Windows 10 won't update to 1903 from 1803

Anonymous
2019-07-14T16:02:24+00:00

I'm trying to get my wife's laptop updated.  It's an Acer, running Windows 10.  It's running version 1803.  When she tries to update using the Update function in Settings, it tries, but fails to install the update. 

I've tried (1) downloading the update (KB4507435) directly from Microsoft, (2) running the Update Troubleshooter, (3) running the Windows Media Creation Tool, (4) running the Windows Media Creation Tool from a freshly formatted USB drive, (5) running the Window Media Creation Tool on another computer to set up the upgrade package on a USB drive and using that drive on the problematic PC,  and (6) running the Window Media Creation Tool on another computer to set up the upgrade package on a USB drive as an ISO, using RUFUS, and using that drive on the problematic PC.

I've also run the DISM.exe and System File Checker on the PC, and confirmed that it has the latest Servicing Stack Update.

I really don't want to do a clean install, but that seems like the only option left.  Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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Anonymous
2019-09-10T02:25:54+00:00

Try installing the Windows 10 ADK.

I had very similar log errors: regarding Failed to mount WIM file C:$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\SafeOS\winre.wim

The answer from Jaxrtech on this thread was ultimately what got the update installed for me:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/installer-closing-at-6-wimmount0x80070003/b10ba12b-ac29-431d-801a-6163d1620954

I've copied the answer from the linked thread but have modified Step 1 to point to ADK for Windows 10, instead of Windows 8.1

Jaxrtech

At least for me, I was able to find a pretty simple fix for this problem although I was upgrading from Windows 8.1 Update.

AFAIK, this should still fix the problem on Windows 7.

The issue:

It seems that for some strange reason the installer does not include wimmount.sys which is what it's trying to look for. So, it ends up trying to find it at the default location which clearly does not exist causing the installation to fail.

The fix:

So, clearly we need to properly get the installer the recognize wimmount.sys located somewhere. To do that all we need is to get it installed. To do so:

  1. Downloadthe "Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit" from:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=873065 <-- Windows 10 1803 ADK

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install  <-- WIndows 10 ADK other versions 2. Runthe installer (it may take a minute or two for the blue splash screen to go away) 3. "Specify Location"

Leave the default option selected which should be *"Install the Windows..."(FYI: the installer says it uses ~6GB, but we will select only what we need, that being ~50MB, so you aren't killing your internet bandwidth nor wasting time)*Click Next. 4. "Join the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP)"

(You can just leave it set to No unless you feel otherwise :P)

Click Next. 5. "License Agreement"

Click Agree. 6. "Select the features you want to install"

IMPORTANT: Deselect everything except "Deployment Tools"

*(as said, this keeps you from downloading GBs of unnecessary stuff)*Click Install. 7. If you have UAC enabled, click Yes. 8. Wait for the install to complete... 9. Click Close. 10. Try running your Windows 10 install again. The installer should recognize where wimmount.sys and now be able to successfully install Windows 10.

So, let me know how it goes :P

Cheers,

Jaxrtech

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Answer accepted by question author
Kapil Arya 38,491 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2020-08-10T10:23:45+00:00

Hello,

If you can't install a feature update using Windows Update, you can upgrade to latest Windows 10 version using its ISO file. 

Download the ISO file from here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Then perform the upgrade, using this step-by-step guide:

https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-upgrade-to-windows-10-using-iso-file

Or you can also perform the clean install with this guide:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/clean-install-windows-10/1c426bdf-79b1-4d42-be93-17378d93e587

If you still face the issue, try these steps referenced from Genopsyde's post at page 4 of this thread: 

It seems that the installer does not include wimmount.sys and it causes the installation to fail.

  1. Download the "Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit" from:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=873065 <-- Windows 10 1803 ADK

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install  <-- WIndows 10 ADK other versions

  1. Run the installer.
  2. For "Specify Location"; leave the default option selected which should be "Install the Windows..."

(FYI: the installer says it uses ~6GB, but we will select only what we need, that being ~50MB, so you aren't killing your internet bandwidth nor wasting time). Click Next.

  1. For "Join the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP)"; click No. Click Next.
  2. For "License Agreement"; Click Agree.
  3. For "Select the features you want to install":

IMPORTANT: Deselect everything except "Deployment Tools"

(as said, this keeps you from downloading GBs of unnecessary stuff). Click Install.

  1. If you have UAC enabled, click Yes.
  2. Wait for the install to complete...
  3. Click Close.

Try running your Windows 10 install again. The installer should recognize where wimmount.sys and now be able to successfully install Windows 10.

Hope this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.

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  1. Virginia M 42,075 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-07-14T16:41:41+00:00

    At which point during the download or install does it fail?

    Is there any error message?

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-07-14T17:08:42+00:00

    At which point during the download or install does it fail?

    Is there any error message?

    Using the Media Creator Tool, it says it is installing Windows, which will take some time and the computer will restart several times.  At about 55% completion, it stops, and the only message is "Windows 10 Installation has failed."  Nothing that I would think is an error message.  Nor do I see any logs in the Windows folder or subfolders whose time corresponds to the termination of the installation.  Should I nevertheless upload the contents of setuperr.log and setupact.log from the Panther folder? 

    Interestingly, when one first opens Windows Update in Settings, it says the computer is up to date, but if you click on Search for Updates, it starts to download 2019-97 Cumulative Update.  It then tries to install it, without apparent success.

    I'm pretty sure I tried an install from a clean boot yesterday, without success, but it is all starting to blur.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-07-14T17:19:05+00:00

    The setuperr.log is empty, strangely. 

    The setupact.log has this:

    2019-07-13 14:31:37, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-13 14:31:37, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-13 14:31:37, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-13 14:43:30, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-13 14:43:30, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-13 14:43:30, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-13 14:52:57, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-13 14:52:57, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-13 14:52:57, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-13 16:34:22, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-13 16:34:22, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-13 16:34:22, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-13 17:53:25, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-13 17:53:25, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-13 17:53:25, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-13 18:09:04, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-13 18:09:04, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-13 18:09:04, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-13 20:44:27, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-13 20:44:27, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-13 20:44:27, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-14 09:33:58, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-14 09:33:58, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-14 09:33:58, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-14 09:36:07, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-14 09:36:07, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-14 09:36:07, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-14 11:37:14, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-14 11:37:14, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-14 11:37:14, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-14 12:12:01, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-14 12:12:01, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-14 12:12:01, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

    2019-07-14 13:10:38, Info                         [svchost.exe] Enter WinReIsWimBootEnabled

    2019-07-14 13:10:38, Info                         [svchost.exe] Parameters: pszWinDir: NULL

    2019-07-14 13:10:38, Info                         [svchost.exe] Exit WinReIsWimBootEnabled returns 0 with last error: 0x0

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