The Windows update error 0x8007370A is an update-related issue and it prevents users from upgrading their systems to the next available Build OS. When this occurs, you may also see an error message that reads the following –
ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE
The error message clearly mentions that the attribute value within an identity falls outside the acceptable range. To fix this issue, you must reset or repair Windows Update components.
What may cause an error 0x8007370a in Windows?
Error 0x8007370A primarily appears when your system meets one or a combination of the following issues –
- Internal Glitches
- Corrupt system files and folders
- Corruption within the System Image
- Corrupt Windows Cache folders
Now that you know what may cause this error code on Windows 11/10 PC, let’s learn how you may resolve this update error.
1. Run Windows Update troubleshooter
Whenever you get into some update-related issue, run Windows Update troubleshooter first and check if the error code resolves this way. Here’s how to activate this tool on Windows –
Windows 11:
Go to Settings (Windows + I) > System > Troubleshoot, and click on Other troubleshooters. Locate Windows Update under Most frequent, and hit the Run button available on its right end.
Wait for this troubleshooting tool to start and when it does launch, click the Next button. Follow the on-screen steps to complete this task. After this is over, I hope you may now update Windows normally.
Windows 10:
Everything remains exactly what we explained above with a slight change to where you may find this tool. Press Win + I to launch settings, and navigate to the below path inside it –
Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters
Under “Most frequent”, locate and click to expand Windows Update, and hit Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete this task and when this is over, restart your computer.
2. Purge Windows Cache folders
The two cache folders in Windows i.e. SoftwareDistributin and catroot2 hold all the information related to past and current updates on your PC. These data become non-relevant over a period of time and thus you must delete them from time to time.
However, as they are directly linked to Windows Update Services, you can’t just go and delete them. There’s a proper way on how to clean these folders. It’s better to rename both these folders so that all your files remain intact and when the timing is correct, you may get rid of them as well.
Here’s how –
- Press Windows + R to launch the Run dialog.
- Type CMD on it and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
- Doing so will launch the Command Prompt having admin rights.
- On the elevated console, type the following, and press the Enter key.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
- The above four codes will stop Windows Update, Cryptographic services, Background Intelligent and Transfer Service, and all Microsoft Services.
- Next, run these two codes to rename both Cache folders to something new.
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
- Alternatively, you may also go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistriution and delete all the files and folders present inside it. You will find the catroot2 folder at C:\Windows\System32.
- After you have purged or renamed both these folders, restart the services that you stopped earlier.
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
- Exit the Command prompt and restart your computer.
Sign back into your device again and check if you can update Windows normally without getting into same error code again and again.
3. Run SFC & DISM Scans
Windows Update may also fail on an error code 0x8007370a when the internal files and folders are either missing or have become corrupted. If that’s the case, you may resolve this error code by running SFC and DISM Scans. Both are two different tools that aim to find and resolve internal corruption within your PC.
Here’s how to perform both these scans on Windows –
- Press Windows + X, and select Terminal (Admin).
- When the UAC window prompts, hit Yes to authorize opening the terminal having admin rights.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + 2 altogether to launch Command Prompt inside the terminal.
- On the elevated console, copy/paste the below code, and press Enter.
sfc /scannow
- Wait for the System File Checker to detect and resolve missing or damaged system files on your computer.
- After this scan completes 100%, you may run the DISM code as follows –
DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
- The DISM will also take 10-15 minutes to find and resolve corruption within your system image.
- After you run both these tools successfully, close CMD, and restart your PC.
Hopefully, the error code 0x8007370a has been resolved by now. If not, try the next workaround.
4. Reset Windows Update Components
Missing or Corrupt DLL files on your PC may also result in a similar error code. If that’s the case, you must repair and regenerate all DLL files by resetting Windows Update Components.
The update error 0x8007370a may also occur due to the presence of corrupt files and folders within the Windows Cache folders. There are two such folders and they go by the name SoftwareDistribution and catroot2.
As stated above, reset the update components and check if this update issue resolves afterward. In case this update error persists, you may manually download the respective Standalone Package from Microsoft’s update catalog, and then install them by double-clicking on them.
I hope you find this article useful and easy to follow. Let us know in the comment section which solution works in your case.
