A user reports that their Windows 10 laptop is failing to install security updates. The user has confirmed the laptop is connected to the internet and has over 100 GB of free storage. Despite multiple restarts, the update process fails immediately when they click 'Check for updates' in the Settings menu. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this failure?
The correct answer is that the Windows Update service is not running. The scenario states that the update process fails immediately, even though the laptop has a stable internet connection and sufficient disk space. These symptoms strongly indicate that the core service responsible for checking for, downloading, and installing updates is either stopped, disabled, or corrupted. A lack of internet connectivity or insufficient disk space are common causes for update failures, but they have been explicitly ruled out in the scenario. Requiring administrative privileges is generally not the cause for a standard user initiating updates through the Settings app.
Ask Bash
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
What is the Windows Update service?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
How can you check if the Windows Update service is running?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
What should you do if issues persist after starting the Windows Update service?