How to fix 0x8024a105 Windows Update Error?

Do you often see the advice from experts asking you to update your system regularly? To be fair, through Windows updates, Microsoft provides improvements to its operating system, gets rid of bugs and security vulnerabilities, and so on. The procedure, in general, tends to have a positive effect on your computer.

So what do you when an issue described by Error code 0x8024a105 comes up when you attempt to update your system?

The error indicates that there is a problem with the components that work together to bring about the Automatic Updates operation. Here is an example of the message associated with the error code in its narrative form: There were problems downloading some updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this, try searching… This error code might help: (0x8024a105)

The exact events, which occurred in the build-up to the error, remain unknown for the most part. They range from incomplete uninstallation or improper installation of programs, unauthorized removal of files or disconnection of devices, operations carried out by viruses and malware, and so on.

What we do know however is that something has already done some damage to Windows system files once the error message appears. Thus, it is no surprise that Error 0x8024a105 is an alarming problem—it prevents users from downloading or installing Windows updates. Getting rid of it should be the top priority for any individual for obvious reasons.

Luckily for you, we have provided a reasonable number of useful fixes that you can use to solve the problem. The steps in the procedures apply to users running the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system (Windows 10). Nevertheless, if you are running older versions of Windows (Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and so on), some of the solutions should also work for you.

How to fix Error code 0x8024a105 on Windows 10 and older operating system versions?

You are not obligated to attempt every single one of the solutions below. Start with the first one and work your way down until you stumble on the fix that does the job for you.

1. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter:

Generally, when you encounter a problem in the Windows environment, you can employ a specific troubleshooter to help you diagnose and fix the issue (if possible). On Windows 10, for example, there is an unprecedented number of troubleshooters available for users to run.

Moreover, Microsoft significantly improved the abilities of these problem-solving utilities to increase their effectiveness in the latest iteration of its operating system. Thus, there is a good chance that the troubleshooter will automatically fix the broken components if you let it. Follow these instructions to run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter to fix Error 0x8024a105:

• Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows start icon always present on your desktop screen. Type the following keyword into the text box present and hit the Enter key: troubleshoot. From the search results that come up, click on Troubleshoot (System Settings).

You can also get to the Troubleshooting program menu through this procedure: Press (and hold) the Windows button, then tap the letter R key on your keyboard to open the Run. Type in the following code and hit the Enter key once you are done to run it at once: control.exe /name Microsoft.Troubleshooting

• After the program window opens, click on Windows Update. Now click on the Run the troubleshooter button. The troubleshooting process should commence soon.  It might take a while, so we advise that you remain patient and wait until the end of the procedure. The troubleshooter works to detect the problems active on your Windows Update client
• Follow the instructions that come up if necessary. You might end up triggering the Automatic Repair utility. Most times, you will have to click on the Apply this fix button, and everything will go smoothly. Other times, primarily if the troubleshooter identifies any issue it could not resolve, it might ask you to perform a specific operation. Do as you are told and move on.

If the troubleshooter was successful in resolving the issue, you should see the changes almost immediately. Nevertheless, if you are in doubt, we recommend that you restart your PC and see if your problem has disappeared. Move on to other fixes if things remain the same.

2. Reset Windows Update components:

We know that several programs, processes, and files come together to make the Windows Update process possible. We can collectively refer to all the items involved as Windows updates components. Now if any of them gets corrupted, then the issues described by Error 0x8024a105 may manifest and stop you from upgrading your system to the latest version or iteration of Windows.

Unfortunately, it is incredibly difficult to identify which exact component is damaged. Thus, to solve the problem, we have no choice but to assume that all the parts are faulty (since it could be any of the items). Now you are going to carry out series of operations to reset almost all the Windows Update components. Follow these instructions:

• First, you must open an elevated Command Prompt window because the processes you are going to carry out require many permissions to work well. You can do this by right-clicking on the Windows Start icon always present on your desktop screen and selecting Command Prompt (Admin) from the list of programs or options that show up

This other method of opening the required program is better suited to users who could not use the first procedure because they are running older versions of Windows: Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows start icon on your desktop screen. Search for cmd in the text box present, right-click on Command Prompt from the result list and select Run as administrator from the options you see

• After the elevated Command Prompt window loads up, type in the following lines of codes (one at a time) and hit the Enter key (after entering each line):

1. net stop bits
2. net stop wuauserv
3. net stop appidsvc
4. net stop cryptsvc

The commands you just executed work by forcing Windows to terminate the services that handle the downloading and installation operations of the Windows Update program. Here is a short list of some of the items we are talking about: MSI Installer, Windows Update, BITS and Cryptographic services.  

Next, you are going to carry out a similar code-running operation to rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. Windows saves data and a good number of temporarily files at the stated locations.

When you rename the directories, your system will detect or believe that they are missing. It will create new ones. This process, in theory, forces a fresh initialization of some Windows Update components because Windows will now use the newly created SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders.

This way, you can resolve the issues with the old directories that led to Error 0x8024a105. Follow these instructions:

• In an elevated Command Prompt window, enter the following lines of code (one at a time) and tap the Enter key (each time) to run the command:

1. Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
2. Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.old

Now it is time you restarted the services that you terminated earlier. Do this:

• In the same Command Prompt window, type in the following lines of command and press the Enter key after inputting each one of them:

1. net start bits
2. net start wuauserv
3. net start appidsvc
4. net start cryptsvc

After you have executed all the operations outlined here correctly, check if the error is still bothering your PC. Restart your PC to ensure that all changes become effective. If the error message comes up once more, move on to other fixes.

3. Alter the User Account Control Settings:

If none of the methods above were successful in resolving your problem, then our suspicions about Error 0x8024a105 being on your system due to improper or incorrect User Account Control Settings are not far off the mark.

From the reports we have seen, we can confirm that the Windows update setup struggles or fails abruptly when the currently logged-in account on a system lacks the permissions it needs to execute some operations. Therefore, we can quickly solve this problem by granting administrative powers to the user profile in view (or changing it to that of an administrator).

Follow these instructions:

1. Open the Run program by pressing (and holding) the Windows button on your keyboard, then hitting the letter R key. Type in the following code and hit the Enter key to execute it: netplwiz
2. The User Account program window should come up. Under the Users tab, select the User profile that is currently in use (or tick the radio button for it). Now click on the Properties button
3. After the Properties window comes up, navigate to the Group Membership tab. There, you must set the level of access to Administrator. You can save the changes you just made by clicking on the Apply button.

If you noticed that Administrator was already the selected value for the level of access after the Properties window showed up, then this fix is probably not for you.

Now it is time you restarted your PC. Log into your system with the same User profile (the one you worked on not long ago). After Windows loads and everything becomes stable, you are free to open Windows updates; try to download or install updates and see if the error bothers you again. Move on the next fix if everything remained the same.

4. Update your device drivers:

Some users stated they struggled with Error 0x8024a105 because some crucial drivers were missing on their PC or because the existing ones overstayed their welcome and began functioning incorrectly. Other reports confirmed along the same lines that the error is sometimes a result of the corruption or damage done to critical driver files.

The obvious solution to the problem involves you replacing the missing, corrupted or outdated drivers with the latest driver software. However, this operation is not as straightforward as it seems. You will need to do more than you think.

For example, identification of the drivers that need replacing is the first logical step you must take, but this part alone can consume almost all your time and significant effort as you have to go through far too many items. There is also no guarantee that you will detect all the missing, corrupted or outdated drivers. Therefore, the exercise itself could be one in futility.

Let us even assume that you somehow managed to isolate and identify all the items that you need to work on successfully (it is a long shot to be fair), then you would come to realize that operations involved in the upgrading of the drivers are even more complicated than the first step which you found difficult enough to complete. So why bother yourself any further with the risks and complications?

We advise that you do things the easy way since you have come this far. Download and run Auslogics Driver Updater at once. This excellent program will help you carry out all the complicated, time-consuming, and demanding operations safely and efficiently.

By “safe and efficient way”, we meant that the recommended program would do the following:

•  It will scan your system automatically to detect the driver issues that need to be resolved (for example, the problems associated with missing, corrupted or outdated drivers fall into this category)
•  It will show you a report on the issues identified. From there on, you can use the option to update the drivers to their manufacturer-recommended versions quickly

Once you have finished updating all your device drivers, Windows or the program itself should prompt you to restart your PC. If this does not happen, you must reboot your computer yourself to let the new drivers start working. Finally, you are free to attempt the Windows Update procedure once more and find out if the error persists.

5. Fix corruption in system files and repair damaged components:

Recall that we already established that Error 0x8024a105 is often the result of corrupted or damaged system files (in the introduction outline of this guide). To fix the stated issues, we will attempt to run the tools that Microsoft built into Windows for such complications.

The System File Checker (SFC scan) utility is one. Others include the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool available on the most recent versions of Windows (Windows 10 and Windows 8.1), and the System Update Readiness (Checksur) tool Microsoft included in older iterations of Windows (Windows 7 and Windows Vista).

We will begin our attempts with the System File Checker tool (although we insist that users running Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 run the DISM tool first instead). Follow these instructions:

• Here, you need to open an elevated Command Prompt window. Users running Windows 10 and Windows 8 can do this by right-clicking on the Windows Start icon always visible on their desktop screen and selecting Command Prompt admin from the list of programs and options that show up

If you are running an iteration of Windows that differs from the stated version above, follow these instructions instead: Click on the Windows start icon (or press its button on your keyboard), type cmd into the text box present to perform a quick search. From the results that show up, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator to open the required program

• Once you have the elevated Command Prompt window up and running, input the following code and hit the Enter key to run it: sfc /scannow 

The command should run and start scanning your system files for corruption and similar problems (even protected items are fair game in this operation). It will try to replace corrupted files and related data with a cached copy that is good

• Note that the process might require a significant amount of time to run until its completion. Be patient and wait until the end. When the tool finishes doing its work, you will see a message stating that verification is 100% complete. The results of the scan should not be far away from this notification
• You should also see messages indicating that the tool did not find anything or that it found corrupt files and repaired them successfully, and so on. Regardless of the description or the notification you got, restart your system to let the changes from the work done take effect.

Here are the steps for running the DISM tool:

• Open an elevated Command Prompt window. We provided instructions on doing this in the first step of the procedure above (on how to use the System File Checker tool)
• After the required program window opens, input the following code and tap the Enter key to force its execution: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth 

The tool should begin its work immediately. The entire process uses up considerable time too (between 5-10 minutes in the vast majority of scenarios we have seen), so wait and watch. You must not close the Command Prompt window until its completion

• Observe the execution of the operation. Do not be alarmed if the progress bar remains at a particular value or state for an extended period (for example, 20 percent).

To be fair, a good number of users also thought something went wrong when encountered this phenomenon. They incorrectly reported the issue as a problem. It is not—you should know better now. The progression of the procedure is not linear, so such occurrences are normal

• After Windows completes the scan (indicated by a message telling you that it has), you must restart your system regardless of what was stated in the notification.

As usual, after your system comes on and Windows starts running, try to update your system and find out if Error 0x8024a105 is gone for good.

6. Alter Windows Update settings:

If the error was a result of inconsistencies in the user configuration or settings that control the search, download, and installation operations of the Windows Update program, then there is a good chance that this fix will end your nightmare. Follow these instructions (Windows 10 users):

• Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows Start icon to see a list of options or programs. Select Update and Security. You can also open required app by pressing (and holding) the Windows button, then tapping the letter I key
• Under Update and Security, go into the Update settings. Click on Advanced options. A new window should come up.  Untick the checkbox for this option: Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows
• Save the changes you made and reboot your system to let them take effect.

If you are running a specific version of Microsoft’s operating system older than Windows 10 (Windows 8.1, for example), do this instead:

• Press the Windows button or click on the Windows start icon, type in update into the text box present to search for this keyboard. From the list of results that come up, select Windows Update settings. If you cannot find this option, click on any other Windows Update program link
• After the PC settings program window shows up, click on the Choose how updates get installed link. On the screen that follows, you must untick the checkbox for this item: Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows
• Close the open window and restart your system
• After your PC comes on, open the Windows Update program menu (the way you are used to checking for updating manually). Click on the Check for Updates button to force Windows to search for updates immediately. You might have to click on the button multiple times in quick succession to ensure that Windows downloads and installs all the available updates on your PC
• When your system finally possesses all the available updates, a message stating that your device is up to date (or you have all the available updates) should come up to notify you of this fact.

7. Reset the Windows Update agent, using special software:

Microsoft once provided a tool (in the form of a program script) that can perform the following operations:

• Resetting or repair of components, registry entries or keys associated with Windows Update and dependent services or programs
•  Detection and fixing of corruption in system files and images
•  Resetting of Winsock settings, and so on.

The tool can also execute some of the procedures already listed here as fixes and others that might prove useful to you in the long run:

•  System File Scan (SFC) checks and related operations
•  Removal of temporary files among others

If by now you are still struggling with Error 0x8024a105, which means you cannot download or install updates, then it is not farfetched to suggest that this tool can do you a whole lot of good if you allow it run on your system. Follow these instructions:

• Open your web browser, and type reset windows update agent tool in the text box present to perform a search for these keywords. Click on the first item that you see on the result list
• After the webpage loads up, click on the button beside Download to get the file. Agree to the presented terms and conditions and move on. Your download should commence almost immediately
• After your browser finishes fetching the file from the site’s servers, you must go the folder or directory where you stored the item. We advise that you launch and run the tool by right-clicking on the executable file (usually with a .exe extension) and selecting Run as administrator from the list of options that come up
• Press the Y key on your keyboard to continue with the process. Tap the Enter key. The tool should start working now. It will run checks on your system to identify the Windows update issues
• After the tool completes its operations, restart your system and check if Error 0x8024a105 is still active.

8. Perform a clean boot:

When you perform a clean boot, your system starts up Windows with a minimal or limited number of programs, applications, drivers or processes. If software conflicts or interferences from several programs and their activities have something to do with Error 0x8024a105, then this procedure is your best bet for solving the problem.

Since Windows always fails to start third-party applications, services, and so on in this mode of booting your system, you can either isolate the source of the problem or entirely rule out software conflicts and interferences as the cause of Error 0x8024a105. Follow these instructions to do a clean boot:

• Press (and hold) the Windows button on your keyboard, then tap the letter R key to launch the Run app like you have done a good number of times already. Type msconfig into the text box present and hit the Enter key to run this code. The System Configuration app should show up now

You can also open the required program by clicking on the Windows Start icon always present on your desktop screen (or pressing the Windows button on your keyboard), inputting msconfig in the text box to perform a search for this keyboard, and finally, clicking on msconfig (the result that shows up).

• After the program window loads up, navigate to the Services tab. There, you should see the checkbox for Hide all Microsoft services. Tick it. Click on the Disable all button. Click on the Apply button
• Now you must navigate to the Startup tab. Click on the Open Task Manager link there. The Task Manager program window should open now
• In the new program window, under the Startup tab, select each Startup item that you can see there (one at a time), and click on the Disable button. Now you have successfully set Windows to prevent the unnecessary programs from running at bootup
• Return to the System Configuration program window that got minimized earlier. Click on OK to save the changes you just made and move on
• Restart your PC. After your system starts up and Windows settles down, try to update your PC in this controlled environment and see what happens.

9. Install the updates manually:

This procedure described here is not exactly a direct solution to your problem. You are going to bypass the issue and its effect—you are going to update Windows, using a different method since Error 0x8024a105 prevents you from doing it the usual way. After all, most users’ major grouse with the stated error lies in the fact that it stops them from downloading or installing Windows updates.

So if you somehow manage to update the Windows on your system, would you still care much about Error 0x8024a105? We will find out soon enough. The procedure here is especially useful if the error occurred only for a particular version of Windows Update (or a limited number of them). Follow these instructions to download and install Windows Updates manually:

• First, you need to obtain some essential pieces of information. Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Windows Start icon always visible at the lower left corner of your desktop screen.

Input information into text box present to perform a search for this keyword. From the list of results that show up, you must click on System Information (Desktop app) to open the required program

• After the program window launches, you should see a list of items with some values or descriptions attached to them. Locate System Type. The value for this item is usually one of the following: x64-based or x86-based (based on ARM64). Take note of these descriptions or values. You will need to recall them later. Write them down somewhere if you are likely to forget.
• You must also know which specific updates Windows failed to install due to the error. If you are in doubt, open the Window Update program menu to find the necessary information. You could also obtain the critical details from update history. Write the presented data down if necessary
• Now since you are armed with enough information, it is time we moved on the primary procedure. Open your web browser and input Microsoft Update Catalog into the text box present to search for it. Click on the first item (usually a link to a specific Microsoft webpage) from the list of results that come up
• We expect you to end up on the Microsoft Update Catalog homepage if everything goes well. You should see an empty text box on the top-right corner of the page. Input the details about the update that failed to install into this field.

The ideal text consists of letters KB and a string of numbers that come after the alphabets. For example, KB 3170735 is the required information that will help us identify a specific Windows update. Yours could be different

• Press the Enter key on your keyboard or click on the Search button on the webpage to perform a search for the update needed. After the search results show up, from the list of items there, you must find the particular update that matches the version of Windows running on your system and your PC’s architecture type ((x86-, x64- or ARM64-based)

Remember that we asked you to take note of these details earlier. Once you have found the right thing, click on the Download button next to the item to fetch the file

• A fresh page should appear, and you must click on it to begin the download of the Windows Update files. Your browser should store the data on your disk. After the download is complete, click or double-click on the saved file to open and run it
• Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. They contain steps that will guide you through the entire process to ensure a successful installation of the updates.

Here is a good list of other things you could try to fix the problem:

• Change your internet connection: If you were trying to fetch or download updates on a wireless connection and you keep on seeing the error, then maybe it is time you switched to a wired connection. There is no harm in you abandoning your WIFI and trying out an Ethernet cable for internet access.

You could also restart your router if you use one. Individuals using a modem should unplug the device, reboot their system, and reinsert the tool after Windows comes on and everything settles. If you were working on the process at home, try to use the internet at your office and watch out for changes. In fact, consider trying out a different ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you have the means to do so.

Things might get better if your problems were a result of poor internet connectivity leading to slow downloads and delays.

• Disable your Firewall, Antivirus, and similar programs:

The stated applications are well capable of causing software conflicts or interfering with things they have no business disturbing. Error 0x8024a105 is sometimes an unintended consequence of their operations.

For example, your safety setup might prevent Windows from downloading the necessary update files, or your security apparatus might disturb their installation if it incorrectly flags down Windows Update activities as malicious. You can temporarily disable your Firewall, reduce the powers of your antivirus and other security programs and see what happens.

If nothing changes, then you could consider uninstalling them if you are sure that they have something to do with your headache.

To be honest, if at this point you are still struggling to resolve Windows 10 update Error code 0x8024a105, then it is likely that only a very disruptive procedure (like the use of System Restore or an installation of a fresh copy of Windows) is capable of helping you.