How to handle Install error - 0x80070103

Anonymous
2022-12-06T05:53:11+00:00

How to handle Install error - 0x80070103

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2023-03-14T17:21:42+00:00

Hi all, I am revisiting this thread to provide a more comprehensive view of this error. Much of this detail came from a Microsoft Technical Advisor who works closely with the product teams.

The error message 0x80070103 will appear when a device attempts to install a driver that is already present.

When the version of a driver reported by the device and the current version published in the Windows Update catalog are different, Windows Update offers the device the newer driver published in the catalog. If the customer attempts to install the re-offered driver they will see the 0x80070103 error.

Here is a recent example of this in the Community: Windows Update keeps telling me to install updates that are already - Microsoft Community

On Feb 15, Windows Update began re-offering drivers to devices which already had the driver installed. Many customers saw the duplicate drivers, attempted to install them, and saw the 0x80070103 error. The solution was Microsoft re-publishing the catalog. Nothing on the impacted devices could be done to “fix” the condition because nothing was “wrong” on the devices.

For this thread that began in December, it looks like that included some HP drivers. Those devices had version X, Windows Update got version Y from HP, and re-offered the driver to the device. It was actually the same version and thus the error. The solution for this set of customers would come when HP fixes the driver versioning and republish to Windows Update. Customers could not resolve this on their device, it could only be resolved by HP taking particular actions. The customer could suppress the event by “pausing” updates, but that is not solving it. It is only hiding the error temporarily.

There was a similar issue in February detailed here: Resolve Install Error - 0x80070103 Windows 11 Pro - Microsoft Community

Looking to the future, this may provide a general approach that can be used when this error pops up again due to publishing mistakes by RandomOEMName. Windows Update is the delivery mechanism for drivers from hundreds/thousands of companies, and Microsoft works with them to fix issues highlighted by this error. Since this is out of the control of customers to fix, the best approach is to report the error via the Feedback Hub and be patient as Microsoft works with the company and team who wrote the errant driver to correct the problem.

I hope this helps provide a deeper understanding of what causes this error and the best approach to resolve it.

Respectfully,

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T14:22:03+00:00

    I applied the instructions above and it resolved an incorrect list of outdated drivers. It did not, however, resolve the Hewlett-Packard - USB - 4/8/2019 12:00:00 AM - 1.0.0.237 Install error - 0x80070103 issue. I have that issue, and I noticed that others on this thread also have that issue.

    I believe the Hewlett-Packard driver error is a Hewlett-Packard software problem, not a Windows problem. To date, Hewlett-Packard hasn't responded, and there are (literally) thousands of registered complaints on their technical support website, dating back many years.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T13:03:02+00:00

    I noticed this problem last night Feb 15. These are all my Dell drivers which have been up-to-date for months

    Ran Windows Troubleshooter - Update and it just ran forever and hung up.

    Paused updates for 1 week, restarted updates and they disappeared.

    Ran SFC and DISM - no issues found

    Feb 16 - I checked updates this morning and all the errors were back.

    Went to folder %temp% and deleted all files, ran Updates and the errors disappeared.

    I am sure they will come back after a reboot or later today.

    This is obviously an issue with the latest Microsoft Update Package.

    I am not reinstalling my system as my laptop is only 2 months old. But for older systems it only takes 30 min and you get a clean system. Just not sure a clean install would fix the problem since it has to do with the latest Microsoft Update.

    All these workarounds are temporary and the errors will come back

    Microsoft needs to push out an Update to fix this issue. Just hope they don't wait till 'patch Tuesday' to do it.

    Yep, 30 minutes later I ran Windows Update and all the driver update errors came back.

    So I have tried every troubleshooting tip offered and some do work, but temporarily

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T08:55:03+00:00

    Pause the updates for a week, then search for updates again, most of the times the updates will dissapear.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-02-16T05:34:22+00:00

    i was correct its just a bug. if your still seeing the updates pause it for a week, leave it for a 30 mins then come back and check for updates. its no longer showing up for me anymore. i hope this helps

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