I cannot update Windows version 1909 to 20H2 when using the Windows Update Assistant

Hi! PlzAssist123

I'm James, An Independent Advisor, and I will help you with this issue

I suggest you try to fix the Windows Updates problems by running the Windows Update Troubleshooter. To do that follow these steps below:

1. Go to Start Menu > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update.

2. Wait it finishes and check if the issue persist.

Also, before proceeding to the methods below, to troubleshoot the Windows 10 Update installation issues, perform the following actions and then install the update:

1. Make Sure that you have enough free disk space (at least 32GB) before installing the update.

2. Temporarily disable or completely uninstall any 3rd party antivirus or security program from your system.

3. Disable Drive Encryption: If you have enabled the device encryption on your system (BitLocker, etc...), then proceed and decrypt the drive C: before installing the update.

Windows Media Creation Tool for update

1. Grab the media creation tool here: http://microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/wi...

2. Found the MediaCreationTool.exe and double-click it

3. You will be asked to either Upgrade this PC now or Create installation media for another PC. The default option is already upgrade so just hit Next and follow the steps. The app will download some files, process, check for updates and then check your PC. This process could take some time depending on your connection. Nothing has actually installed yet.

4. Choose Accept for the license terms.

5. It will ask you if you want to keep your files and others options, select your options and then click install.

6. There you will need to wait that it finish

Manually update of your Windows 10

1. Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

2. Do a search for the update using the KB number for the update you want. For example, KB3194798.

3. Click the Download button for the 64-bit or 32-bit version of the update.

4. A pop-up window will appear with a direct download link, click it to download the .msu file.

5. When it finishes, just start the .msu and install the update.

Try to delete the Windows Update folder.

Maybe you have an incomplete download of the update. At this case you have to delete the Windows Update Store folder (C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution), in order to force Windows to re download the update.

1. Press the Windows Key + R keys to open the run command box.

2. Type services.msc and press OK.

3. From the list of services, at the right pane locate the Windows Update service.

4. Right click on Windows Update service and choose Stop.

5. Close Services window.

Note: If you cannot stop the Windows Update service, then:

a. Double-click on it to open its Properties.

b. Set the Startup type to Disabled and click OK.

c. Restart your computer.

d. After restart, continue below.

6. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows folder.

7. Locate and then Delete the SoftwareDistribution folder.

Notes:
1. If you cannot delete the folder with error "Folder in use – try again", then restart Windows in "Safe Mode" and repeat the procedure.

2. If you have disabled the Windows Update service (Startup type = Disabled), then go to services and set the Startup type to Automatic.

8. Restart your computer and try to install the update.

Fix the Windows corruption errors with DISM & SFC tools.

This will help you to repair the Windows 10 system files and check for any issues, follow these steps below:

1. Open the Start menu, in the Search box type cmd or command prompt.

2. Right-click on the command prompt and select Run as Administrator.

3. When you Open it type the following command & press Enter:

Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth

Be patient until DISM repairs component store. When the operation is completed, (you should be informed that the component store corruption was repaired), give this command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

4. When SFC scan is completed, restart your computer.

5. Try to update your system again.

Reset the Windows Update Components, follows the steps in the article below:

https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/deployment/u...

Try to delete some Registry Keys and check if the issue persist.

First we need to back up the registry if something goes wrong, follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type in the following text, and then press Enter. regedit.

3. On the File menu, click Export.

4. In the File name box, type a name that you will remember, such as Registry Backup.

5. Select a location where you want to save the Registration Entries (.reg) file.

6. Click Save.

Now we can proceed.

1. Inside regedit, on the left, navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

2. On the left, you'll see a list of profile IDs, most likely including S-1-5-18, S-1-5-19, S-1-5-20, and several more with much longer names. Chances are good one of them represents a bad profile that should've been deleted.

3. Click on each of the long-name profiles in turn, and look on the right for ProfileImagePath. If any of the entries in ProfileList point to a ProfileImagePath that doesn't make sense, right-click on the profile ID and choose Delete.

4. When you finish deleting it, close the regedit and restart your PC.

5. Check if the issue persist.

If you need more help with this issue, just let me know and I will help you.

What is the make and model of your laptop.

See if these known issues help.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-information/status-windows-10-20h2

Dear Please-Assist-123,

 Check your windows version - ie. Is it "Home".

 20H2 does not install on 'Home' versions just yet. It does for Pro, Enterprise, etc.

Cheers,

Rick.

Sorry Rick but I have Windows 10 Home and 20H2 updated no problem. I don't think the edition is a specific block reason.

Hi Neil :-)

 As you know (April-May) we have a heap of systems here and with IT 'working from home', certain others have to do the onsite upgrade stuff ourselves. I usually do six to ten in one hit.

 Thought they were all Enterprise or Professional, but noticed in last months upgrade on of the little Toshiba's thew-up a message (getting your system ready for 20H2), then checked and it showed "Home". All the others upgraded OK (bar one - slow because I missed seeing a plugged-in back-up USB ... upgraded OK, but took three hours longer. no drama because the usb connected drives usually cause a fail/mega-fail).

 Asked about the 'getting things ready' @ 1909. Was told "Home" was usually a week or two after Pro and Enterprise.

 Great to know the Toshiba can now upgrade, but it will have to wait until the 20th (day we do the systems).

 When IT finally get back (and I fix the Z400), the 'home' will be corrected or updated - system continuity reasons. Have checked the November 2019 audits (was Pro back then, so I want to know what happened - think it went out for RAM upgrading in October, so must have got switched back then).

 Cheers, stay safe and keep smiling,

 Rick.

I am getting this on Windows 10 Enterprise virtual machines in Hyper-V.

I updating from 1803. Some will install the 20H2 update fine and others will get to 1909 and then show this error message. When the 20H2 update is successfully this is what shows in the update history. 

James, a very detailed explanation from you.

My desktop PC is running Windows 10 Pro X64, Feature Edition 1909, it is kept up to date WRT all updates. No updates were ever offered for FE 2004 nor FE20H2. I have made several attempts to load FE 20H2 with the aid of newly downloaded Update Assistant, all goes well until shortly after download completes, then it reports a failure to install with error code 0xC1900201. Any ideas ???

The error report within the "Failure" window reads "You can't install Windows on a USB flash drive using Start-up" - that's not what I was attempting to do !

Hi!

It seems that the problem is that your PC's hardware/software is not compatible with version 2004 nor 20h2. I would advise you to wait until windows update ( included with windows not the update assistant) offers you the update. However, if you desperately need 20h2 or 2004, try to use the media creation tool. Note that using this tool to update a computer that is not compatible with 2004/20h2 can cause problems, for example, you may encounter problems when using sound or when changing settings, windows may boot slower or programs may fail to load. May i ask which computer you are using?

Thanks for responding to my question.

Desktop PC is a home rebuild, h/w comprises Intel G4400 Pentium processor, circa 2016, Asus H110M-K mobo (2020), memory  Corsair 2 x 4 gbyte (2020), OS is Ms Windows 10 Pro FE 1909.

It's an OK system, I use it mostly for MS Excel and MS Word, some internet browsing and email, no games.

I have tried loading FE 20H2 using the Update Assistant, but encounter the problem described in my earlier post. I am reluctant to do a full ISO build and load attempt as it would mean reloading all non-MS apps and MS office, but that may be my only option. I could do this on to a cloned HDD, so that if it fails I can still revert to my original FE 1909

Thanks again for your suggestions, anything further would be appreciated.

IanM8

Hi! Thanks for the reply, I would wait a while before starting to worry. Continue to use your PC as normal until 1909 nears the end of service, when that time comes around, Microsoft releases the latest update to all PCs that are able to run it, stable or not. No need for you to worry, happy computing!

Your hardware seems to support 20h2 except your CPU, most pre 2017 processors have trouble with the 2004/20h2 updates, if you don't get the update before 1909 support ends, contact Microsoft.