Why do Windows 10 Cumulative Updates keep failing with error code 0x80070003?
I was experiencing persistent failures to install the monthly Cumulative Update to Windows 10 with error code 0x80070003 (ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND).
In my case, this was caused by broken driver install for a Qualcomm Atheros WiFi card, which meant a directory required for restoring system files using the System File Checker of Windows was missing. However, it seems that other drivers can be culprits as well.
What helped me fix this issue were these two sources:
- Notes to self has a good step-by-step guide to troubleshooting this type of installer problems, with a list of log files to check that seem useful for troubleshooting installation issues in general:
%WINDIR%\logs\CBS\CBS.log%WINDIR%\inf\setupapi.dev.log
- Sysnative (which happened to provide a fix for the exact driver issue I was facing)