How to fix Windows Update error 0x8007371b

What is error 0x8007371b

As mentioned in the title itself, 0x8007371b (ERROR_SXS_TRANSACTION_CLOSURE_INCOMPLETE) is an error code that pops whilst failing to update your system on Windows 10. You may stumble with this and similar errors at some point when installing new updates like cumulative patches. Some users reported they received this issue when attempting to upgrade their system with KB3081452 and KB3097617 patches. Whatever the case, it is quite hard to define the reason straight from the spot, especially if you have never gone into such errors before. This is why our guide will be a handy manual dedicated to fixing the 0x8007371b problem. Follow each method listed below until you find the one solving the error.

1. Launch Windows Update Troubleshooter

The very first option recommended by most is Update Troubleshooter. It is no revelation to the Windows world – an in-built feature sometimes helping to solve time-to-time issues. In most cases, it has little impact on resolving the error as there are often some deeper causes leading to update failures. Despite this, it is still worth trying this simple, yet at times effective method to get rid of the problem. Update Troubleshooter will scan out your system for potential problems and try to fix them using automatic algorithms.

1. Open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. On the right pane, locate Windows Update and click Run the troubleshooter.
3. Finish the process following the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

2. Check if system files are missing or damaged

Update issues can famously happen due to missing or corrupted. Such files may be essential for Windows services to establish mutual communication. If some of these files are out of their native environment, more likely it will be the reason for update errors. Below, we are going to launch both SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), which will detect and restore absent components, if any. Make sure to boot both of these scans as they can influence the error solution differently. This is how:

SFC

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Once the console is opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
4. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.

DISM

1. Open Command Prompt as we did in the previous step.
2. Copy and paste this command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
3. Click Enter and wait until Windows ends the scanning and fixing.
4. Once done, restart your PC and install the update again.

After performing both of these scans, attempt to perform the installation of updates again. If this does not work, get down to alternative error solutions below.

3. Scan your hard drive for damaged fragments

Some error scenarios happen as a result of hard drive corruption. This is why it is always a good idea to check whether it is existent or not. You can do it easily with the help of these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt just as we did above.
2. Then, you should paste the chkdsk /f /r C: command and press Enter. If necessary, replace “C” with the letter of your hard drive.
3. The system will scan for both configuration and physical errors and automatically repair them.

This method is less likely to solve the issue, so do not worry if it did not work out eventually.

4. Make sure all Update services are properly configured

Before moving on to other methods, check if all Update services are running just as they should. To do this:

1. Press Windows Key + R and type services.msc.
2. Open it up and search for Windows Update Service from the list.
3. Right-click on it and choose Properties.
4. Then, make sure it is set to Manual (Triggered) next to Startup type. Click Apply if you changed it.
5. In case this service is Stopped, click Start and OK to close the window.

There are a couple of other important services that are responsible for proper update conditions. Take a look at this list and check if all of these services are set to their default values using the same steps above.

Windows Update Medic Services – Manual
Cryptographic Services – Automatic
Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
DCOM Server Process Launcher – Automatic
RPC Endpoint Mapper – Automatic
Windows Installer – Manual

Now you can reboot your PC and try to install the update again.

5. Run a Clean Bootup

0x8007371b error may also be triggered by incompatibility issues. Antimalware or any other third-party software may conflict with Windows services causing the error. The Clean bootup feature helps start-up PC only with in-built apps and services to find out whether some secondary app is being a culprit. To launch in Clean bootup mode, follow these steps below:

1. Press Windows key + R combination and paste msconfig.
2. Then in the opened window go to the Services tab located on top.
3. Check the box next to Hide All Microsoft Services and click on the Disable all button.
4. Now choose the General tab and select the Selective startup option. Make sure that the box is checked only next to the Load System Services.
5. Click Apply and OK. Then reboot your PC.

Now you can try to update your system whilst being in Clean Boot mode. No matter whether you failed or succeeded in installing the updates, you should turn Windows back to Normal Startup settings. To do this, simply redo all the steps you implemented above by enabling the disabled services and changing your startup option from Selective to Normal.

6. Reset Windows Update components

Another go-to method whilst trying to solve update-related issues is resetting Windows Update settings. This method specifically has proven itself to be very effective when dealing with update problems. The whole procedure involves restarting BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update services as well as renaming some update folders (SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2). These folders contain temporary files necessary for implementing Windows Updates. Based on this, we will force Windows to delete corrupted elements and create update-related components from scratch. Below, we will show you two ways of getting around this method. The first requires typing and executing each console command in a manual sequence. The other involves a so-called batch script written in Notepad and saved as WUReset.bat. There is no real difference in which one you choose. Although the entire procedure may seem more advanced, it will not take too much time and knowledge. Just follow the steps listed below:

Using manual steps

1. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
3. Copy-paste this list of commands one by one clicking Enter after each. (This action will disable services responsible for Windows Updates)

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

4. Then, we have to rename the above-mentioned folders. Simply paste these commands by clicking Enter after each.

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

5. Finally, all left to do is to turn the disabled services back. So apply these commands likewise we did previously.

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

6. Now we are all done with it. Go to the Windows Update center and try to perform the installation again.

Using the Batch Script

This is an alternative method to the above. A batch script is used to execute the same range of commands to reset all Windows Update components, Cryptographic services, and folders like SoftwareDistribution. It is not that hard as you could imagine, but rather easier than the previous one. All you need is a Windows Notepad and a bit of copy-paste magic. Batch scripts hold an upper hand in executing all of the steps at once without typing commands manually. If you ever stumble into similar issues in the future, you can execute the already-created .bat file to reset update components:

1. Open a new Notepad file. For this, right-click on any free area over your desktop, choose New and Text document.
2. Then paste this list of commands into your notepad:

@ECHO OFF
echo Simple Script to Reset / Clear Windows Update
echo.
PAUSE
echo.
attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2
attrib -h -r -s %windir%system32catroot2*.*
net stop wuauserv
net stop CryptSvc
net stop BITS
ren %windir%system32catroot2 catroot2.old
ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution sold.old
ren "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader" downloader.old
net Start BITS
net start CryptSvc
net start wuauserv
echo.
echo Task completed successfully...
echo.
PAUSE

3. Once pasting is done, click File > Save as and name it WUReset.bat. Make sure to set Encoding to ANSI and save the file to any location you want.
4. Finally, you can right-click on the file, select Run as administrator and enjoy automatic reset of Windows Updates.

7. Use Media Creation Tool

The last, yet very powerful tool to use in case no attempts to revive your updates pay off is Media Creation Tool. It is designed to obtain the latest portion of updates for users struggling to do it in a traditional way. This utility acts as a great alternative to the default Windows Update Center. The update procedure will not touch your personal data but simply upgrade the PC. In order to do it, follow the steps listed below:

1. At first, you have to download the utility from the Microsoft website.
2. Then, execute the downloaded file.
3. After agreeing with the Terms of use, there will be two options to choose from. Select Upgrade this PC now.
4. Choose to Keep Personal Files to ensure they will be untouched.
5. Finally, launch the process and wait until it ends.
6. Hopefully, this method helped you work around the 0x8007371b error.

Summary

We hope update errors are no longer a hurdle preventing your system from receiving new and fresh patches. If you are still concerned about how to resolve the issue, try to install your OS from scratch. This will ensure no files and settings are damaged as a result of continuous usage. Our website counts various sorts of articles on resolving different issues and deleting malware. In case there is something else causing suspicion or inconvenience, refer to our search box using keywords related to your problem.