customer server running windows server 2008 r2 can not use windows update to check updates or download updates automatically.
1 try to rebuild windows download database
run cmd in administrator privilege then run:
net stop wuauserv
Rename c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution_OLD
net start wuauserv
2 install KB 947821
for windows 2008 r2 & windows 7: [300MB]
when start install 947821, it will check windows update settings and correct all things, so it will take a period based on your server and network environment. for this situation it takes about 30mins.
for detail please check http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821
then everything works.
this kb is recommend by me for WSUS troubleshooting.
xunyangit daily share 
Southcot Services (@crescentmen)
August 29, 2011 at 00:43
Thanks for leaving this tip. It sorted my problem beautifully.
@dishutkalbar
February 2, 2012 at 19:16
thanks it’s very helpfull
Scott
March 5, 2012 at 20:40
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge on this obscure bug, there isn’t a great deal of information about it.
HappyGeek
March 6, 2012 at 06:09
Absolutely Great. This fixed my issue with Windows 7 not downloading from WSUS server. Thank you very much!!
Govinda Revanwar
March 29, 2012 at 23:03
Excellent Solution…
Great boss, Thank You Very Much
rowd
June 4, 2012 at 17:32
hi ive’ encountered an error: (0x80070422) when installing kb947821. It said, service cannot be started either its disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated. can you please help me what service/devices should I enabled? Thanks in advance
rowd
June 4, 2012 at 17:39
ok.. seen it. Haha, thanks for this post!
bob
June 23, 2012 at 00:37
Thank you so much for posting this. I can’t beleive MS has their head so deep in the sand.
Oluboy
June 28, 2012 at 23:47
you’re da man! that resolved my problem! many thanks
Grant
July 27, 2012 at 04:59
Thanks for this has made my life even easier and i have passed it onto my colleagues as well
joss089
October 26, 2012 at 22:48
thanks a lot for your post. It works in a excelent way in one of my server. But I could not make the process work properly on one of my Exchange servers.
nikva
December 12, 2012 at 21:17
thank you very much man, very frustrating issue with our good old Win2008 not able to do an upie!!
Rodeoman
February 7, 2013 at 21:54
Didn’t work for me. I’m still getting the error “80070422” even after installing the Microsoft KB article, scanning the server with Trend Micro AV, Symantec EndPoint Protection AV, Malwarebytes, etc. Any other ideas because I am out of ideas.
m
February 26, 2013 at 23:48
This was not working for me – it would not let me rename c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution — found another post that said to do the same thing, almost, with one extra step:
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
Rename c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution_OLD
net start bits
net start wuauserv
Then I could rename the folder and updates would download.
m
February 27, 2013 at 00:21
Sorry, i did not state that i followed the rest of the steps as outlined above.
BeeSA
June 26, 2013 at 11:55
Thanks, this worked perfectly!
Systems Support
June 27, 2013 at 02:18
Didn’t work for me but, I was trying to apply it to server 2008 r2 like the article title and not Windows 7 (sigh).
Randy
July 13, 2013 at 08:12
Thank you….I’ve been trying to fix this issue on 3 of our server. Your solution worked perfectly.
Anthony
September 24, 2013 at 01:23
Thank you — totally fixed my update issue.
Robert
October 17, 2013 at 21:46
Great tip, that fixed my 2008 R2 server right up! 🙂
robh
November 13, 2013 at 07:49
Fixed my 2008R2 server. I only had to do step #1. It’s worth testing after step #1 before having to do the KB install.
pc
January 17, 2014 at 22:59
Of all places I could end up on the Internet, I finally found a useful one like this! This worked on the first try with only the 1st step having been taken.
James
May 20, 2014 at 12:28
You Rock
Shay
July 16, 2014 at 19:59
Thank You Very Much it’s works great
Malikarjun
August 2, 2016 at 11:25
this is wonderful article.. Appreciate for your sharing..
Amr
September 11, 2017 at 03:08
Thank you for sharing. I am still waiting more than 1h Windows update standalone installer I hope this will works!
Issue is : Server 2008 R2 not able to update or upgrade to SP1 😦
Still waiting.
Amr
September 12, 2017 at 04:24
Thank You Very Much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
The Problem has been solved. 😉
Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!