With Windows 10, Microsoft has made a lot of progress in improving its operating system. However, it’s not perfect. During the January 2019 Windows 10 upgrade, some users encountered a “potential database error” message when trying to upgrade to the latest version of the operating system. Over the following days and weeks, Microsoft released a number of patches to address the problem.
If you recently updated your Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 machine to the latest version, you may have received a message from Microsoft saying that a potential Windows update database error was detected. Don’t panic. Yes, there is a database error, but it is nothing to worry about. We will show you what to do about it.
The app-update popup message is one of the most common Windows messages users see, and the most common response is to press “OK” without reading the message. But even though the message itself is often useless, it can be a sign of a more serious problem.
Microsoft appears to have created a stable update delivery system with Windows 10 and the planned launch of Windows 11 that can consistently deliver updates to the entire Windows userbase.
It is, however, not immune to the occurrence of problems and glitches. We’ll go over a couple remedies for the “possible Windows update database error detected” issue in this article.
Microsoft has made an online troubleshooter available to assist you narrow down Windows update issues, their causes, and remedies you might try to resolve the issue.
Also see: How to Fix Windows Error 1053.
Windows 10 includes a number of built-in troubleshooters that may help you fix almost any problem on your computer, including Windows Update.
Step 1: Press Windows Key + I to open Windows settings and click on Update & Security.
Step 2: Navigate to the Troubleshooting section.
Step 3: Select Additional Troubleshooters from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Run the Windows Update troubleshooter by clicking on it and letting it do its thing.
Any corrupted or damaged system files that are preventing Windows updates can be recovered by resetting your PC. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: To enter Windows Settings, press Windows key + I. Select Update and Security from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Select the Recovery tab and, under Reset this PC, click the Get Started option.
Step 3: Make a decision Keep my files and continue with the backup.
After the reset is complete, try updating Windows again. This should resolve the issue with the “possible Windows update database error discovered.”
Also see: Windows was unable to detect the proxy settings for this network automatically: 10 Solutions
The most common cause of strange behavior on your computer is corrupt files. Here’s how to get rid of them and, perhaps, solve your problem.
Step 1: Open the Cortana/Search box by pressing Windows Key + S and searching for Powershell. From the search results, select Windows Powershell.
Step 2: Run sfc /scannow to check your system for problems.
Step 3: If the SFC scan uncovers any issues, run the command below to fix them.
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth 
After restarting your computer, the Windows update problem should be gone.
Restarting the Windows update service can also assist in resolving any issues with Windows updates. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: To reach the fast access menu, press Windows key + X. Select Command Prompt from the menu (admin).
Step 2: Type the commands below one by one, pressing enter after each one.
wuauserv wuauserv wuauserv wuauserv cryptSvc should be stopped on the network. Bits that prohibit the internet from working msiserver.net should be stopped. SoftwareDistribution.old, Ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution.old, Ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution.old, Ren C:WindowsSoftwareDis Ren Catroot2.old C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 wuauserv wuauserv wuauserv wuauserv start cryptSvc on the internet Start bits for the internet start msiserver from the command line
After that, restart your computer, and you should be able to update Windows normally.
To locate the source of the problem, perform a clean boot and then start the missing processes one by one.
Step 1: Press the Windows key and type System Configuration into the search box.
Step 2: Navigate to the Services section.
Step 3: Uncheck the option labeled Hide all Microsoft Services. Now select Disable All from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Now go to the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager from the drop-down menu.
Step 5: Return to the Startup tab, select all of the services, and disable them by clicking the Disable button.
This should resolve the issue with the “possible Windows update database error discovered.”
Also see: Windows 10: How to Change the Primary Monitor.
When he’s not writing/editing/shooting/hosting all things tech, he streams himself racing virtual vehicles. Yadullah can be reached at [email protected], or you can follow him on Instagram or Twitter.
If you’ve received an error on your computer after installing Windows Updates, then you’re not alone. A recently discovered bug has affected Windows 10 devices including the Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, HP EliteBook, ThinkPad, and more. (According to Microsoft, the error occurs during the process of applying KB4462923.) Unfortunately, it’s not clear if the issue is a problem with Windows 10 or a problem with the update itself. That said, there are a number of fixes that Microsoft has described, which you can read about here .. Read more about repair windows update database corruption and let us know what you think.
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I fix Windows Update database corruption?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" You can try to repair the Windows Update database by running a command prompt as administrator and typing in the following commands.
C:\WINDOWS\system32>cd %windir%\System32 C:\WINDOWS\system32>ren cdburner2.exe cdburner2.old C:\WINDOWS\system32>attrib -h -s -r +s cdburner2.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32>ren"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I fix Windows Update detected?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" Windows Update is a service that automatically updates your computer with the latest software and security patches. If you are experiencing issues updating, there may be a problem with your internet connection or other network related issue."}}]}
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix a potential Windows Update database error?
You can try to repair the Windows Update database by running the following command in an elevated command prompt: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
How do I fix Windows Update database corruption?
You can try to repair the Windows Update database by running a command prompt as administrator and typing in the following commands. C:\WINDOWS\system32>cd %windir%\System32 C:\WINDOWS\system32>ren cdburner2.exe cdburner2.old C:\WINDOWS\system32>attrib -h -s -r +s cdburner2.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32>ren
How do I fix Windows Update detected?
Windows Update is a service that automatically updates your computer with the latest software and security patches. If you are experiencing issues updating, there may be a problem with your internet connection or other network related issue.
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