How to fix the Windows Update Error WU_E_ITEMNOTFOUND 0x80240008

Symptoms of WU_E_ITEMNOTFOUND - 0x80240008

While updating computer, user might suddenly experience a sudden slow processing or a download which fails to complete. The failing computer might also go into a sudden reboot, either a single instance of the computer shutting down or a continuous loop which prevents user to log into the computer. Error messages might also come up the screen.

(For illustrative purposes only)

Causes of 0x80240008 - WU_E_ITEMNOTFOUND

What could have happened? Windows Updates are downloaded from Microsoft. File corruption may happen at any time when updates are downloaded due to different reasons. It may be because the previous update did not install properly. It can also be because there was a problem receiving the file, which may be due to problems with system files. Whatever the case may be, users can correct the problem by following these repair methods.

Repair Methods

If a repair method works for you, please click the upvote button to the left of the answer, this will let other users know which repair method is currently working the best.

Please note: Neither ErrorVault.com nor it's writers claim responsibility for the results of the actions taken from employing any of the repair methods listed on this page - you complete these steps at your own risk.

Method 1 - Run Network or Update Troubleshooter

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For Windows 7

• Right click the Network icon on the system tray, located on the right bottom part of the desktop.
• Click Troubleshoot problem. It will launch a wizard which will diagnose the problem.
• Run the wizard and let it finish.
• Run Windows Update after running the troubleshooter to check if the problem is fixed.

For Windows 8

• Press the Window key on your keyboard. This is the key with the Windows logo just beside the Ctrl key.
• On the appearing search box, type Network problems, it will come up with several search results, choose Identify and repair network problems.
• Run the Wizard that will come up and let it finish diagnosing and applying correction to the problem.
• Run Windows update once again.

For Windows 10

• Click the Start button, then click the Settings button to open settings.
• On Windows Settings, click Update & Security.
• On the left side, click Troubleshoot, then click Windows Update on the tab that will appear on the right side.
• This will run the troubleshooter and apply fix to the problem.
• After this is done, run Windows Update again to see if the problem was fixed.

Method 2 - Clear Updates Folder

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You might have downloaded the update several times and it's still doing the same thing. You can then try clearing the Updates folder by doing the following:

• Click Windows key on your keyboard together with the letter R to open the Run window.
• On this window, type c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download, then click OK.
• This will launch the folder where the downloaded Windows updates are.
• Highlight everything by clicking Ctrl+A on the keyboard, then Delete everything in the folder.
• Sometimes some of the files will be difficult to erase. Just try deletion over again until nothing is left in the folder.
• Run Windows update again to check.

Method 3 - Turn Off Anti-virus program

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Your security center might be preventing the files from getting downloaded. If tha is the case, then just open your antivirus program by right clicking on it on your system tray, then disable it from there. Then run the updater again after this action. Just remember to turn it on again after downloading and installing the Windows updates so that your computer will be protected again.

Method 4 - Remove Other Expansion Drives

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Your computer might be using an external device like an external drive or an external DVD or SD card reader. These devices might also cause your computer to act in an abnormal manner. In that case, disconnect the device by unplugging device or by going to the Device Manager and by disabling them from there.

Method 5 - Use Windows CD

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When all else fails, you can use the Installation disk or download a copy of the Media Creation Tool to install updates from the disk.
Windows 7
Installing updates from the Windows 7 DVD is done pretty much the same way as clean install except for a few differences:

• Instead of booting from the DVD, you can run the installer inside windows.
• Make sure you are logged in an administrator account.
• Ensure that you have added the installer in your Security Center exclusion or you may disable your firewall and antivirus to ensure that will not be a problem.
• Place your installer disk into your DVD drive and run autoplay. If it did not automatically run, you may right click the DVD drive and click run autoplay.
• You will see the AutoPlay window, just click Run Setup.
• Once the installer is up, click Install Now button.
• The next screen should give you the option to Go online to get the latest updates for installation. Before clicking that, make sure that the radio button at the bottom of that window is not ticked.
• This will run the search and install utility, wait for it to finish.
• Next screen will show you license terms, click the radio button to accept, then click next.
• Then you will see two options, to do a Custom Install or an Upgrade.
• Click the Upgrade button and let the computer install the upgrade.
• Just let the process finish, supply any information that may be asked of you.

Windows 10
Windows 10 users have rarely experienced problem downloading updates using normal procedure but in case you are one of the rare cases when this occur, you may download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.

• Make sure you have a blank flash drive where you will install your windows 10 media creation tool.
• Download the installation file from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209. It will guide you through the process.
• Once done, open Windows Explorer and click the flash drive on the list of drives.
• Double click the Setup.exe file to launch installation file.
• Select language, time and currency format and input method, then click next.
• Click Install Now button. This will lead to the next window which will allow Upgrade or Custom installation.
• Click Upgrade to install upgrades.
• Follow the prompts and let installation finish.

Other languages:

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About The Author: Phil Hart has been a Microsoft Community Contributor since 2010. With a current point score over 100,000, they've contributed more than 3000 answers in the Microsoft Support forums and have created almost 200 new help articles in the Technet Wiki.

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