AB#7607: Troubleshoot Update Error 0x80070003 While Installing Windows Updates

New article for [CI 7607](https://dev.azure.com/KMOps/ContentExperience/_queries/edit/7607)

Author: v-tappelgate

support/windows-server/installing-updates-features-roles/error-0x80070003-windows-update-fails.md

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+---
+title: Error 0x80070003 when Windows Update Fails
+description: Learn how to resolve the update error 0x80070003 encountered during Windows update installations.
+manager: dcscontentpm
+audience: itpro
+ms.date: 12/30/2025
+ms.topic: troubleshooting
+ms.reviewer: kaushika, dougking, v-appelgatet
+ms.custom:
+- sap:windows servicing,updates and features on demand\windows update fails - installation stops with error
+- pcy:WinComm Devices Deploy
+appliesto:
+- ✅ <a href=https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/supported-versions-windows-client target=_blank>Supported versions of Windows Client</a>
+- ✅ <a href=https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/windows-server-release-info target=_blank>Supported versions of Windows Server</a>
+- ✅ <a href=https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/windows-365target=_blank>Supported versions of Windows 365</a>
+- <a href=https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/azure-virtual-machine target=_blank>Supported versions of Azure Virtual Machine</a>
+---
+# Error 0x80070003 when Windows Update fails
+
+This article describes how to resolve Windows Update error 0x80070003, which causes the update to fail to install, or to roll back the installation after the computer restarts.
+
+## Symptoms
+
+When you install a Windows update, the update fails and you see the following error message:
+
+> Some update files are missing or have problems. We'll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x80070003).
+
+## Cause
+
+This error typically means that driver files are missing or inaccessible.
+
+## Resolution
+
+> [!NOTE]  
+> If the affected computer is a Windows virtual machine (VM), and it can't restart correctly or if you can't use SSH to access it, make sure that you can use the Azure Serial Console to access it.
+
+The most reliable way to fix this issue is to perform an in-place upgrade on the affected computer.
+
+> [!NOTE]  
+> For more information about upgrading VMs, see one of the following articles:
+
+- [In-place upgrade for VMs running Windows Server in Azure](/azure/virtual-machines/windows-in-place-upgrade)
+- [In-place upgrade for supported VMs running Windows in Azure (Windows client)](../../../azure/virtual-machines/windows/in-place-system-upgrade.md)
+
+If you experience error 0x80070003 during the in-place upgrade, see ["0x80070003" error and Windows upgrade fails during "Process Drivers for Migration"](../../setup-upgrade-and-drivers/error-0x80070003-during-process-drivers-for-migration.md).
+
+If the issue persists, contact Microsoft Support. List the path or file that wasn't found in the support request. For information about how to identify this information, see [More information](#more-information).
+
+## More information
+
+To identify the path that could not be accessed, follow these steps:
+
+1. On the affected computer, go to the %Windir%\logs\CBS folder (%Windir% represents the Windows directory on the computer's system drive).
+1. Use a text editor to open the most recent CBS.log file, and search for a ", error" string.
+1. Check the log entries that share the same timestamp as the error and look for the path that is related to the error.
+
+   For example, the following excerpt shows that the issue occurred during the installation of ntprint.inf (the Windows printer driver):
+
+   ```output
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS           INSTALL index: 69, phase: 1, result 3, inf: ntprint4.inf
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Doqe: Recording result: 0x80070003, for Inf: ntprint4.inf
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   DriverUpdateInstallUpdates failed [HRESULT = 0x80070003 - ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND]
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Doqe: Failed installing driver updates [HRESULT = 0x80070003 - ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND]
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Perf: Doqe: Install ended.
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Failed installing driver updates [HRESULT = 0x80070003 - ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND]
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Error                CBS   Startup: Failed while processing non-critical driver operations queue. [HRESULT = 0x80070003 - ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND]
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Startup: Rolling back KTM, because drivers failed.
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Setting ExecuteState key to: CbsExecuteStateStageDrivers | CbsExecuteStateFlagRollback | CbsExecuteStateFlagDriversFailed
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   SetProgressMessage: progressMessageStage: -1, ExecuteState: CbsExecuteStateStageDrivers | CbsExecuteStateFlagRollback | CbsExecuteStateFlagDriversFailed, SubStage: 0
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Progress: UI message updated. Operation type: Update. Stage: 1 out of 1. Rollback.
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   Setting original failure status: 0x80070003, last forward execute state: CbsExecuteStatePrimitives
+   2017-12-06 15:30:46, Info                 CBS   SetProgressMessage: progressMessageStage: -1, ExecuteState: CbsExecuteStateStageDrivers | CbsExecuteStateFlagRollback | CbsExecuteStateFlagDriversFailed, SubStage: 1
+   ```