Top 5 Ways to Potential Windows Update Database Error Detected

Potential Windows Update Database Error Detected

It is possible for you to encounter some Windows update problems when you are trying to update Windows. For example, you may encounter the Windows 10 won’t update problem. Thus, you may run Windows Update Troubleshooter to fix the problem. However, instead of solving problem, you may also receive an error message potential Windows Update Database error detected (Not fixed).

In fact, handing Windows Update is always a challenging thing because many issues may occur when running it, such as the issue Windows Update cannot currently check for updates.

And many computer users complain that they have encountered the Windows update error potential Windows Update Database error detected. And here is a real example from the answer.microsoft.com:

I have a fresh install of Windows 8.1. I have not had any problems with downloading or installing Windows updates. I ran the disk clean-up and it got stuck on the Windows update part. So I ran the Windows Update Troubleshooter. I received the message: Potential Windows Update Database error detected 0x80070490.from the answer.microsoft.com

Thus, do you know how to fix this Windows update error? If no, just go on your reading.

5 Solutions to Potential Windows Update Database Error Detected

In this part, we will show 5 methods to solve this Windows update problem. You can try them one by one.

To backup files, you can take advantage of a piece of third-party software. Here, the professional Windows backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker is recommended.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a user-friendly program. It has the ability to back up the operating system, file, folder, disk, and partition with its various powerful features. It also enables you to synchronize files to two or more locations so as to keep data safe.

In addition, MiniTool ShadowMaker provides the restore service which can help users to restore the computer to an earlier date or get the data back. Compared to the Windows snap-in backup tool, MiniTool ShadowMaker is more effective because sometimes Windows backup may fail to work.

Thus, you can download MiniTool ShadowMaker from the following button and install it on your computer to provide protection for your data and PC.

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And now, we will show you how to back up the operating system with MiniTool ShadowMaker. As a matter fact, its operation methods are pretty easy.

Step 1: Install MiniTool ShadowMaker on your computer, launch it and click Keep Trail to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window, choose Connect in This Computer to enter its main interface.

Step 2: After entering its main interface, go to the Backup page and click Source module to choose Folder and Files and check the files you want to back up.

Step 3: Next, click Destination tab to decide where you want to the backup image to. It is recommended to choose an external hard drive.

Step 4: Then click Back up Now to perform the backup task immediately or choose Back up Later to delay the backup task.

When the backup process is finished, you can effectively keep the data safe. Now, it is time to repair Windows Update Database corruption problem.

Solution 1. Use System File Checker Tool

The issue potential Windows Update Database error detected error may occur when there is a corruption of the system files. In order to repair Windows update, you can run System File Checker to check the status of system files and repair the corrupted system files.

You can rely on the following operation methods to repair Windows Update Database corruption.

Step 1: Type cmd in the search box of Windows and right-click on the Command Prompt icon and choose Run as administrator to continue.

Step 2: In the popup command window, input sfc/ scannow and hit Enter to go on.

Related article: Quickly Fix – SFC Scannow Not Working (Focus on 2 Cases)

Step 3: Then the process will begin and it will take several minutes. You can’t close the command window until you see the message Verification 100% complete.

When the process is finished, you can restart your computer and check whether the issue potential Windows Update Database error detected is solved and whether you can perform Windows update.

Solution 2. Run DISM Tool

If you meet the issue potential Windows Update Database error detected when you run Windows Update Troubleshooter, you can try to run DISM tool to solve this problem. The DISM tool can be used in many situations and one of them is to repair the corrupted Windows update files.

So just follow the step-by-step instructions to run the DISM tool.

Step 1: Type cmd in the search box of Windows and right-click on the Command Prompt icon and choose Run as administrator to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window, input the following commands. Please remember that you need to hit Enter to continue after each command.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

This process will take a long time, so please wait patiently and don’t interrupt it. When the process is finished, you can reboot your computer to check whether the Windows update error is solved.

Solution 3. Reset Windows Update Components Manually

Here, we will introduce the third method to fix Windows update error potential Windows Update Database error detected. In this way, you can try to reset Windows Update components manually. Now, you can go on based on following instructions.

Step 1: Type cmd in the search box of Windows and right-click on Command Prompt icon and right-click it to choose Run as administrator to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window, type the following commands and please remember to hit Enter to continue after each command.

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Ren C:\\Windows\\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Ren C:\\Windows\\System32\\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauservnet start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Step 3: After the process is finished, you can exit the command window and try to reboot your computer to check whether the Windows update problem potential Windows Update Database error detected is solved.

Solution 4: Perform a Clean Boot

If you encounter the Windows Update error potential Windows Update Database error detected, you can try to boot your computer in a clean boot and check whether the issue is affected by the third-party software.

Step 1: Press Windows key and R key together to open Run dialog, and type msconfig in the box and hit Enter or click OK to continue.

Step 2: Go to the General tab, choose Selective startup button and uncheck Load startup items option to go on.

Step 3: Go to Service tab, check the option Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable all to continue.

Step 4: Then restart your computer to check whether you have solved the problem potential Windows Update Database error detected.

Solution 5. Reset the Computer

If all above methods fail to solve the problem potential Windows Update Database error detected, you can try to reset your computer to solve the problem. And the detailed operation methods are as follows.

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Step 1: Press Windows key and I key together to open Setting window, and choose Update & Security to continue.

Step 2: In the popup window, choose Recovery in the left pane and click Get Started under Reset this PC tab to continue.

Step 3: In the popup window, you can see two options including Keep my files and Remove everything. And here, it is recommended to choose Keep my files to continue since it can keep your personal files.

Step 4: Then you will see a list telling you which programs will be removed and you can reinstall them when the resetting process is finished. Then click Next to continue.

Step 5: In the next popup window, click Next to continue.

Step 6: Next, the process of resetting the PC will start. When the process is finished, you can check whether you can run Window Update and whether the issue potential Windows Update Database error detected is solved.

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Useful Suggestion

After you have successfully solved the problem, you had better create a system image to avoid some accidents. Thus, MiniTool ShadowMaker is capable of doing that.

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Step 1: Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker to enter its main interface.

Step 2: If there is no backup image on your computer, MiniTool ShadowMaker will remind you to back up immediately. Then you just need to click SET UP BACK in the Home page to continue. MiniTool ShadowMaker is designed to back up the operating system by default. You can also click Source and Destination tab to choose backup source and destination.

Here, in order to provide better protection for your data and computer, three important things you need to know.

• Click Schedule button to set the backup task on a regular basis. This feature can help you to create an automatic backup.
• MiniTool ShadowMaker provides 3 backup schemes including Full, Incremental, and The incremental backup scheme is chosen by default.
• Set more advanced backup parameters by clicking the Option.

Step 3: Now, you can click Back up Now button to perform this action.

Step 4: When the backup process is finished, you had better go to the Tools tab to create a bootable disc or a USB drive by clicking Media Builder feature, which can help you to boot the computer to enter MiniTool Recovery Environment so as to perform some recovery solutions when the computer can’t boot.

After you have successfully backed up all your important files or the operating system, you can protect your PC and data.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a powerful program which can help me to back up my operating system and important files so as to protect my data.Click to Tweet

Bottom Line

In conclusion, this post has introduced 5 solutions to the Windows update error potential Windows Update Database error detected. Since updating Windows always leads to some problems, it is advised to back up the important files before solving the problem.

In addition, if you have any better solution to solve the problem potential Windows Update Database error detected, you can share it on the comment zone.

Or if you have any problem about MiniTool ShadowMaker, please feel free to contact us via the email [email protected].

Repair Windows Update Database Corruption FAQ