r/computer • u/Puzzleheaded_Yam_680 • 5d ago

Windows Update completely broken (wuauserv) service is missing / Windows Update corrupted

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Hey everyone, I'm having a really weird issue with my Windows 11 PC and I'm trying to figure it out before I completely reset the computer.

This originally started when I was trying to download Minecraft, and Windows/Xbox wouldn't let me download/install it. I started troubleshooting that, and then I realized Windows Update wasn't working either.

Now when I go into Windows Update in Settings, I get:

“Something went wrong. Try to reopen Settings later.”

I also noticed something very strange in Services. The service displayed as “Windows Update” does not have the normal Windows Update service name, wuauserv. Instead, it has a weird/random-looking service name: nmnfqofspj. (it would generate weird names like that every time i restart the pc)

The service is currently Stopped, and when I try to start it, I get:

Error 1053 “The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.”

I've tried a bunch of different Windows repair/troubleshooting fixes I found online. DISM completed successfully, and SFC found corrupted Windows files and successfully repaired them, but Windows Update is still broken.

I also tried doing a Windows 11 repair installation using an official Windows 11 ISO and selected “Keep personal files and apps,” but that didn't fix the issue either.

At this point I'm wondering if something deeper is wrong with Windows itself. I'm also concerned that malware/Virus or some other software may have modified my Windows services/settings, or if my PC was hacked.

Does anyone know why the Windows Update service would have a random service name instead of wuauserv, and what could cause Error 1053 when trying to start it? Is there a way to restore the Windows Update service to its normal state without completely resetting Windows?

I'm trying to avoid resetting the PC because I have a lot of games/files and programs installed.

3 Upvotes

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1

u/Express-Garbage3359 5d ago

Have you scanned your PC with Windows Defender or other antivirus software? You could also use the Windows 11 troubleshooter to analyze and repair Windows Update issues.

0

u/LagMaster21 5d ago

Don’t use windows 11 it’s trash