How to fix Windows 11 media instillation tool

max palmer 0 Reputation points
2026-11-09T13:42:35.7633333+00:00

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I have had issues with trying to reinstall windows due to my windows update service being broken

help!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade
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  1. Ramesh 183.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-11-09T13:46:41.14+00:00

    Looks like the Windows Update service has been deleted by malware. Please share your Farbar scan logs for analysis.

    • Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool 64-bit FRST64.exe
    • If the OS language is not English, rename FRST64.exe to FRST64English.exe.
    • Run the program. Don't check or uncheck any options. Click "Scan".
    • Add the two logs, FRST.txt and Addition.txt, to a zip archive.
    • Share the zip file on OneDrive or GoFile.io, and post the link here.

    Note: If Microsoft Edge or Chrome mislabels the Farbar Scanner executable as PUA/malware, choose to keep it by tapping … in the bottom bar, choosing Keep, and then choosing Keep anyway in the dialog that appears. See this screenshot. It's a safe tool used in most antimalware forums.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-09T13:43:37.7+00:00

    Bypass the failing Media Creation Tool and run an in-place repair from the official Windows 11 ISO, which can reinstall Windows while retaining your files, applications, and settings.

    Repair Windows without erasing your data

    1. Back up important files first.
    2. Open Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page and use Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices. Microsoft provides the ISO as an alternative to the Media Creation Tool on the same page.^1^
    3. Select the same language currently used by Windows.
    4. When the ISO finishes downloading:
      • Right-click it and select Mount.
      • Open the new virtual DVD drive in File Explorer.
      • Run setup.exe as an administrator.
    5. If Setup offers Change how Setup downloads updates, select Not right now. This prevents the broken Windows Update path from being used during the repair.^2^
    6. Select Change what to keep → Keep personal files and apps → Install.

    Running setup.exe from inside your existing Windows session is important. Microsoft documents that this in-place installation option preserves personal data, applications, and settings.^3^

    Stop before selecting Install if “Keep personal files and apps” is unavailable. That commonly indicates the media does not match the installed edition or language. Check the edition under Settings → System → About → Windows specifications; the reinstalled edition must match the current license.^3^

    After the repair

    Once Windows starts normally:

    1. Open Settings → Windows Update.
    2. Select Check for updates.
    3. Confirm that updates download and install.

    The screenshot shows 0x80070424 - 0x90018, but the available Microsoft installation-error guidance does not establish one definitive cause for that exact Media Creation Tool combination. Therefore, manually changing or deleting Windows services is not the recommended first action.

    If the ISO repair also fails

    Record the complete Setup error and check it against Microsoft’s Windows installation-error guidance. The appropriate fallback depends on the new code—for example, some codes identify driver, security-software, missing-source, or background-process problems.^4^

    If Windows will not start, create a bootable USB on another working computer. Boot the affected PC from it and choose Repair my PC to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.^5^

    Use a clean installation only as the last resort: it removes personal files, applications, settings, and manufacturer customizations. Back up everything first.^3^

    References

    1. Windows 11, version 25H2 update history | Microsoft Support
    2. Windows 11 Update Issue due to BITS Service - Microsoft Q&A
    3. Reinstall Windows with the installation media | Microsoft Support
    4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/deployment/install-upgrade/get-help-with-windows-upgrade-and-installation-errors)
    5. Windows recovery environment | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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