How to fix Windows Error 0x80070002

The below guide aims to help resolve error 0x80070002 in all the latest Windows versions, including Windows 10.

0x80070002 is a common error that is usually caused by missing update files in your Windows system. An update might have been downloaded and installed, but due to a corrupt or missing file, there is an error. Fixing this should not be overly difficult or challenging. Just follow the guide below and you will have solved error 0x80070002 in no time.

Method 1: Change time and date settings

Oftentimes this error is caused by incorrect date or time. Here is how to fix that:

  1. Left-click on the clock in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
  2. Select Change date and time settings.                      4
  3. Click on Change date and time.
  4. Set the correct time, date and year, then select OK.
  5. Click on Time Zone and make sure that it is set to the correct time zone you’re in.
  6. Click OK and close all windows.                        5

Method 2: Deleting temporary files

If our previous method did not work, you can try this one as well.

Stopping Windows Update

  1. The first thing you need to do is open the Run window by using the Winkey+R keyboard combination.
  2. In the resulting search field, type services.msc.         6
  3. Next, look through the list and find a service named Windows Update.
  4. Once there, double-click on the service and select Stop.7

Deleting temporary files

  1. Here, what you need to do is go to the hard-drive where your Windows OS has been installed (usually that would be C:) and open the folder named Windows.
  2. Go to SoftwareDistribution > DataStore
  3. Delete all files and folders in DataStore.9
  4. Go back to the SoftwareDistribution folder and open Download.10
  5. Delete everything there as well.

Starting Windows Update

  1. Repeat steps 1-3 from Stopping Windows Update
  2. Once you’ve opened the Windows Update service, click on Start and then select OK.8
  3. Wait and see if the error has been fixed.

Method 3: Using SFC/scannow

If the previous methods did not resolve error 0x80070002, you can try to use the SFC/scannow command in your command prompt. This would attempt to repair any detected files that have been damaged or corrupted. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Open your Start Menu and type cmd in the search field.
  2. Right-click on the first result and select Run as Administartor.
  3. In the resulting window type SFC/scannow and press Enter again.11
  4. Wait for the process to finish. Once it’s done, one out of three possible messages will be displayed:
  • Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations
  • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them
  • Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files, but could not repair them

If you got the first message, then the problem lays elsewhere. If it was the second one, then error 0x80070002 should now be fixed. If you are being shown the third message out of the three, then you can either go back to our previous methods, carry out an in-place upgrade or Refresh your PC. You can learn how to do that from here. (linked to Repair PC from bootable DVD/USB)