Windows update error code:80070003

If you are facing issues with your Windows updates, and the Windows Troubleshooter gives the above error code, then try the following method:

Method 1: Windows Update - Reset

OPTION ONE  

To Only Reset Windows Update History

Resetting Windows Update using this option will clear the view update history details list (cache). 

This will not actually uninstall any of your currently installed Windows Update. They will just not be listed anymore. Any new Windows Update installed after the reset will show up in the view update history list as normal though.

• Use this batch file : Windows Update Reset.
• Please right click on the batch file and click on "Run as administrator".

Resetting the Windows Update history will also restore the default language packs being listed in Windows Upate again in the Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise editions after you check for updates next.

OPTION TWO

To Reset and Re-register Windows Update Components AND Reset Update History in One Easy Click  

This will reset Windows Update Components and re-register the BITS files and the Windows Update files to help fix Windows Update errors. This option will also clear the view update history details list as it does in OPTION ONE above.

If you do not wish to do that, please use the following link to perform the task manually: How do I reset Windows Update components?

• Use this batch file : Windows Update Reset and components Re-register.
• Please right click on the batch file and click on "Run as administrator".

Method 2: TROUBLESHOOTING

Please follow these steps to resolve the problem manually:

Step 1: Stop the Windows Update service

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.

• Open Administrative Tools from Control Panel. Open Control Panel, type administrative tools in the search box, and then click Administrative Tools.
• Double-click Services. 
• Note If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
• Click the Name column heading to sort the names in reverse order.
• Find the Windows Update service, right-click it, and then click Stop. If you are running Windows XP, find the Automatic Updates service, right-click it, and then click Stop.

Step 2: Delete temporary update files in the SoftwareDistribution folder

• Open File Explorer (in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8) or Windows Explorer (in Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP).
• Double-click the local hard disk where Windows is installed, typically drive C.
• Double-click the Windows folder, and then double-click the SoftwareDistribution folder.
• Double-click the DataStore folder to open it, and then delete all files and folders in the folder. 
• Note If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
• Click the Back button. In the SoftwareDistribution folder, double-click the Download folder to open it, and then delete all files in the folder. 
• Note If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Step 3: Restart the Windows Update service

• You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
• Open Administrative Tools from Control Panel. Open Control Panel, type administrative tools in the search box, and then click Administrative Tools.
• Double-click Services. 
• Note If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
• Click the Name column heading to sort the names in reverse order.
• Find the Windows Update service, right-click it, and then click Start. If you are running Windows XP, find the Automatic Updates service, right-click it, and then click Start.
• Close the Services window and the Administrative Tools window.

Step 4: See which updates are installed on the computer

Deleting temporary update files will help solve the problem, but it will also delete the history in Windows Update. You can still see which updates are installed on your computer by going to Installed Updates.

To do this, open Installed Updates by opening Control Panel in Category view, clicking Programs, and then, under Programs and Features, clicking View installed updates. If you are running Windows XP, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs. On the top right, select the Show updates check box.

Step 5: Use the DISM or System Update Readiness tool

If the problem continues after you have followed the steps above, use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool or the System Update Readiness tool to fix Windows Update corruption errors. To learn more about this, go to Fix Windows corruption errors by using the DISM or System Update Readiness tool .

Method 3: CONFLICTS

Step 1: Clean boot your system.

• Use this link to learn how to perform clean boot : Clean Boot Windows

Step 2: Create a new local User

• How to create local user on Windows 10?
• How to create local user on Windows Vista or 7?

Step 3: Check for Date/Time.

Method 4: MICROSOFT FIXIT (Windows 7)

• Use the following Microsoft Fixit to resolve the problem : Microsoft Fixit.

Or

• Stop the Windows Update Service and Install This update.