Windows 10 Cumulative Updates Aren't Installing: How to Fix?

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A Windows 10 Cumulative Update is a collection of more than one updates. These cumulative updates contain all the new and previously released fixes. The good thing about these cumulative updates is that they don't duplicate any installed update. When a new update package is available for Windows 10 then only those files will be downloaded that aren't installed.

Windows 10 users have been facing a serious issue with these cumulative updates. Most of them weren't able to install a single Windows 10 quality update since December 2017. Even if you download the package from Microsoft update catalog and install it manually then it will not install at any cost.

I remember Microsoft released some dangerous Windows 10 updates in the previous month including KB4056892 (16299.192), KB4074588, and KB4058258 (16299.214). KB4056892 broke my Windows 10 PC and dropped the system in an unbootable state. The computer started but was unable to go past the Windows 10 logo. It returned an error stating "Your PC didn't start correctly" every time I switched it on. These cumulative updates returned error codes which are 0x80073715, 0x80070bc2, and 0x80070422. However, a Microsoft patch was released later.

So, what could be the problem with these cumulative updates? I don't have an exact answer for this but running the Windows update troubleshooter notified me a serious error known as 'Windows Update Database Corruption Error'. To repair the database I tried the DISM tool and the System File Checker (SFC /scannow) tool. But none of these tools fixed the problem. Then I decided to do a clean install of Windows 10 which worked with one cumulative update only. Even a clean install didn't fix the problem.

The only solution to this Windows update problem is to clean install Windows 10 without reusing the old 'System Reserved' partition for a new and clean installation. During a second clean installation round, I deleted the C:\ drive partition and the 'System Reserved' partition. 

Windows 10 Cumulative Updates Aren't Installing: A Permanent Fix As Of Now

To prevent any data loss situation always make sure that you have multiple copies of your data stored on your computer. You can use external hard drives. We recommend WD My Passport Ultra.

• To do a clean install of Windows 10 you should be having a bootable USB. 
• Always check the partitioning style of your current Windows 10 installation before doing a clean install. If your computer is using a GPT partition style then making a bootable USB with MBR partitioning style would be illogical.
• To check the partition style. Type the following command at the command prompt.

diskpart <hit enter>

list disk <hit enter>

If under the 'Gpt' field you don't see any * (asterisk) then your computer's partition style is MBR otherwise GPT.

• Now after knowing the partition style go on creating a bootable Windows 10 USB. Read this article - create a bootable USB Windows 10 with MBR or GPT.
• After creating the bootable USB restart your computer and go to BIOS settings. In BIOS change the boot order and select the USB to boot from. Exit the BIOS.
• When the BIOS boots the USB it will ask you to press any key to load the Windows 10 installation files. That's it now go on installing the software.

• During the setup, Windows will ask you where to install the new OS. This is the most important part.
• Here the disk partitions are labeled 0, 1, 2 and not C:\, D:\, or E:\. So be careful while formatting the right partition.
• To identify the C:\ partition in the Windows setup it is always better to note its size and free space before installation.
• You can get the drive info by right clicking the C:\ drive partition and checking 'Properties' in 'My PC'.
• This will help us identify which is drive C:\ partition by checking its size and free space. So be careful in this.
• Now select the C:\ partition after identifying it and delete it. Also, delete the 'System Reserved' partition.
• Now create a new C:\ partition with all the unallocated space (including the System partition space).
• After creating the new C:\ partition there would be no 'System Reserved' partition. But don't worry Windows 10 will automatically create a new 'System Reserved' partition on installation.
• Start the installation and wait till it finishes.

After complete installation, check for Windows updates and let Windows install updates automatically. After this clean install, I hope all the latest cumulative updates will install on your Windows 10 PC as they are working fine on mine.

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