This is the response I get when I run the Windows update troubleshooter from the Windows 8.1 Action Center.  If I click next it reports the errors have been fixed.  However if I run it again it reports exactly the same errors.

After searching the Internet I have found that several users have reported having this issue.  As result of the aforementioned search I have tried the following:

1) Run the Fixit tool for Windows 8.1 located at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us.

2) Run the System Update Readiness commands: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth and DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth located at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821/en-us.

3) Saved contents of C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 to a temp folder and then deleted contents of C:\Windows\System32\catroot2.

4)Renamed C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.old

5) Restarted Windows 8.1.

6) Verified that C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 and that C:Windows\SoftwareDistribution folders had been rebuilt.

7) I then ran the Windows update troubleshooter from the Window 8.1 Action Center again and got the same response as listed above. The errors still exist and are not fixed.

8) Finally, I downloaded Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation and I did a completely new clean install of Windows 8.1 and without installing anything else (no updates, no software, no antivirus) the above errors appeared within minutes after connecting to the internet.  I checked using the Windows update troubleshooter several times before connecting to the Internet and each time no problems were found, but shortly after I connected the above errors are shown to exists.

Any suggestions that will help fix this issue will be of great help.

Hi,

What about your problem now? According to your description, I doubt you may encounter a hardware problem with your computer. In addition, I found a blog below that talk about this error code may be helpful with your problem.

The error 0X80070490(Element not found) when you are installing a service pack or update:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/asiasupp/archive/2011/06/20/the-error-0x80070490-element-not-found-when-you-are-installing-a-service-pack-or-update.aspx

In the end, please collect and provide the log to us, may be we can find some clue with this problem.

Windows update log: C:\Windows

CBS.log: C:\Windows\Logs\CBS

setupapi.dev.log: C:\Windows\Inf

Hello,

The above link does not have anything to do with my problem. Your are correct in that this problem is not causing any hardware problem and furthermore I do not have any problem receiving updates from Windows Update.

My problem is all about the Windows Update Troubleshooter as seen in the image above.

I have done clean installs of Windows 8.0 Pro 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation 64bit.  After the installations I have not installed anything, no update, no apps, and no antivirus software.  In every case before I connect to the Internet I can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter and no problems are found. I can run as many times as I like and never any problems.  However, once I allow an Internet connection I get the two errors shown in the image above in all Windows versions listed above.

I just want the Windows Update Troubleshooter to run while I am connected to the Internet and not find any problems.  Potential database error detected and Windows Update components are configured incorrectly sound like real problems to me.

Link to a zip file containing cbs.log and setupapi.dev.log.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=A42C728E5AADF6DD!7724&authkey=!AIbbBzdXtKw-ZeI&ithint=file%2c.zip

From an administrator command prompt I ran DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.  According to cbs.log file one corruption was fixed.  Then from an administrator command prompt I ran sfc /scannow. It reported 100% verification.

Here is a link to the resulting cbs.log file.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=A42C728E5AADF6DD!7750&authkey=!AIobolS4xInjnXs&ithint=file%2c.zip

Ran Windows Update Troubleshooter and I am still getting same two errors.

• Edited by tracit99 Thursday, January 16, 2014 1:28 AM

From an administrator command prompt I ran DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.  According to cbs.log file one corruption was fixed.  Then from an administrator command prompt I ran sfc /scannow. It reported 100% verification.

Here is a link to the resulting cbs.log file.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=A42C728E5AADF6DD!7750&authkey=!AIobolS4xInjnXs&ithint=file%2c.zip

Ran Windows Update Troubleshooter and I am still getting same two errors.

• Edited by tracit99 Thursday, January 16, 2014 1:28 AM

<object height="1" id="plugin0" style=";z-index:1000;" type="application/x-dgnria" width="1"><param name="tabId" value="{450D8DA0-1E07-4107-BCA2-D1D37D542F1B}" /></object>Exact same problem here ,.. have tried all same fixes including running both Dism.exe fixes in command prompt until 100% complete.  still repeated problem "

Potential windows update database error detected 0x80070490" that the windows updatnee troubleshooter keeps fixing, but keeps recurring...

Additional information... windows update no longer displays a history of updates previously installed.  I found that once in a while, after an update repeatedly downloads and will not install I get a msg that the "Update is not needed", but continues to download and fails to install.  problem seems to be intermittent, sometimes updates will download and install, sometimes not.  If I only install a few at a time I get lucky, but only some of the time.  But windows update history still listing lists that updates have never been installed.  This has been going on in different forms for the last month or so, beginning early January 2014.  Even ran the Fixit file for windows update that shows errors, that it does not fix.  please offer a solution soon. my Hotmail address is not my primary email, and will not interface with my android mobile phone, so I may miss responses/solutions to this problem but will keep checking back... hoping for a solution soon, will be giving up on Microsoft Windows after this new computer with Windows 8 64 bit that seems to be unreliable and unnecessarily complicated on my new laptop.  Hate to give up on Windows, but when I am working to fix it, relearn it, or interface it more of the time than I can actually use it, Windows becomes more a burden than an asset.  I will see how long it takes to fix this very basic function of "Windows Updates Not Working" and how much work/time it will take of my own to fix.

Hello p.d.c<abbr class="affil"></abbr>,

It has been my experience that running Windows Update troubleshooter from the Action Center or Windows Update Fixit at  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us will delete "Update History" which is just a log of past Windows Update activity.  Neither have ever removed any of my previously installed updates or a list of them found in "Installed Updates".  The descriptions are different but they are still there in "Installed Updates". Thankfully, my situation is not as dire as yours.  I have always been able to install all updates offered without ever have any problem.

It is extremely frustrating that problems identified by Windows Update troubleshooter cannot be "fixed" and remain fixed the next time it is run.  I want to have confidence that Windows Update is functioning at 100% and at this point I do not.

I also appreciate the fact that Roger Lu has responded to these problems.  I can assure you that we are not the only ones with these problems.  I have found many fellow users with the same exact same problem and so far I have not found anyone who has found a solution.

• Edited by tracit99 20 hours 59 minutes ago Grammar

Exact same problem here as described by tracit99 , on Windows 8 64bit system.. have tried all same fixes including running both Dism.exe fixes in command prompt until 100% complete...the windows update troubleshooter keeps fixing 2 errors the second error returns the following message:

Potential windows update database error detected 0x80070490

 both errors keep recurring... Even ran the Fixit file for windows update that shows errors, that it flags, but does not fix.

Additional information... windows update no longer displays a history of updates previously installed and 2 lines at bottom of windows update screen indicate that updates to my system have "never" been made...  I found that once in a while, after an update repeatedly downloads and will not install I get a msg that the "Update is not needed", but continues to download and fails to install.  problem seems to be intermittent, sometimes updates will download and install, sometimes not.  If I only installs a few at a time I get lucky, but only some of the time.  But windows update history still indicates that updates have "never" been installed and only lists any updates that I can install in Windows update history until I reboot, the history is empty again.  This has been going on in different forms for the last month or so, beginning early January 2014.  Please offer a solution soon. my Hotmail address is not my primary email, but will keep checking back until issue is resolved... hoping for a solution soon... almost be giving up on Microsoft Windows after this new computer with Windows 8 64 bit that seems to be unreliable and unnecessarily complicated on my new laptop.  Hate to give up on Windows, but when I am working to fix it, tweak it to suit my needs, relearn it, or interface it, more of the time than I can actually use it, Windows becomes more a burden than an asset.  I will see how long it takes to fix this very basic function of "Windows Updates Not Working" and how much work/time it will take of my own to fix. 

I appreciate that Roger Lu  from TechNet Community Support is at least responding to this issue and hope he will be able to resolve it soon.  It is unclear these days if Microsoft is helping us, or depending on us to resolve all of the problems ourselves. Thanks to whomever can help.

• Edited by p.d.c 23 hours 49 minutes ago