Fixing Error 0x80246002 While Updating Windows 10

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal:

It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston S. Churchill

Windows 10 is one of the best products Microsoft has created. It has a good interface and is very easy to use. Like all other operating systems, Windows 10 needs updates. These updates are produced based on user reviews to fix some of the problems encountered while using the operating system and also to enhance other features. The updates are downloaded and installed, which implies that internet connection is required for this process. Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 10 has a policy of forced updates, which may prove troublesome because automatic updates can’t be turned off and some users do not actually want to update their version of the software.

One of the most disturbing facts about these updates is that users encounter problems while downloading and installing them. Windows update error code 80246002 is one of the messages users will see if there is a problem with the update installation. If you encounter this error, your computer will display a “blue screen of death” usually abbreviated BSOD and unexpectedly shut down. This persistent windows update error 0x80246002 is very uncomfortable for many users because every time Windows tries to update the operating system, the computer shuts down.

In this article I will provide you with the fix for error code 80246002 in Windows 10. This error message occurs due to various reasons, and I will walk you through some of them.

Windows Defender

One of the main causes of this error is the updates for Windows Defender (Window 10’s default anti-malware program). Here is a simple trick to fix this. All you need to do is update Windows Defender from the program itself. This is to make sure that Windows 10 does not include it in its automatic updates and will safely download and install the other updates which are required without any errors. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Start Menu
2. Search for Windows Defender and launch the program
3. If you notice that Windows Defender is off, turn it on. If you encounter any problem turning it on, don’t be alarmed. Just restart your PC and try to switch it on again.
4. Go to the update tab and update the program.

Missing or corrupted file

Also, this error can arise when a system file is missing or corrupt or when the BCD (boot configuration data, which is a file you PC needs to start up the operating system) has problems. In this case, you can either fix or recover the critical system files to get your operating system back to normal. Here are some of the steps to follow:

1. You need to create Windows 10 installation media on a DVD or USB drive.
2. When the installation media is ready, insert it into your PC and restart the operating system.
3. Boot your computer from the installation media. On a blue window, you will choose your language and region.
4. The next screen will give you two options: “Install Now” and “Repair your computer”
5. Click on Repair your computer
6. On the next screen, select Troubleshoot, which will take you to the advance option screen.
7. Select “start up repair” on the “Advanced Options” screen.
8. Select “Windows 10” on the next screen, and start up repair will begin diagnosing your PC.

Using Command Prompt is another option. All you need to do is follow the steps 1 to 6 above and select “command prompt” on the “Advanced Options” screen .

1. The Command Prompt window will appear.
2. Type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter to scan your windows files and replace the bad ones.

You could also consider fixing the boot information of your operating system by using the following commands:

• bootrec /fixmbr
• bootrec /fixboot
• bootrec /scanos
• bootrec /rebuildbcd

If you want to prevent errors from occurring, you should consider downloading and installing this software from the following link: https://www.auslogics.com/go/blog_fileinspect_fromarticle/en/software/anti-malware/ This tool will fix most of the problems you encounter when you update or install other programs or your operating system. It also prevents your system files from damage.

Mismatch in file hash

Another reason for this error occurring is when a mismatch in a file hash. Try following these steps to resolve the problem.

1. On the Start Menu, search and open Notepad.
2. Copy and paste the following commands into the new notepad document.

• net stop wuauserv
• cd %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution
• ren Download Download.old
• net start wuauserv

3. Save the document on the desktop with the file name Rename.bat.
4. Exit Notepad
5. Run the file on the desktop as an administrator.

Try reinstalling your updates

If none of the above steps has solved your problem, I will recommend you to try reinstalling your operating system. The downside to this process is that you may lose the files and applications on your system drive. In section B of this article follow the steps 1 to 4. Select “Install Now”. On the next screen, Windows will prompt you to insert your license key. But since you are performing a reinstall, you do not need to insert a key. Select the option “I don’t have a product key”. The next screen will show you the hard disks in your PC. Here you will have to choose the disk on which you will reinstall your operating system (if you have multiple disk partitions in your PC. Format the partition you want to use as your system drive and click on Next to install your new operating system. The installation time varies depending on the specifications of your PC.

We hope that this article has solved the problems of your PC, and you no longer have to worry about Error 0x80246002. Share with others who encounter the same problems.

Do you have any ideas or questions regarding this issue?

We are looking forward to your comments!