Error 0x80073701: The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed

In this article, I will show you the steps to fix “Error 0x80073701: The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed. Reference assembly could not be round on Windows Server”. Please see how to fix the request to add or remove features on the specified server failed, Check .NET Framework version on Windows and how to perform Microsoft Account Password Reset via Web and Windows.

Below is a related YouTube video for more information.

The error 0x80073701 means that there are some system files are missing, leading to the Windows update installation failure, and this could be due to missing some dependencies or prerequisites that are required for the installation to complete. Try installing any missing dependencies.

I attempted with DISM commands to fix the corrupted system files, but all failed, therefore, the installation of Microsft IIS feature “Client Certificate Mapping Authentication” never succeeded.

Review Event Viewer Logs for Error 0x80073701

Open Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc). Check the “Windows Logs” > “Setup” and “Windows Logs” > “System” for any error messages related to the update. Take a look at the error below.

Below is the error message

Fault bucket 1975945412735746661, type 5
Event Name: CbsPackageServicingFailure2
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 10.0.17763.5084
P2: Microsoft-Windows-Foundation-Package
P3: 10.0.17763.1
P4: amd64
P5: unknown
P6: 80073701
P7: Resolve
P8: Installed
P9: Installed
P10: DISM Package Manager Provider

Attached files:
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
\\?\C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20240102142241.log
\\?\C:\Windows\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.xml
\\?\C:\Windows\winsxs\poqexec.log
\\?\C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER490C.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER493C.tmp.xml
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER493D.tmp.csv
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER496D.tmp.txt

These files may be available here:
\\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\Critical_10.0.17763.5084_9e43876cf7df5257bbba2e425e6c28c32a86175_00000000_01ad722f

Analysis symbol: 
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 206a9fb3-18e3-426d-8c1f-cb7826498afc
Report Status: 268435456
Hashed bucket: c6cf11a4a3ec3e203b6bf7e245ad4265
Cab Guid: 0

I accessed the following log file and realized some packages failed to install as you ca see below.

2024-01-03 12:25:18, Info CBS Failed reading PoqexecCmdline registry key [HRESULT = 0x80070002 - ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND]
2024-01-03 12:25:18, Info CBS Failed to get poqexec cmdline from Components\Configuration. [HRESULT = 0x80070002 - ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND]
024-01-03 12:25:18, Info CBS Startup: Retrying failed packages.

With this in mind, we can tell that some system files are missing which is causing the update installation failure.

Quick resolution-system reset

Since none of the troubleshooting methods worked for you. I will have to reinstall the Windows Server. This step is similar to performing an in-place upgrade using an ISO file. Also, see how to perform upgrade over iDRAC

Doing this will fix all the underlying errors while upgrading your system to the latest build available.

Mount the Windows 2019 ISO file

Run the setup file as shown below.

Under Get updates, drives and options features, select Not right now.

But in my case, I have the time. I will be selecting the first option.

Enter your Product key

Select your OS edition

Accept the License Terms

Choose to keep personal Files and Apps. If you run into issues, see how to Fix Keep personal files and apps option greyed out during Upgrade.

As I said, I selected the first option and the system is currently checking for updates.

On the Ready to Install window, select Install

As we can see, Windows Server 2019 is currently being installed. When this step is complete, try reinstalling the feature “Client certificate mapping authentication” for the IIS role. Here is a solution from Microsoft to fix this issue. Here is a solution I created on how to fix the Client Certificate Mapping Authentication Issue.

I am sure you do not want to spend days trying to resolve this issue by performing the steps below. The above option is fast and effective and will resolve the issue.

Other Solutions

There are numerous steps to fix this issue since the error code 0x80073701 signifies an issue a problem with the Windows Update components or the system’s component store

Please see Resolve DISM unspecified error when removing preinstalled packages(Error code 15601), and how to Fix Error 183: The specified image is currently being serviced by another DISM operation.

Option 1: Apply Windows Updates

This option did not work as it resulted in the same error. As such, we can rule out “as we can verify that the server is up to date with all the latest Windows updates and security patches.”

Upon restarting. The issue persisted!

Use the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM)

Let’s try to fix package corruption issues. Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Run the following command. Hit Enter to continue. Your PC will restart your computer to

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth 

Check whether you can install the Windows feature when complete.

Also, you can use the command below. This command can check for component store corruption. So when it is finished, run Windows Update again to check whether the Windows update error 0x80073701 is solved.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /Startcomponentcleanup

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Here is a video Video on how to fix the request to add or remove features on the specified server failed, and a video on how to Fix the device that cannot use a TPM module.

Resolve Insufficient disk space

This does not relate to me. But might be for you. Because of this, I decided to share the steps to resolve insufficient disk space issues.

If your issue is related to insufficient disk space issues. Ensure that there is sufficient free space on the system drive. Perform the steps below. Below are the steps to perform disk cleanup.

Delete the Files

Cleanup is in progress

Reset Windows Update Components

If that fails also, try manually resetting Windows Update Service. If you still can’t get rid of the Windows update error 0x80073701, consider resetting every update-related component.

Open the administrative Command Prompt and type the following commands one by one followed by Enter key.

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 wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

Close the Command Prompt and see if Windows Updates works. Like I said, none of these worked except for the first method above.

I hope you found this article on how to Error 0x80073701: The request to add or remove features on the specified server failed useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.