ron425,
As TaurArian suggested, you may have some virus\malware items going on right now. Here are a couple links that may prove helpful at the moment.
Code error 80072EFE during Windows Update
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Anonymous
ERROR CODE 80072EFE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UPDATE IN WINDOWS UPDATE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. McAFEE installed after win security ess. uninstalled. several problems w/ programs " not responding" constantly and pc running very slow. compaq presario SR5550F
Windows for home | Other | Windows update
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
2016-05-02T20:21:15+00:00 I am having this same problem downloading windows 10 from windows 8.1. my laptop was repaired from Toshiba and returned today, it was cleaned and therefore the was no malware on it but I did install the rootkit from Kaspersky just to be on the safe and ran it. It came up clean. But every time I try to install windows 10 it fails. I have not installed anything on this computer or been on the internet or anything else. All I did was install the virus software and check the laptop to make sure it was running smoothly as told by Toshiba. I am using Advanced SystemCare Ultimate 9 and Malware Fighter as my protection software. I used this same software on my desktop and my other laptop and did not have any problems.
Here are the specs of my laptop:
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Anonymous
2015-08-05T05:35:49+00:00 Thanks to Kaspersky to keep this tool in available.
But still surprised to see the issue is still reported.
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Anonymous
2015-07-17T02:09:16+00:00 maybe you install some cracks/activators there? try to uninstall it and then try to update again.
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Anonymous
2013-01-06T04:01:16+00:00 Received a laptop with Vista - and many problems on it, including the blocking of Windows Updates. code 80072EFE.
-Deleted commercial third-party antivirus tool and installed Security Essentials- did remove some viruses, but still could not perform Windows Update.
-Tried the Microsoft System Update Readiness Tool - no help.
-found Windows Defender down. Tried to start it up. No success.
-Tried the Joe FixIt tool for Windows Update Errors - no help.
-typed in services.msc in the run edit box and stopped Windows Update service, then deleted c:\windows\software distribution folders - no help.
-downloaded Kaspersky TDSSKiller and ran it- YES!! worked beautifully.
note: had a problem going to the www.kaspersky.com site directly. had to go through a search engine, tricking the resident Trojan- Rootkit.win32.TDSS.tdl4, which the program subsequently caught and removed.
The pc is now downloading 123 (yes 123, no typo) windows updates as I type this.....
mucho kudos to Kaspersky.com.... for the program, and for leaving it accessible for all these years. wow.