Quick Summary
Error 0x80070643 indicates a failure during an installation or update process, often related to Windows Update or the .NET Framework. This usually points to corruption or issues with the affected system component's installation files or permissions.
Common Causes
- Corrupted Windows Update Components: Damaged or missing files required for the Windows Update process can prevent updates from installing correctly. This can occur due to disk errors, incomplete downloads, or system crashes.
- Issues with .NET Framework: Since many Windows components rely on the .NET Framework, problems with its installation or its files can trigger this error when an update requires or modifies it. Common causes are corrupted installations or conflicting versions.
- Insufficient Permissions: The user account or system processes may lack the necessary permissions to modify the system files or registry keys needed for the update. This can happen if security software is overly restrictive or if user account control (UAC) is interfering.
- Software Conflicts: Other software installed on the system may interfere with the Windows Update process. This is often due to security software blocking the installation or other applications using needed system resources.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Step 1: Open Settings (Windows key + I).
Step 2: Go to Update & Security.
Step 3: Select Troubleshoot.
Step 4: Click on Windows Update and then Run the troubleshooter.
Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process. Restart your computer after the troubleshooter finishes.
Method 2: Repair .NET Framework
Step 1: Download the .NET Framework Repair Tool from the Microsoft website (search for '.NET Framework Repair Tool').
Step 2: Run the downloaded tool. Accept the license terms and follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 3: The tool will automatically detect and attempt to repair any issues with your .NET Framework installation.
Step 4: Restart your computer after the repair process is complete.
Method 3: Reset Windows Update Components
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for 'cmd', right-click, and select 'Run as administrator').
Step 2: Stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic service, Windows Update service, and the MSI Installer service by typing the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop bits
- net stop msiserver
Step 3: Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder by typing:
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Step 4: Restart the services you stopped in Step 2 by typing the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
- net start wuauserv
- net start cryptSvc
- net start bits
- net start msiserver
Step 5: Close Command Prompt and restart your computer.
Method 4: Perform a Clean Boot
Step 1: Press Windows Key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
Step 2: In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
Step 3: Check the Hide all Microsoft services box and then click Disable all.
Step 4: Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
Step 5: In Task Manager, disable all startup items.
Step 6: Close Task Manager and click Apply, then OK in the System Configuration window. Restart your computer.
Step 7: After restarting, try running Windows Update again. If it works, re-enable the startup items and services one by one to identify the conflicting software.