Windows : Security Update for Microsoft server 2022 download error 0x80070643

By | March 29, 2024

If your Windows Updates suddenly stopped working lately with the following error :

2024-01 Security Update for Microsoft server operating system version 21H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5034439)
Status: Download error – 0x80070643

This error could be related to :

– Corrupted Windows component (run sfc /scannow) ;
– Errors on filesystem (run chkdsk /F) ;
– A corrupted SoftwareDistribution (download) folder (see below how to resolve) ;
– Recovery partition too small (increase to 768 Mb).

How to recover from corrupted SoftwareDistribution (Windows Updates download) folder :

1. Run the following commands with elevated privileges to stop the services :

net stop wuauserv
net stop bits

2. Delete the content of the following folder :

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

3. Reboot and try to install the updates again.

If the above failed, look at your recovery partition using the Disk Manager or diskpart. Most likely your recovery partition will be 523 Mb.

Increase your disk size in order to increase your recovery partition +245 Mb (for a total of 768 Mb).