall Creators Update - Story of a million problems”

The thrilling saga of a Toshiba i5 laptop and a rapidly ageing retired IT engineer.

So what's the problem?

It is simply that the computer is in a constant state of trying to update Fall Creators on my laptop, and that means I’m permanently sharing my laptop with Microsoft, who, like a restless wife, takes up most of the bed.

Following the successful update to KB4053580 after only six attempts over three days, I had high hopes for the Fall Creators update.
Silly old me, I let Windows Update handle it. We never learn!
This took a day and a half in the “preparing installation” phase, taking an hour or two for each one percent progress, finally getting to 100% this morning and telling me I need to restart to finish the update. Yippee.
This I did.
The restart screens all shown that updates were being installed
But - when it came up again - three things.
1. Windows update was going for Creators again. What?!?!?
2. WINVER showed I am still on 1703.
3. History showed that I need a restart to finish the update
Clearly this combination cannot be valid, so UP is what something is!

Now it’s war! Sleeves rolled up, sweat-band on head, grandkids exiled.......

Uninstalled Avast, for good!

Uninstalled Malwarebytes, which until now had been disabled.
Ran the update troubleshooter, which once again said the update catalog was corrupted, which it then fixed.
Opened command prompt as admins and ran SFC /SCANNOW which reported no problems with any system files.
Stopped and restarted all the update services, BITS etc.
Unplugged all USB’s and peripherals.
Renamed Software Distribution folder.
Disconnected from the internet.
Created a Recovery drive, made sure everything I could possible back up was backed up to external backup hard drives by USB
Made sure everything else was safely on DropBox and other clouds.
Used media creator to get an ISO file of Windows 10 Home.
Burned a DVD of it just for good measure.

Plugged laptop into the mains.

Left battery in just in case of a power cut.
Restarted the laptop and said a prayer.
Double clicked the Windows 10 .iso file and setup is on its way, chose not to check for updates when it asked, because that way lie tears.

Stages and messages on screen.....
“Getting a few things ready” (half an hour)
“Accept the license”
“Choose what to keep” came and went with no choices. Oh dear.
“Making sure you’re ready to install”
(And at this stage, I am resigned to the possibility of a complete rebuild, but I hope not)
“Making sure your computer has enough space” (Well it would have if Microsoft hadn’t filled it up with zillions of update files!!!)
Hooray. A choice of
“Install Windows Home”
“Keep personal files and apps”
“Eat my own armpits”
I chose number 2.

Five hours
Hip Hip Hooray!
And we’re there at last - Windows 1309 Fall Creators all present and correct.

So what's it all about?

EDGE now works, and synchronises, on iPhone and iPad. Nice touch.
Google Chrome still works
Given up on Malwarebytes and Avast. Relying now on Defender, Windows Firewall and Superantispyware
Computer now as fast as the day I bought it in 2011. If not faster.

What a journey.
Question 1 - How would the ordinary person have managed this? Someone without substantial IT knowledge.
Question 2 - How on earth can Microsoft allow this to happen?
Question 3 - If I had just carried on without doing anything, would it have eventually sorted itself out? and if so, when? Because, believe me, the constant update loop slowed the computer down to almost unusable levels.

I sincerely hope this tale helps people out there.

Here are some useful links I found in the process:-

https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-fall-creators-update-common-installation-problems-and-fixes

http://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-download-and-install-the-windows-10-fall-creators-update-right-now

http://www.dummies.com/computers/operating-systems/windows-10/break-endless-windows-10-update-loop/

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-fall-creators-update-should-you-upgrade-now/

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update-winpc/windows-update-stuck-in-continuous-loop/c4d735fc-da92-4604-ae7a-1c5c443eea48