Window update error "WindowsUpdate_80070005"

Before doing anything I would recommend you go to your Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder, right click the folder and select properties, & then make sure it is not hidden and read-only by un-checking the boxes. 

Then re-try Windows update. This worked for me. I had a malware attack which I managed to nip in the bud and remove with various anti-malware, but it still made files hidden and read-only.

Cobra.pak trojan and 3 others in one attack.

The error code 80070005 usually means that you do not have enough permission to install updates.

 

First please confirm you have logged on an account with administrative privileges.

 

If the issue still occurs, lets’ try the following method to reset the permissions:

 

1. Download the subinacl.msi file from the following link and save the installation patch onto the Desktop:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e8ba3e56-d8fe-4a91-93cf-ed6985e3927b&displaylang=en#AffinityDownloads

 

2. Go to the Desktop and double click the downloaded file.
3. Select the C:\Windows\System32 folder as the Destination Folder during the installation. Later we will use this tool to reset the permission settings on the current machine.

 

 

 

 

Note: If the UAC (User Account Control) window is prompted for permission to continue, please click Continue.

 

4. Click Start, in the Start Search bar, type: "notepad" (without quotes) and press Enter.
5. Copy the following commands and then paste them into the open Notepad window:

 

@echo off

 

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f

subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f

 

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=system=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=system=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=system=f

subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=system=f

 

@Echo =========================

@Echo Finished.

@Echo =========================

@pause

 

6. After pasting the above commands, please close the Notepad window. Choose Save when you are prompted to save the file. Type "reset.bat" as the file name and choose Desktop from the left panel as the save location.
7. Refer to the Desktop and right click the reset.bat file, and then choose "Run as administrator."
8. You will see a DOS-like window processing.

 

Note: It may take several minutes. Please be patient. When it is completed, you will be prompted with the message: "Finished, press any key to continue".

 

Try to install the updates again.

 

This issue can be also caused by third-party security programs such as firewalls and anti-virus software. You can disable or remove them to check the issue.

Let us know how is goes.

I also had the problem of windows update suddenly stopped working. Over the past 9 months I have tried to fix it-- update readiness tool failed, microsoft fix it failed, The HP tech suggestion below failed. The knowledge base does not refer to this error code However this solution worked perfectly first time. Just follow the instructions exactly. One tip is to be really patient as it took 30min on my computer to finish. So glad this fix remains here as I can now upgrade other software which was not possible as earlier upgrades had failed both automatically and manually.

Well done and thanks

David

27.9.2011

Same happened to me until I read this step again, you can copy and paste it into the box when it ask for the location.

3. Select the C:\Windows\System32 folder as the Destination Folder during the installation. Later we will use this tool to reset the permission settings on the current machine.