You’ve probably read several guides and tutorials saying that outdated software is a common reason why computer errors happen. Yes, that’s true. Outdated software causes incompatibility and performance problems, preventing your software from functioning properly.
Fortunately, Windows has a built-in update system to help you manage all your updates and install them in the background. You don’t have to update your device manually.
But what happens when an error occurs during the update? This makes the whole process a lot more complicated, but not impossible to deal with. You just have to find the cause of the error and update it yourself.
Windows Update error code 80070103 occurs when your system fails to install driver updates via Windows Update tool. While it’s a commonly reported error, it’s not a critical system problem. There are several workarounds to installing Windows Updates, and that’s what we’re going to discuss step-by-step in this guide.
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What Is Windows Update Error Code 80070103?
Windows 7 Error code 80070103 is one of the common errors associated with updating Windows drivers, along with errors 0x8024402c and Igdkmd64.sys.
Error 80070103 crops up if you are trying to install a driver that is already on your computer. For example, your computer might have automatically installed a cumulative update recently, and now Windows Updates is prompting you to install updates for your programs that are already included in the previously installed update.
It could also occur when the driver you want to install has a lower compatibility rating compared to the one that’s already installed on your device.
When this error appears, the system is unable to proceed with update installation. When your system is not updated, it affects the performance of your device, causes further errors, or opens up your system to future vulnerabilities.
Basic Troubleshooting Steps
Before we proceed with the steps below, it is necessary to perform basic computer checkup to see if the error can be fixed with these troubleshooting methods. The first thing you need to do when you encounter any error is to restart your computer. Delete any junk files that could be hindering the installation process using an app such as Outbyte PC Repair.
Most of these errors can be resolved by a simple refresh of your system. If a refresh fails, you can then proceed with the solutions below.
How to Fix Windows Update Error Code 80070103
Fixing Windows Update error is a two-step process. First, you need to determine which device driver causes the error. Then you need to update or reinstall the driver manually.
To find out which driver is the culprit, follow the steps below:
- Click Start, then type in Windows Update in the search box.
- Click Check for Updates from the list of search results.
- Click View update history from the left-side menu. You’ll see the list of all updates that have been installed on your computer. You can also see whether the updates have been successfully installed or not, and the date when they were installed.
- Look for the failed device driver update on top of the list.
Take note of the name of the device driver because that’s what you need to update manually in the next step, which is to manually update the device driver. There are two ways to do this: by using Device Manager or by downloading the update from the manufacturer’s website.
To use Device Manager to update your driver, follow the instructions below:
- Click Start and type in devmgmt.msc.
- Hit Enter to launch Device Manager.
- In the Device Manager window, look for the device driver that failed to update.
- Right-click on the device driver, then select Update Driver.
- Restart your computer to complete the device driver installation.
If Device Manager didn’t find an update for your driver, you can go to the manufacturer’s website to check what the latest version of the driver is. Download the latest driver and install it on your computer. Don’t forget to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
If updating the device driver does not work, then you might need to reinstall the driver completely. To do this:
- Click Start and type in devmgmt.msc in the search box.
- Click Enter to open Device Manager, which should be the top search result.
- Look for the faulty driver that you need to uninstall.
- Right-click on the device driver, then choose Uninstall.
- Restart your computer.
Your system should automatically search for missing drivers during startup and install them in the background. You can also go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest version of the device driver, then manually install it on your computer. Restart your computer after installing the device driver for it to work properly.
Summary
Updating your computer’s device driver is a straightforward process, but errors like Windows Update error code 80070103 make the process a tad complicated. The key is to identify the device driver that’s causing the Windows Update error, then use the steps above to update it manually.