KB3093266 Windows 10 Cumulative Update Error 0x80004005

Here’s how I fixed the 0x80004005 error when trying to install KB3093266 —

First, I’m still getting used to the Windows Update interface in Windows 10. If you don’t know how to get to it, click on the Windows icon in the lower left, then click Settings, and in the window that displays, you can click on Update & security.

This morning I ran Windows Update on my computer. I clicked to select (check) the “Check online for updates from Microsoft Update” and then clicked the “Check for updates” box.

It identified a Cumulative Update for Windows 10 – KB 3093266, which it tried to install. However, the update process failed, giving me the 0x80004005 error.

I was able to fix it so it would install with these steps:

1. Click inside the “Search the web and Windows box”, type services.msc and press Enter.
2. Locate and stop the Windows Update service
   
3. Leave this window open, and meanwhile …
4. Open up a File Explorer window, and drill down to C:\ –> Windows –> SoftwareDistribution –> Download
5. Delete everything inside the Download directory, but don’t delete the actual Download folder
6. Now flip back to the Services window, and click to restart the Windows Update service
7. You should be able to go back to Windows Update, select and install KB3093266  without having to reboot your computer.

Obviously, YMMV …