Problem: I was attempting to manually run Windows Updates on a Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard machine and I received an error during the process, “Unable to update” or some other such nonsense along with error code 8024800A – “unknown error occurred because windows could not search for new updates on my computer. Error found is Code 8024800A”.
Solution:
Throw out the server if it’s physical, buy a new one.
If it’s virtual just delete it and start from scratch.
…….
Umm…. No, don’t do that.
Here’s what fixes this problem:
1. Click on Start, locate the command prompt under Accessories
2. Right click on the command prompt icon, Right Click on it and select “Run as administrator”
3. When the command prompt opens you will need to type in the following commands (copy & paste works well too):
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
pause
4. Wait for the process to complete.
5. Close the Command Prompt.
6. Run Windows Updates again and try installing the updates – it should work now.
Once you have Windows Updates working again, circle back and clean up those folders you renamed with the .old extension (softwaredistribution.old and catroot2.old in c:\windows)
Rob's IT blog 