2

My Windows 11 Home (24H2) is behaving as if Windows Update is totally non-existent as of a day ago. Whenever I click "Check for updates" from the Start menu, it takes me to the default Settings screen. Whenever I click on the Windows Update panel in the top-right of that screen, nothing happens. I appear to no longer have any way of actually navigating to and running Windows update.

Things I've tried:

  • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • SFC /ScanNow
  • Starting/restarting all Windows services I believe to be behind Windows Update

I only have one inclination of what happened to begin causing that, and it may be because I followed these instructions: https://beebom.com/how-enable-windows-sandbox-windows-11/

Those instructions did not work, by the way—Windows Sandbox won't launch, so I've since turned that optional feature off.

The last time I ran a System Restore, it resulted in corrupted data and other issues, so I don't even want to chance it. Any ideas?

Craig
  • 1,123

2 Answers2

2

The problem indeed came from attempting to install Windows Sandbox via the link provided in the OP. I resolved this by running the following batch script:

@echo off
REM **************************************************************
REM This script disables the Containers-DisposableClientVM feature
REM and then removes all installed packages with "Containers" in
REM their identity.
REM
REM WARNING: Removing system packages can have unintended side effects.
REM Make sure you have a backup or restore point before proceeding.
REM **************************************************************

echo Disabling the Containers-DisposableClientVM feature...
DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:Containers-DisposableClientVM /NoRestart
if %errorlevel% neq 0 (
    echo Failed to disable the Containers-DisposableClientVM feature.
    echo You may need to resolve this issue manually.
    pause
    exit /b 1
)


echo.
echo Scanning for container-related packages...


for /f "tokens=4" %%A in ('DISM /Online /Get-Packages ^| findstr /i "Containers"') do (
    echo.
    echo Removing package: %%A
    DISM /Online /Remove-Package /PackageName:"%%A" /NoRestart
    if %errorlevel% neq 0 (
        echo Warning: Failed to remove package %%A.
    ) else (
        echo Package %%A removed successfully.
    )
)


echo.
echo All container packages processed.
echo It is recommended that you restart your computer to complete the changes.
pause
Craig
  • 1,123
0

IF you installed Windows 11 24H2 from physical media and it had the October or November updates included, you may need to reinstall.

https://www.pcgamer.com/software/windows/if-you-installed-windows-11-with-certain-security-updates-and-a-usb-stick-you-may-not-get-any-more-security-updates-warns-microsoft/

"With the public launch of Windows version 24H2 last year came a security issue that was only 'resolved' this week. Those who installed Windows 11 from a media file using the October or November version of the software seemingly can't access any future security updates, and the solution is a fresh install of just the Windows OS."

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-24h2

Greg Askew
  • 413