How to Fix Windows Update Error 0x80248007

Understanding Windows Update Error 0x80248007

Error 0x80248007 translates to "WU_E_DS_INVALID" in Windows Update terminology, which means Windows detected invalid data in the update datastore. This technical classification helps us understand what's happening:

• Datastore corruption: The local database storing update information has become damaged
• Component mismatch: Windows Update components are out of sync with each other
• Cache conflicts: Old or corrupted cached update files interfering with new downloads
• Service failures: Critical services like BITS or Windows Update stopped working properly

Common scenarios triggering this error:

• After a forced shutdown or crash during Windows Update
• Following antivirus or system cleaner software removing update files
• When Windows Update has been disabled for extended periods
• After disk errors or filesystem corruption
• When system files become corrupted due to malware or improper modifications
• After major Windows feature updates that fail midway

Method 1: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter (Fastest Fix)

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter specifically designed to detect and fix common update problems automatically. This should always be your first step as it resolves 60-70% of update errors with zero manual work.

For Windows 11:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Click System in the left sidebar
3. Click Troubleshoot
4. Click Other troubleshooters
5. Find Windows Update and click the Run button
6. The troubleshooter will scan for problems automatically
7. Follow any on-screen instructions if problems are found
8. Wait for the process to complete (usually 2-5 minutes)
9. Restart your computer
10. Go to Settings → Windows Update and try checking for updates again

For Windows 10:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Update & Security
3. Click Troubleshoot in the left menu
4. Click Additional troubleshooters
5. Select Windows Update
6. Click Run the troubleshooter
7. Follow the on-screen prompts
8. Restart your PC after completion

What the troubleshooter fixes: Stopped update services, corrupted update cache, incorrect permissions, pending restarts, and database inconsistencies. If this method doesn't resolve the error, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Restart Windows Update Services

Windows Update relies on several background services. If these services are stopped, stuck, or corrupted, update errors occur. Manually restarting these services often resolves error 0x80248007 immediately.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type services.msc and press Enter
3. In the Services window, locate Windows Update
4. Right-click it and select Stop (if it's running)
5. Next, find Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
6. Right-click BITS and select Stop
7. Also stop these services if they're running:
   • Cryptographic Services
   • Windows Installer
8. Wait 10 seconds, then restart each service in reverse order:
   • Right-click → Start for Windows Installer
   • Right-click → Start for Cryptographic Services
   • Right-click → Start for BITS
   • Right-click → Start for Windows Update
9. Verify each service shows "Running" in the Status column
10. Close the Services window and restart your computer
11. Check for Windows Updates again

Service startup troubleshooting: If any service fails to start, right-click it, select Properties, change Startup type to Automatic, click Apply, then try starting it again.

Method 3: Clear Windows Update Cache

The Windows Update cache stores temporary files during downloads. Corrupted cache files are a leading cause of error 0x80248007. Clearing this cache forces Windows to download fresh update files.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter
2. Stop these services (right-click → Stop):
   • Windows Update
   • Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
3. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer
4. Navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
5. Select all files and folders inside (press Ctrl + A)
6. Press Delete (you may need administrator permission—click Continue)
7. If some files cannot be deleted, skip them (they're in use)
8. Also navigate to C:\Windows\System32\catroot2
9. Delete all contents of the catroot2 folder
10. Return to Services (services.msc)
11. Restart both services (right-click → Start):
    • Background Intelligent Transfer Service
    • Windows Update
12. Restart your computer
13. Windows will automatically recreate these folders with fresh data
14. Try running Windows Update again

Method 4: Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

Corrupted system files can cause Windows Update to malfunction. The System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools scan and repair these corruptions at the operating system level.

1. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)
2. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes
3. First, run DISM to repair the Windows image:
4. Type: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
5. Press Enter and wait (this can take 10-30 minutes)
6. You'll see progress as percentages—don't close the window
7. Once DISM completes, run SFC:
8. Type: sfc /scannow
9. Press Enter (this takes 15-45 minutes)
10. SFC will display one of these messages:
    • "Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations" - No issues found
    • "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them" - Issue fixed
    • "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them" - More serious issues (see below)
11. After both scans complete, restart your computer
12. Check for Windows Updates

If SFC cannot fix all issues: Run these additional DISM commands before running SFC again:

• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth (quick check)
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth (thorough scan)
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:WIM:X:\Sources\install.wim:1 (replace X: with your Windows installation media drive)

Method 5: Reset Windows Update Components Manually

When other methods fail, manually resetting all Windows Update components to their default state often resolves persistent error 0x80248007. This is the most comprehensive fix short of reinstalling Windows.

1. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)
2. Copy and paste the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

Stop all update services:

• net stop wuauserv
• net stop cryptSvc
• net stop bits
• net stop msiserver

Rename corrupted folders (creates backup):

• ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
• ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

Re-register Windows Update DLL files:

• regsvr32 /s atl.dll
• regsvr32 /s urlmon.dll
• regsvr32 /s mshtml.dll
• regsvr32 /s shdocvw.dll
• regsvr32 /s browseui.dll
• regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
• regsvr32 /s vbscript.dll
• regsvr32 /s scrrun.dll
• regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
• regsvr32 /s msxml3.dll
• regsvr32 /s msxml6.dll
• regsvr32 /s actxprxy.dll
• regsvr32 /s softpub.dll
• regsvr32 /s wintrust.dll
• regsvr32 /s dssenh.dll
• regsvr32 /s rsaenh.dll
• regsvr32 /s gpkcsp.dll
• regsvr32 /s sccbase.dll
• regsvr32 /s slbcsp.dll
• regsvr32 /s cryptdlg.dll
• regsvr32 /s oleaut32.dll
• regsvr32 /s ole32.dll
• regsvr32 /s shell32.dll
• regsvr32 /s initpki.dll
• regsvr32 /s wuapi.dll
• regsvr32 /s wuaueng.dll
• regsvr32 /s wuaueng1.dll
• regsvr32 /s wucltui.dll
• regsvr32 /s wups.dll
• regsvr32 /s wups2.dll
• regsvr32 /s wuweb.dll
• regsvr32 /s qmgr.dll
• regsvr32 /s qmgrprxy.dll
• regsvr32 /s wucltux.dll
• regsvr32 /s muweb.dll
• regsvr32 /s wuwebv.dll

Reset Winsock and proxy settings:

• netsh winsock reset
• netsh winhttp reset proxy

Restart all services:

• net start wuauserv
• net start cryptSvc
• net start bits
• net start msiserver

After running all commands, restart your computer and check for updates.

Method 6: Check and Repair Disk Errors

Disk corruption or bad sectors can damage Windows Update files, triggering error 0x80248007. Running a disk check can identify and fix these hardware-level issues.

1. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)
2. Type: chkdsk C: /f /r /x
3. Press Enter
4. You'll see: "Cannot lock current drive. Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)"
5. Type Y and press Enter
6. Restart your computer
7. During startup, CHKDSK will run before Windows loads (this can take 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on drive size)
8. Do not interrupt this process—let it complete all 5 stages
9. After completion, Windows will boot normally
10. Try Windows Update again

What the switches mean:

• /f - Fixes errors found on the disk
• /r - Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information
• /x - Forces the volume to dismount first if necessary

Method 7: Use the Media Creation Tool for In-Place Upgrade

If all other methods fail, performing an in-place upgrade (repair installation) using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool resets Windows Update components without losing your personal files, apps, or settings.

1. Go to Microsoft's Windows 11 download page (or Windows 10 page if you're on Windows 10)
2. Click Download tool now under "Create Windows installation media"
3. Run the downloaded MediaCreationTool.exe
4. Accept the license terms
5. Select Upgrade this PC now
6. Wait for the tool to download Windows (2-4 GB download)
7. On the "Ready to install" screen, click Change what to keep
8. Select Keep personal files and apps
9. Click Next, then Install
10. Your PC will restart several times (this takes 30-90 minutes)
11. After completion, Windows Update components will be completely reset
12. All your files, apps, and settings remain intact

Important: This method essentially reinstalls Windows over itself, fixing all system file corruptions including Windows Update components. It's the most effective solution for persistent update errors but takes the longest to complete.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

Disable Third-Party Antivirus Temporarily

Some antivirus programs interfere with Windows Update by blocking update files they mistakenly identify as threats. Temporarily disable your antivirus (right-click its system tray icon → Disable/Pause protection) and try updating. If this works, add Windows Update folders to your antivirus exclusion list or switch antivirus software.

Check Windows Update Settings

Go to Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options. Ensure "Receive updates for other Microsoft products" is enabled. Also check "Pause updates" is not turned on—if it is, click Resume updates.

Free Up Disk Space

Windows Update requires significant free space. Go to Settings → System → Storage and ensure your C: drive has at least 20 GB free. Use Storage Sense or Disk Cleanup to remove temporary files and old Windows installations.

Update via Microsoft Update Catalog (Manual Download)

If Windows Update still fails, manually download and install updates:

1. Go to Microsoft Update Catalog
2. Search for your specific update KB number (e.g., "KB5012345")
3. Download the .msu file for your Windows version
4. Double-click to install it manually

Prevention: Keep Windows Update Healthy

• Never force shutdown during Windows Update—always let updates complete
• Run Windows Update at least monthly to prevent large backlogs
• Keep at least 20 GB free space on your system drive
• Don't use aggressive system cleaners that delete Windows Update files
• Enable automatic updates for seamless installation
• Run DISM and SFC scans quarterly as preventive maintenance
• Keep your drivers updated via Windows Update or manufacturer websites

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will clearing the Windows Update cache delete already installed updates?

A: No. Clearing the SoftwareDistribution folder only removes temporary download files and the update database. Already installed updates remain on your system. Windows will recreate the database automatically and re-download only pending updates.

Q: How long do SFC and DISM scans take?

A: DISM typically takes 10-30 minutes, while SFC takes 15-45 minutes depending on your drive speed and system size. SSDs complete faster than traditional hard drives. Don't interrupt these scans—let them run to 100% completion even if they appear stuck.

Q: Is it safe to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder while Windows is running?

A: You must stop Windows Update and BITS services first, as instructed in Method 3. Deleting it while services are running can cause files to be locked and may lead to further corruption. Always follow the proper service-stopping procedure.

Q: What if error 0x80248007 appears only for specific updates?

A: Some updates have compatibility issues or specific requirements. Check the update's KB article on Microsoft's website for known issues. You can hide problematic updates using the "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter tool from Microsoft's download center, then wait for Microsoft to release a fixed version.

Q: Can I use System Restore to fix this error?

A: Yes, if you have a restore point from before the error started appearing. Go to Control Panel → Recovery → Open System Restore and select a restore point dated before the issue began. However, this may undo other system changes you've made since that date, so use it as a last resort before the in-place upgrade.