How to fix Windows Update error 0x800f0984

What is Windows Update Error 0x800f0984

0x800f0984 (PSFX_E_MATCHING_BINARY_MISSING) is an update-related error that appears on Windows 10. Such issues pop up quite often when trying to install incoming updates or patches. As statistics show, such problems are faced due to corrupted files or settings, incompatible software, and other reasons that conflict with the update center. Below, we will walk through all of the steps that are more likely to resolve the 0x800f0984 issue.

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

Whenever you deal with update-related issues, the very first thing you should try is Windows Troubleshooter – a special utility already in-built to your system. In order to launch the utility, here are the simple steps to do it.

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. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan

As we mentioned in the introduction of this article, some update problems can be out-turn of missing or damaged files. Usually, these files are essential system components ensuring the proper connection between different processes. If some of these files fall out of the list, more likely it will raise up the error. Below, we are going to use both System File Checker (SFC) and DISM, which will detect and restore absent components. Here is how:

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.

After you finish this step, try to install the update again. If the error still reminds about itself, try the DISM scan below.

3. Run DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is similar to running an SFC scan. However, it uses different algorithms to find the problem and fix corrupted data that SFC could miss. Therefore, let’s try to run it using Command Prompt as we did already.

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.

4. Turn off/delete third-party software

Third-party software like antivirus has a tendency to cause malfunctions in some services. It can both suspect and mistake suspicious processes happening in your system. For some reason, even Windows services may be blacklisted and restricted by anti-malware software. Because we do not know whether it is a case or not, try to disable a non-native antivirus if you have it installed. Besides antivirus being a culprit for such errors, unwanted or malicious programs can lead to the same ramifications as well. If you remember installing something new recently, try to delete it and check the difference. Maybe it will resolve the issue. If you are unsure how to delete malicious programs correctly, we recommend you to download a great and trusted antivirus by MalwareBytes (use the button below).

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5. Install the necessary update in Safe Mode

Instead of deleting third-party software that raises a conflict with Windows Updates, you can boot up your PC in Safe Mode. This option will launch your system only with the default configuration settings, which will prevent third-party programs from interacting with Windows processes. Here is how:

1. Open Settings via the Start menu or press Windows key + I buttons together.
2. Navigate Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced Startup.
3. Then, click Restart Now.
4. Your system will restart and boot with the Windows Recovery Environment.
5. Whilst there, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
6. Now click on Restart and choose Enable Safe mode with Networking once it reboots.
7. Finally, being in Safe Mode, try to install the conflicting update as usual.

6. Restart Windows components and Update service

This method helps you reset Windows Update settings. 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 special signatures for Windows Updates. Based on this, we will force Windows to delete corrupted elements and create update components from scratch. We are going to use the console to run the necessary commands. This is more advanced, but will not take too much time and knowledge to do it. Just follow the steps below:

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.

7. Try to download a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

If there is a problem receiving a KB update from the server, you can try to install it manually. Before doing so, we will have to note which update you need to install. For this:

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 KB update (on top of the list).
5. Once done, search and download the noted update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

8. Use Media Creation Tool

Another option to install updates is via Media Creation Tool. It allows users to upgrade the system to the latest version existing. This procedure will not touch your personal data but simply update the PC. In order to do it, follow the steps listed below:

1. 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 0x800f0984 error.

Summary

We are happy to announce this is the end of the guide. At least one of the listed solutions should resolve the issue at the end of the day. We hope this is the case and you are no longer troubled by any error warnings. On our website, you can also find articles helping to deal with malware, potentially unwanted programs, and other Windows-related errors that cause a lot of confusion around the users.