Can't install Windows updates-- error code 80248015

Anonymous
2012-05-21T14:15:05+00:00

error code 80248015 can't install updates.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2012-05-21T15:17:32+00:00

Verify that the time, date/year & time-zone are set correctly

<<Set the clock>>

Always remember to set a System Restore point before doing any work on your computer.

Rename the Windows Update Softwaredistribution folder

That is what I got when searched around for error 0x80248015

This problem may occur if the Windows Update, Software distribution folder has been corrupted.

 We can refer to the following steps to rename this folder.

Please note that the folder will be re-created the next time we visit the Windows Update site.

  1. Close all the open windows.
  2. Click the "Start" Button, click "All programs", and click "Accessories".
  3. Right-click "Command Prompt" and click "Run as administrator".
  4. In "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type in " net stop WuAuServ" (without the quotes) and press Enter.

Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was successfully stopped before we try to rename the folder.

  1. Click the "Start" Button, in the "Start Search" box, type in " %windir%" (without the quotes) and press Enter.
  2. In the opened folder, look for the folder named "SoftwareDistribution".
  3. Right-click on the folder, select "Rename" and type " Sdold " (without the quotes) to rename this folder.
  4. Still in "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type the command " net start WuAuServ" (without the quotes) in the opened window to restart the Windows Updates service.

Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was successfully started.

Note: If the issue is resolved and you can successfully download and install updates, you can safely delete the SoftwareDistribution.old directory to recover disk space.

The windows update team and other users who regularly read the forum can either share their knowledge or learn from your interaction with us.

UTC/GMT is 15:15 on Monday, May 21, 2012

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-12-04T22:55:00+00:00

    The base solution worked for me:  I got back to the Windows Update count I expected, HOWEVER, the History page was empty for me.

    Relying on the contents of a directory, which can be corrupted, renamed or deleted by anybody with a little knowledge (which, as the proverb says, is a dangerous thing) and  access to the keyboard, is a very poor way to control something as mission critical as system updates.  I suspect something a little more defensive is used to flag what has already been installed.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-05T00:01:56+00:00

    I followed that on my Win 7 64 bits but received the following error 8024402F

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-05T00:33:50+00:00

    error code 80248015 can' t install updates

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-12-05T11:41:14+00:00

    I know that ''error code 80248015 can' t install updates''; what I need to know is how to now fix error code 8024402F which was generated after I followed José Antonio's instructions above. Am I better off restoring the old ''SoftwareDistribution'' folder which i had renamed ''Sdold'' according to José Antonio's instructions?

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