How to fix Windows Update error 0x80240034

What is Windows Update error 0x80240034

0x80240034 is an error code that prevents users from installing an update known as Windows 10 Insider Preview 16215.1000. Most people reported this update to get stuck at 1% and therefore crash receiving the corresponding error. There are hundreds of similar errors, which have the same source of reasons. Normally, they tend to occur due to damaged PC configuration caused by missing or corrupted files, software incompatibility, and many other reasons that require a separate solution. Below, we have provided a full guide dedicated to troubleshooting the 0x80240034 error. Read all instructions carefully and do not skip over the steps suggested by our experts.

1. Use Windows Update Troubleshooter

Most people underestimate this feature saying that it has no influence on solving the issue. In most cases, they will be true as there are usually broader reasons that have to be dug deeper in order to resolve the problem. However, it is still worth trying this simple, yet sometimes effective method to get rid of the popping error. The in-built utility will scan out your system for potential problems and try to fix them on its own. If you end up waiting for the Troubleshooting process for too long, then you should choose a different method from the solutions below.

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.

Quite a few people have been waiting until Windows Troubleshooter finishes its job for 40 minutes, yet no changes were found. It was simply stuck and did not want to find and fix any issues.

2. Check integrity of the system files

As we already stated in the beginning, some update problems can end up being your main agenda due to missing or damaged files. Such files are usually inherently linked between many Windows services that ensure sustainable updates and other things. 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. Here is how:

Using 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.

Using 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 install a problematic update again. If this does not work, get down to the other steps listed below.

3. Restart Windows components and Update service

Whenever users are up to face update-related issues, a good method to try is resetting Windows Update settings. It is very helpful and proven to be effective in many cases. 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. Simply 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.

4. Turn off/delete third-party software

Third-party software like antivirus can be potentially tied in causing compatibility issues. Usually, it happens due to firewall settings that block access to certain processes of Windows. Thus, we recommend you turn off your antivirus and try to install the update again. Once you end up successfully installing the update, enable the previously closed antivirus. If this did not help, try to scan your PC for malicious or unwanted software as it could also be part of the error. We recommend using anti-malware software developed by Malwarebytes as it has been exceptionally good at detecting and removing potentially harmful programs. Before closing this paragraph, it also important to know that any third-party software installed from the web has a chance of raising a conflict within Update settings. If you remember downloading anything from the web recently, try to delete it and check if anything changed.

Download Malwarebytes

5. Install the necessary update in Safe Mode

Instead of deleting third-party software or antivirus 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. Update drivers

Quite often drivers can be a huge part of the issue preventing Windows from updating successfully. All due to obsolete or corrupted drivers that could end up no longer supported or broken. This is why it is advised to scan your drivers and update them if necessary. You can do it manually or using a special utility for a faster solution. Both options are discussed below:

1. Left-click on the Start Menu button and choose Device Manager.
2. Ideally, you should update all devices available. If there is something marked with a yellow triangle, this means you should update in the first order.
3. To do it, right-click on the driver, choose Update, and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Let Windows search for new drivers and download them eventually.

Drivers are key to the proper configuration of your system. They are the ones providing a stable connection between hardware and your operating system. Updating a number of drivers manually may take a lot of time rehearsing the same steps. Here you can download the best driver update utility, which will deal with this task on its own – Driver Booster from IObit:

Download Driver Booster

7. Download a conflicting update from Microsoft Catalog

Lots of cases suggest that errors similar to 0x80240034 can be related to external problems with Microsoft servers. Sometimes they may not deliver the update as needed leading to the previously-mentioned error. You get over this hump by downloading the problematic update yourself. Just go through the steps teased 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. Once done, search and download the noted update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

8. Use Media Creation Tool

Last, but not least is using Media Creation Tool to obtain the latest portion of updates. This utility offers its own image of installing new updates rather than using the default Windows Update Center. 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 0x80240034 error.

Summary

Whilst update issues have been expanding their presence around many Windows users, the troubleshooting community was not sleeping as well. This is why most articles have already tested solutions that are capable of rectifying errors like 0x80240034. We hope you are no longer dealing with this pesky error. Keep in mind that these steps can also be used to other update issues, in case they occur in the future.