A failed Windows download showing 0x800700422 should not be treated as a clearly defined Microsoft error until you verify every character. That exact string is not defined in the Microsoft references reviewed; the closely related 0x80070042 maps to ERROR_BAD_DEV_TYPE, meaning “The network resource type is not correct.” Copy the code again from Windows Update history or the original dialog, then work through the built-in Windows Update repairs below. They address interrupted downloads, damaged update-cache files, blocked connections, system-file corruption and insufficient storage without assuming a single cause.
1. Verify the code before changing anything
Open the place where Windows recorded the failure and copy the code exactly. In Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Update history, expand the failed update and note its error number. If the message appeared in a separate dialog, copy it or take a screenshot before dismissing it.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
0x800700422: this exact 10-character string is not defined in the Microsoft support and Microsoft Learn references reviewed. It may be a transcription error, a display problem or a code associated with a particular update component.0x80070042: the shorter code is mapped in a Win32 error-code reference toERROR_BAD_DEV_TYPE, “The network resource type is not correct.” Networking checks become more relevant only after you confirm that this is the code Windows actually shows.
Do not remove system folders or change network services on the assumption that the extra digit is harmless. The distinction determines how much evidence exists for a network-specific diagnosis.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall2. Record the situation and prepare safely
Before running repairs, write down the update name or KB number, the time of the failure, whether the download stopped at a particular percentage, and whether other internet activity works. This information helps you distinguish a one-time interruption from a repeatable Windows Update problem.
#1 Best Overall
- Less chaos, more calm. The refreshed design of Windows 11 enables you to do what you want effortlessly.
- Biometric logins. Encrypted authentication. And, of course, advanced antivirus defenses. Everything you need, plus more, to protect you against the latest cyberthreats.
- Make the most of your screen space with snap layouts, desktops, and seamless redocking.
- Widgets makes staying up-to-date with the content you love and the news you care about, simple.
- Stay in touch with friends and family with Microsoft Teams, which can be seamlessly integrated into your taskbar. (1)
- Sign in to an account with administrator rights. Service resets and elevated repair commands will otherwise fail with access-denied messages.
- Save open work and connect the PC to reliable power. A restart is part of the repair sequence, and an interruption while Windows is servicing an update can create a second problem.
- If the update is for a work or school computer, note any proxy, VPN or managed security policy before changing it. An administrator may need to restore the original setting.
- Keep your security software enabled unless a later diagnostic step specifically requires a temporary test. Re-enable any protection immediately after the test.
3. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Windows 11
Open the Get Help app from the Start menu and search for the automated Windows Update troubleshooter. Follow its prompts, allow it to inspect update services and settings, and apply a suggested correction when you understand what it will change. Restart if Get Help requests it, then return to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Older supported Windows versions
Open Settings and search for Windows Update troubleshooter. On Windows 10, the usual route is Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter. Let the tool complete its checks, record any item it could not repair, and retry the update.
The troubleshooter can correct common service and configuration problems, but it cannot establish what an undefined 0x800700422 string means. If it reports no issue, continue with the manual checks rather than repeating it indefinitely.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →4. Restart Windows and retry once
Choose Start > Power > Restart, wait until Windows has fully loaded, and try the update again. Restarting clears transient service states and completes updates that are waiting for a reboot. If the same code returns immediately, note that result and move to connection and cache checks instead of performing repeated restarts.
5. Check the connection and anything that can block Microsoft downloads
Confirm basic internet access
Open a browser and load several unrelated, secure sites. If pages fail, repair the connection first: reconnect Wi-Fi, test an Ethernet cable if available, restart the router, or use another trusted network. A browser test does not prove that every Microsoft endpoint is reachable, but it rules out a complete loss of connectivity.
Review VPN and proxy settings
Disconnect a VPN temporarily and retry. For a configured proxy, open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy in Windows 11 (or search for Proxy settings in older versions) and check whether Windows is being sent through a server you do not currently need. Do not erase a company proxy without authorization; record the original values so they can be restored.
Test security software as a controlled diagnostic
Firewall, antivirus web filtering and other endpoint controls can block update traffic. If you administer the PC, temporarily pause only the relevant network-filtering feature, run one update check, and turn protection back on immediately afterward. A successful test indicates a policy or filter conflict, not that protection should remain disabled. Add no permanent exception until you know which Microsoft endpoint and rule are involved.
Rank #2
- Emergency Boot USB compatible with Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, and 10. It has never ben so easy to repair a hard drive or recover lost files
- Plug and Play type usb - Just boot up the usb and then follow the onscreen instructions for ease of use
- Boots up any PC or Laptop model and brand.
- Virus and Malware Removal made easy for you
- This is your one stop shop for PC Repair of any need!
If the download still fails with protection restored, the blocker test did not prove that security software was the cause. Continue with the cache reset.
6. Reset the Windows Update download cache
Windows stores downloaded update files in the SoftwareDistribution folder. An interrupted or incomplete download can leave files that prevent a fresh attempt. Clearing the folder contents is reversible in the sense that Windows recreates them, but it removes the local download cache, so the update will need to download again.
- Open Start, type
Command Prompt, right-click it and choose Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt. - Stop the Windows Update service by entering
net stop wuauservand pressing Enter. Wait for the confirmation that the service stopped. If Windows reports that it cannot stop, close Settings and any update-related window, then try once more. - Open File Explorer and enter
C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionin the address bar. Delete the contents inside this folder, including partially downloaded files. Do not delete theWindowsfolder or other unrelated directories. - Return to the elevated Command Prompt and run
net start wuauserv. Confirm that the Windows Update service started. - Restart the PC. After sign-in, open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, and allow the replacement files to download without interrupting the computer.
If File Explorer says a file is in use, the service did not stop completely. Recheck the service status, close update settings, and repeat the stop command rather than forcing deletion. If the service will not start afterward, restart Windows and check Services for Windows Update; do not change unrelated service startup types.
7. Repair Windows system files
System-file corruption can prevent update components from completing. Use an elevated Command Prompt for these commands; a normal prompt will usually return an access or elevation error.
Recommended Free Tools
Run System File Checker
- Open Start, type
cmd, right-click Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and approve the prompt. - Run
sfc /scannow. - Wait for verification to reach 100 percent. Do not close the window while it is working.
Read the final message. SFC may report that it found no integrity violations, repaired files, or found files it could not repair. Restart and retry Windows Update after a repair.
Use DISM for component-store repair when required
If SFC cannot repair files, or Windows repair guidance identifies component-store damage, run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
DISM can take substantial time and may appear to pause. Let it finish, then run sfc /scannow again, restart, and test the update. These commands repair Windows components; they do not establish that the unconfirmed 0x800700422 number has a unique meaning.
Rank #3
- Fresh USB Install With Key code Included
- 24/7 Tech Support from expert Technician
- Top product with Great Reviews
8. Check storage and the update’s current state
Make room for a complete download
Open Settings > System > Storage and check the free space on the drive containing Windows. Remove files you no longer need, empty the Recycle Bin, or move personal media to another location. Windows cannot stage an update when the system drive runs out of space during download or installation. The required amount varies by update, Windows edition and the existing state of the installation, so use the space information Windows displays rather than relying on a universal number.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Check whether a restart or earlier update is pending
Return to Settings > Windows Update and read the current status. A message such as Restart required, Pending install or Try again describes a different state from a new download. Complete the requested restart first. In Update history, expand the failed item and note whether the failure occurred during download, installation or removal; that detail determines which step to repeat.
Retry after the cache and system checks
Once there is adequate space, no restart is pending, and SFC or DISM has finished, select Check for updates again. Avoid shutting down or disconnecting the network while the replacement download is in progress.
9. Use the network-specific check only for confirmed 0x80070042
If Windows clearly shows 0x80070042—without the final 2—its Win32 mapping points to an incorrect network-resource type. That makes network configuration worth examining. It does not prove that every update failure with a similar-looking number has the same cause.
Inspect Network List Service
A Microsoft Q&A participant reported resolving a related update failure by setting Network List Service to Manual and starting it. This is an anecdotal diagnostic, not an official guarantee or a universal repair.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Press
Windows key + R, typeservices.msc, and press Enter. - Find Network List Service in the list. Open its properties.
- Record the current Startup type before changing it. If the service is stopped, select Start. If you are testing the reported configuration, set Startup type to Manual, select Apply, then OK.
- Restart Windows and retry the update once.
If the change has no effect, restore the startup type you recorded or follow your organization’s service policy. Do not apply this step solely because the displayed code is 0x800700422; the extra digit means the code has not been confirmed as the network error mapping.
10. Decide what to do when the download still fails
| Approach | Best use | Diagnostic confidence | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Update troubleshooter and restart | First response to a routine or interrupted update | Low to moderate; it checks common conditions but does not define the disputed code | High; changes are automated and limited |
| Connection, proxy, VPN and security review | Downloads fail only on one network or while filtering is enabled | Moderate when a controlled test changes the result | High if original settings are recorded and restored |
| SoftwareDistribution cache reset | Repeated or incomplete downloads and a stuck update state | Moderate; it targets local download corruption | High; Windows recreates the cache, but the update must download again |
| SFC and DISM | System-file or component-store errors accompany the update failure | Moderate when repair messages identify damaged files | Moderate; commands modify protected Windows components |
| Network List Service test | Only a confirmed 0x80070042 with evidence of network-resource trouble |
Low; the reported fix is anecdotal | Moderate; restore the recorded startup setting if unsuccessful |
If every step completes but the same failure returns, preserve the exact code, update name, Update History entry and the final SFC or DISM result. Those details are more useful to Microsoft support or an administrator than a screenshot that omits the update identity. Avoid deleting additional registry keys, disabling security permanently or buying physical hardware: a product sold for a computer cannot repair a Windows Update download-state or service configuration problem by itself.
Quick Recap
11. Optional shortcut after the manual fixes
If the manual sequence is difficult to perform, Outbyte PC Repair is an optional Windows utility that can address more than 100 common Windows issues where possible, including broken system elements, invalid redirects and shared DLL files, while also offering settings adjustments, temporary-file cleanup, vulnerability checks and an app-crash log. It runs on Windows 11, 10, 8 and 7; a category-based free trial lasts at least two days before a paid subscription. It complements antivirus software rather than replacing it, results vary, and no utility repairs every failed download or crash.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
