What is a Windows Update Error: 80070005 and How Can You Fix It

Have you recently tried updating your windows and get the following error message?

“Windows could not search for new updates
an error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer.
Errors found: Code 80070005 Windows update encountered an unknown error"

Basically, this error relates to “Access Denied” error and happens when you don't have sufficient permissions or administrator rights to do the needy task such as updating your Windows. Moreover, there are various other reasons too when system throws the above error message, such as:

• You do not have permission on specific files and folders or registry keys
• There could be virus on your system preventing you to update any information
• Your firewall settings won't authorize the action

So, have you got stuck with similar problem and wondering about how you can fix it, then you are at the right place and the solution might be simpler than you think.

The easy Way

• Turn off Windows update by going to control panel
• Navigate to folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
• Rename the SoftwareDisctribution to SoftwareDistribution.old
• Create new folder with the name SoftwareDistribution
• Turn on the Windows update and update your windows.

Note:To follow the above mentioned steps, you have to enable the option 'Show hidden files and folders' by going to Control Panel > Folder Options >Clicking on View tab.

The Tough Way

• Download SubInACL from here, a free command line tool to extract security information about files, registries, changing file permissions etc.
• Install the downloaded file. Make sure that you chose the location C:\Windows\System32 as the destination folder to install the above application.
• Open notepad from all programs
• Copy the below code & paste it into notepad@echo off

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f

subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=system=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=system=f

subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=system=f

subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=system=f

@Echo =========================

@Echo Finished.

@Echo =========================

@pause

• Save notepad file with name reset.bat at the desktop, so that it can be accessed easily.
• Navigate to desktop > Right click on file reset.bat > Choose Run as administrator > authenticate the Windows action.
• DOS like Window will process and when completes, you will see a confirmation message 'Finished, press any key to continue'

Most probably, your issue is resolved now and now you can update it your Windows without any trouble. If the issue still persists and annoys you, disable any firewall or antivirus settings from the control panel or AV programs setting option.