Automatic Update Error 80070424

Am using Windows Vista Home Premium SP1. I have set Windows Update to download and install automatically. Since last couple of days I noticed that updates stopped working. I went to the options to check the updates, I got the following error:

“Windows could not search for new updates
Error(s) found: Code 80070424 Windows Update encountered an unknown error.”

I thought there would be any virus on my system hence ran the scan but dint found anything suspicious. Later I tried running definition updates for Windows Defender and got the same error code, that is 0x80070424. Any idea what could be the problem ?

I am running Vista Business SP1 and was facing the same problem. I did some research on web and found that a solution that worked for me. I just did:

Start >Run> regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll

Thanks for the suggestion buddy. As per your suggestions I tried running the same. In my case, the wuaueng.dll was loaded successfully but it was unable to call the DllRegisterServer. It gets failed every time with an error code 0x80070005.

Any other fix ?

Well I guess your system is 64bit because “Start >Run> regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll” only works for the 32bit based Vista operating systems. Just check your system and if it is 64bit, here is the solution:

Step 1: Manually replace the corrupt Windows Modules Installer
==================================

1. Click "Start". In the search bar, type in "%windir%" (without the quotation marks) and press Enter.
2. Right click Servicing folder and click "Properties".
3. Click the "Security" tab.
4. Click "Advanced".
5. Click the "Owner" tab.
6. Click Edit.
7. Under "Change owner to", highlight the Administrator account. Click on "Replace Owner on Subcontainers and objects". Click "OK".
8. Click "OK". You might receive an "Access Deny" error. Just go ahead.
9. In the Security tab of Servicing folder properties, click "Edit".
10. Highlight Administrators and grant it "Full Control" permission.
11. Click "OK".

Step 2: Manually restore missing file
============================

1. Save the fix.zip file attached, to the Desktop.
2. Extract the two files. TrustedInstaller.exe and TrustedInstaller.reg.
3. Copy the TrustedInstaller.exe file into C:\Windows\servicing folder.

Step 3: Backup Registry
===================

1. Click "Start". Type REGEDIT in the Start Search bar and press Enter.
2. Select Computer (the root node) in the left pane, click Export under the File menu, choose All under Export range, select Desktop in the Save in box and type backup in File Name. Click Save.

Please Note: The backup file is on the Desktop and named backup.reg. We can simply restore the registry by double-clicking the backup.reg file.

After that, please refer to the following steps to import the register key.

Step 4: Import TrustedInstaller.reg
===========================

1. Double click the TrustedInstaller.reg file in the fix.zip file.
2. Click Yes when you are prompted to import it. or execute it.

Let's now restart the computer and check if Windows Update works.

Thank you very much. After 8 months with this problem both our Vista 64 bits computers (dutch) are up to date now!

thank you very much israelortiz you've been most helpful i owe you big time!!!!!

hello!
ok so i've had an issue with my pc on installing windows updates for about a year. Now i've been following your steps but now that im trying to "3. Copy the TrustedInstaller.exe file into C:\Windows\servicing folder." it still says i dont have permission. UGH! help please! i just want to be able to install the 60+ updates that i havent been able to do, so that i can install the stupid desktop software that my blackberry torch came with so i can sync up my contacts!!!

help help help!!!

The windows PC telling you that you don't have permission to download and install the updates then there is probably only one reason and that is common also. The reason is you haven't logged in as Admin. In windows 7 (or in other) the system or the operating system checks whether you have logged in as Admin or not before you installing any updates. Sometimes the antivirus software also blocks the Windows from updating it. You should check that also.

thanks for replying back!

Im running vista and Im running it as admin. Some of the updates work but most of them fail and every time they do fail that modular stopped working window pops up. i've also tried doing the updates with my Kaspersky turned off.

So i was worked on it all day yesterday and i managed to get passed the "3. Copy the TrustedInstaller.exe file into C:\Windows\servicing folder."

now im just stuck on "Step 4: Import TrustedInstaller.reg
===========================

1. Double click the TrustedInstaller.reg file in the fix.zip file.
2. Click Yes when you are prompted to import it. or execute it."

I double click on it, hit yes but then it says "Error accessing the registry"

what am i doing wrong? ay dois mio! help!

Hi bazan86,

You will need to take ownership of the folder, then you need to set permissions to be able to replace the file.

You will have to type the following command at an elevated command prompt and then press ENTER:
i. takeown /f Path_And_File_Name
ii. For example, type takeown /f c:\windows\servicing

Type the following command, and then press ENTER to grant administrators full access to the file:

i. icacls Path_And_File_Name /GRANT ADMINISTRATORS:F

For example, type icacls c:\windows\servicing /grant administrators:F.