How to fix Windows Update error 0x80092004

What is Windows Update error 0x80092004

Update errors are no black sheep, but rather a norm to most Windows users. One who has been using Windows for a pretty long time has once stumbled into update errors preventing users from getting new patches and fixes. Unfortunately, just like any operating system, Windows may lose stability in certain segments including updates. Despite there has been a huge number of errors already discussed on our blog, the end to them is hardly seen on the horizon. This time around we are looking at 0x80092004, another error code that causes update problems. In fact, this specific error has been around since Windows 7 to 10 whilst installing KB4474419, KB4512506, KB4512486, KB4340557, KB4340558, and other patches as well. Error 0x80092004 can also be seen by the name of CRYPT_E_NOT_FOUND: Cannot find object or property, which basically means Windows failed to locate cryptographic value and denied an update eventually. Usually, these errors have common reasons for their appearance – corrupted/missing files, and problems with updates themselves. Depending on each individual case, the reasons may vary as well. This is why the best way to fix 0x80092004 is to try each solution we mentioned below. There are quite a few, but they will not take too much time to complete if followed carefully. Make sure to observe them down below.

1. Launch Windows Update Troubleshooter

Update Troubleshooter is an in-built utility designed to address various issues met by users and Windows itself. Yes, it is hard to argue that Windows troubleshooter is often not enough to fix most of the problems, but yet it is a good one to try before moving on to further methods. After initiating, the in-built utility 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. Make sure no system files are missing or damaged

As we mentioned in the description of 0x80092004, update errors are quite common to pop due to missing or corrupted files. Just like any mechanism in the world, Windows cannot function without certain details. These details are system files that play an important role in executing update processes and more. 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 use both SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management), which will detect and restore absent components, if any. Make sure to use both of these scans using the sequence below. 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, move down to alternative error solutions below.

3. Download Servicing Stack Update

If none of the mentioned above helped you resolve the problem, then you should try downloading Servicing Stack Updates (SSU). In short, SSU ensures your PC contains the latest stack version, which makes your system receive and install Microsoft updates correctly. You never know whether it is absent or not. But you can always safely and easily check this by downloading the latest version for your system (32-bit or 64-bit) from Microsoft Update Catalog.

4. Reset Windows Update components

Another nice method to try whilst solving update-related issues is resetting Windows Update settings. Statistically, it has one of the biggest impacts on resolving update issues. Thus, let’s try to do this below. 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 components from scratch. Below, we will show you two ways of performing this step. 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. The entire procedure may seem more advanced, but still will not take too much time and knowledge to do it. 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 a similar set 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:

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 that it, 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.

The beauty of batch scripts is that they help execute 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.

5. Download a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

If you continue to struggle installing the necessary update, then there is a way to do it by manual. In other words, you will have to download the conflicting update directly from Microsoft Catalog. To do this, simply go through the steps marked out below:

1. Press Windows key + I at the same time.
2. Then navigate to Update & Security.
3. On the right side of the window, choose View update history.
4. After this, find and note the most recent update (on top of the list).
5. You can also find this out by noting the name of failing update (in case it displays).
6. Once done, search and download the noted update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

6. Use Media Creation Tool

The last method on our list comes down to another go-to tool designed to obtain the latest updates available. The name of this helpful program is Media Creation Tool. This utility acts as a great alternative to the default Windows Update Center. It helps users install fresh updates to work around various errors. This procedure will not touch your personal data but simply update the PC. In order to do it, follow the steps presented 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 combat the 0x80092004 error.

Summary

We hope your torments are over and no longer triggered by the 0x80092004 error. Keep in mind that some of these solutions like running system file checks and using additional utilities are good to solve other problems related to updates if some of them happen in the future. If you had these errors appear quite recently, but are still unable to find the reasons, try to use a Restore point, which will roll your system back to older settings. You can find more information on this around the web.