Here, we discuss an error ‘0x80004005’ that occurs on Windows systems. Since it reads as an unspecified error, it can be hard to identify the exact cause of the error. But don’t worry, here we provide simple and effective solutions that have worked for many users.
Here’s how to solve the error ‘0x80004005’
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Run Windows Update Troubleshooter
If you see the error ‘0x80004005’ when installing a Windows update, then you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter. The troubleshooter will resolve problems related to updates and also restart certain programs which are causing trouble. After running the troubleshooter, you can try updating Windows again.
To run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, please follow the troubleshooting guide below.
- Click on the Start menu and select Settings
- Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot
- Select Windows Update and click Run the Troubleshooter
- Then restart your computer and try to update Windows again. This should help resolve the error. If not, proceed to the next solution in this guide.
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Run System File Checker
System File Checker is a tool to check corrupt system files and replace them. Due to various reasons like viruses, corruption in the hard drive etc. system files may get corrupted and need repair. In order to repair these system files, SFC can be used. It is a built-in tool that needs to be run using the Command Prompt.
To run SFC,
- In the Windows search bar, type ‘command prompt’
- When you find the Command prompt tool, right click on it and select Run as Administrator
- When the command prompt opens, type ‘sfc /scannow’
The system will now scan the system files. If it finds any corrupt files, they are replaced by healthy ones. However, if SFC cannot repair the corrupt files, you can try and make use of DISM tool, also available through the command prompt, which is explained in the next step.
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Run DISM
In cases when SFC cannot repair corrupt system files, DISM comes in handy. To run DISM command, open command prompt using the same instructions as above and type the following command.
‘DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth’
DISM scans for corruption issues and repairs them if it finds any. Depending on the number of issues, DISM may take some time to complete. Once the process completes, the error should be resolved. If not, you can proceed to the next step.
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Perform a clean boot
Certain programs or applications can interfere with the regular functioning and may cause errors such as ‘0x80004005’. By performing a clean boot, you can restart the system with a minimum number of programs. All unnecessary programs and applications will be blocked temporarily while you perform a clean boot.
- Click on the Start menu in your computer, type ‘msconfig’ in the Search bar and open System Configuration
- Then click on the Services tab and select the checkbox corresponding to ‘Hide All Microsoft Services’ and click Disable All
- Click Windows + X keys and select Task Manager
- Select all the start-up programs and click Disable
Finally, close the Task Manager and restart your computer. Then check if the error ‘0x80004005’ is resolved. If not, you can proceed to the next step as shown below.
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Perform a clean reinstall
If none of the above solutions help you resolve the error ‘0x80004005’, then Windows reinstallation can be done as a last resort. Once reinstallation is done, you will have a fresh system with all the problematic applications gone. This should help you resolve the error. But always remember to have a complete backup of your system before performing this step.
Data recovery using Remo Recover
When performing certain operations like reinstallation of OS, data on your system may be lost. If you don’t have a backup, it can be very hard. In order to help you recover data, we introduce you to a tool called Remo Recover.
Remo Recover can be used to recover data after an OS reinstall, after formatting a drive (usually performed to resolve corruption issues) or even after a factory reset. Data recovered using Remo Recover will be in its original form and structure. Even the original file names will remain after the recovery process.
If you are someone experiencing data loss issues, download Remo Recover for free and begin with the recovery process.
