Software updates fail to install with return code -939523085

Products

• Patch Management Solution for Windows

Issue/Introduction

When viewing the software updates tab on the Symantec Managemeng Agent GUI, you notice one or more software updates showing as failed.  Double clicking the update and viewing the run history tab, reveals the updates are failing with a return code of -939523085.  Manually running the software update, results in the windows installer exit code of 0xC8000f3

Failed return code -939523085
Windows installer exit code of 0xC8000f3

Environment

Patch Management Solution 7.6
Patch Management Solution 8.x

Cause

This error could be related to the local data store located at %windir%\SoftwareDistribution.  Further research with Microsoft should be done to better understand the error and troubleshooting.

Resolution

It is advised that you discuss these steps with Microsoft as there might be a better way.  However, here are the steps taken that resolved this particular issue:

1. Stop the Windows Update service
2. Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder located at %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
3. Start the Windows Update service
4. Manually try applying the update to quickly verify the problem is resolved.