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Error 0x0090145B is not identified by the Microsoft references currently available, so there is no verified, code-specific fix to apply blindly. The first step is to find out where it appears: while Windows Update downloads or installs, during Windows setup or an upgrade, during activation, or inside a particular application or game.
If Windows Update is the source, use Microsoft’s Windows Update troubleshooter for your version of Windows, restart, and check for updates again. If the message appears elsewhere, do not assume it is a Windows Update failure; record the application and exact action, then use that product’s support process. The procedures below separate those situations and label the broader repairs as general Windows measures rather than confirmed fixes for this hexadecimal code.
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What does error 0x0090145B mean?
Its meaning is unresolved. An exact-code search and the Microsoft Support and Microsoft Learn pages reviewed for Windows errors do not associate 0x0090145B with a particular update, activation process, installer, driver, device, or Windows component. Microsoft’s general error reference is available in Common Windows Update errors, but it does not provide a definition for this value.
Hexadecimal numbers can be generated by Windows, a driver, an installer, a game launcher, or an individual application. The same-looking number can therefore require entirely different troubleshooting depending on its source. Treat the text around the number and the operation that triggered it as more useful evidence than the number alone.
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| Where the message appears | What the evidence supports | Best first action |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Update downloads or installs | Use Microsoft’s update troubleshooter and general update-repair guidance. | Follow the Windows 11 or Windows 10 path in the next section, then restart and check again. |
| Windows 11 setup, an upgrade, or installation media | Use Microsoft’s upgrade and installation checks; the code itself is not tied to a known setup failure. | Disconnect nonessential hardware, inspect Device Manager, and test a clean boot. |
| Activation | No supplied source identifies this value as an activation error. | Capture the activation page and use Microsoft’s activation support for the edition and account involved. |
| A game, launcher, or other named application | The application may define the code independently of Windows Update. | Record the app name, version, exact text, and action, then consult that publisher’s support information. |
| No clear source | There is not enough context to select a safe code-specific repair. | Reproduce the message once, take a screenshot, and identify the window, process, or operation that generated it. |
What should I record before changing Windows?
Good records prevent you from applying an update repair to an unrelated application problem. Write down the complete message, including punctuation and any second code; the title of the window; the application or Windows page showing it; and the exact action immediately before it appeared.
- Note whether the failure happens every time or only once, and whether it began after a Windows update, a new driver, new hardware, or an application change.
- Record your edition and version by opening Settings > System > About on Windows 11, or Settings > System > About on Windows 10. Include whether the system is 64-bit if an application’s support team asks for it.
- Take a screenshot that includes the complete error text. A partial screenshot containing only the hexadecimal value often omits the source needed to diagnose it.
- If the message is in a browser, launcher, or game, copy the product name and version from its About or settings page before trying repairs.
- Back up important files before servicing system components, changing startup services, or attempting an upgrade.
How do I fix 0x0090145B when it appears in Windows Update?
Use this branch only when the error is displayed while Windows is checking for, downloading, or installing updates. Microsoft says its Windows Update troubleshooter can help with update error codes, but that statement is general guidance and does not identify 0x0090145B specifically. The current instructions are in Windows Update Troubleshooter.
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- Open Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Update and select Run. Microsoft may also direct Windows 11 users to the automated troubleshooter in the Get Help app; use that route if it is offered on your build.
- Allow the checks and any requested changes to finish. Read the result instead of closing the window immediately so you know which checks completed.
- Restart the PC, open Settings > Windows Update, and select Check for updates. Test the same update again.
Run the Windows 10 troubleshooter
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
- Select Windows Update, choose Run the troubleshooter, and let it complete. The Get Help app may also be available for this task.
- Restart the computer even if the troubleshooter reports that it made no change.
- Return to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Check date, time, and time zone
Microsoft’s broader update guidance includes date and time checks because an incorrect clock can interfere with update communication. On either version, open Settings > Time & language > Date & time, turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically when those options are available, then select Sync now. On Windows 10 the page is also reached through Settings > Time & Language > Date & time. Restart and retry the update after the clock is corrected.
Refresh the Windows Update cache carefully
A damaged or incomplete download can leave the update cache in a bad state. Microsoft’s current instructions can change by Windows version, so use the cache procedure in Troubleshoot problems updating Windows for the affected system. The following outline shows the purpose of that procedure:
- Open Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Stop the update services before touching their working folders. The commonly used commands are
net stop wuauservandnet stop bits. If Windows reports that a service is already stopped, continue rather than repeatedly forcing it. - Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, for example with
ren %windir%SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old. Renaming preserves the old folder so it can be removed later after a successful update. - Start the services again with
net start wuauservandnet start bits, restart Windows, and check for updates.
If a command fails because a service or folder is in use, stop and follow Microsoft’s version-specific instructions instead of deleting files while Windows is running. Do not remove arbitrary files from C:Windows.
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Check recently added hardware and its drivers
If the update problem began after installing a device, Microsoft recommends checking third-party drivers. Shut down and disconnect nonessential USB devices, docks, storage, and printers, then retry the update. For an installed device, right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand the relevant category, and look for a warning icon. Use the device manufacturer’s official driver package or Windows Update’s optional-driver area; do not infer that the hexadecimal code itself identifies a driver.
Repair Windows system files
System-file repair is another general measure in Microsoft’s update guidance, not a confirmed repair for this code. Save work, open Windows Terminal (Admin), and run these commands one at a time:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth- After DISM completes, run
sfc /scannow. - Restart Windows and check for updates again.
DISM can take time and may appear to pause. Wait for a completion message before closing the terminal. If either command reports an error, keep the exact text; it is useful when contacting Microsoft support and should not be replaced with a guessed repair.
Test the result without changing several variables at once
After each major change, restart and run Windows Update once. If the error disappears, note which step preceded the successful attempt. If it returns, record the update name or knowledge-base number shown in Windows Update. That information is more actionable than repeating the hexadecimal code by itself.
How do I handle the code during Windows 11 setup or an upgrade?
When the message appears in Windows Setup, an in-place upgrade, or installation media, use Microsoft’s separate upgrade guidance at Get help with Windows upgrade and installation errors. The source recommends general checks; it does not connect 0x0090145B to a known setup failure.
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Disconnect nonessential external hardware
Shut down and unplug external drives, USB hubs, printers, cameras, game controllers, and other hardware that the upgrade does not need. Leave the keyboard, mouse, display, network connection, and the installation media attached. Retry the setup. Reconnect devices one at a time only after Windows starts successfully, so a newly reconnected device can be identified if the message returns.
Inspect Device Manager
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand categories and look for yellow warning icons, disabled devices, or entries named Unknown device.
- Open a suspicious device’s Properties and read the status on the General tab. Record any separate device error code.
- Obtain a compatible driver from the device maker or remove a recently added device temporarily, then restart and rerun setup.
Try a clean boot
A clean boot starts Windows with non-Microsoft services and startup programs disabled, which can reveal interference from an installed utility. It is a diagnostic state, not a permanent configuration.
- Press Windows key + R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all. Hiding Microsoft services first is essential.
- Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager. Disable enabled third-party startup items, close Task Manager, and select OK in System Configuration.
- Restart and run the upgrade again. If it succeeds, restore normal startup by opening
msconfig, choosing Normal startup, and restarting; then re-enable services and startup items in groups to find the conflict.
Repair system files before another setup attempt
If setup still fails, run the DISM and System File Checker commands shown in the Windows Update section from an administrator terminal, restart, and try the upgrade again. Keep the setup log or the complete error dialog if the same code returns; Microsoft’s upgrade support process needs that context.
What if 0x0090145B appears during activation?
The available sources do not identify this value as an activation error. Open Settings > System > Activation on Windows 11, or Settings > Update & Security > Activation on Windows 10, and capture the full message, edition, and activation status. Confirm that the installed edition matches the license you are trying to use and that the device is connected to the internet, then use Microsoft’s activation support for the displayed status rather than applying Windows Update cache repairs.
What if a game or another application displays the code?
If the number appears inside a game, launcher, installer, or utility, Windows Update steps may not affect it. Record the product name, version, account or edition, exact action, and any accompanying text. Check the publisher’s official support page for that product and provide the screenshot and Windows version; a product-specific error log may contain a different underlying code or message.
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Use Windows repairs only when Windows itself also shows symptoms, such as failures in the Settings update page or repeated system-file errors. Avoid downloading a replacement DLL, registry file, or “one-click” fix from an unknown site: a file that matches the name of an error code is not evidence that it belongs on your system.
How does Windows 10 support status affect this troubleshooting?
Microsoft states that support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free software updates through Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10, although existing Windows 10 installations can continue to run. Consequently, an update failure on Windows 10 may reflect the product’s support status or the specific update being requested, and the same availability should not be assumed for a supported Windows 11 installation.
Before spending time on repeated update attempts, confirm the Windows version and the update’s name. If the computer is eligible for Windows 11, consider Microsoft’s supported upgrade route; if it must remain on Windows 10, retain the exact message and consult Microsoft’s current support information for the available servicing options.
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Stop after the branch that matches the source has been tested once or twice and you have preserved the evidence. Escalate with the complete message, screenshot, Windows edition and version, update or application name, recent changes, and the results of the troubleshooter and system-file checks.
- If only one application fails, contact that application’s publisher instead of repeatedly resetting Windows Update.
- If Windows Update fails for multiple updates after the troubleshooter, cache refresh, clock check, and file repair, use Microsoft’s update support page and include the update identifier.
- If setup fails with external hardware removed and a clean boot, preserve setup logs and use Microsoft’s upgrade-support workflow.
- If the code is accompanied by data loss, repeated restarts, a blank screen, or a device that disappears from Device Manager, stop experimenting and secure a backup before further changes.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I look up 0x0090145B in Event Viewer?
Yes. Open Event Viewer and inspect Windows Logs > Application and Windows Logs > System around the time of the failure. The event may reveal the executable, service, or device that produced the message even when the hexadecimal value has no public description; save the event’s General and Details views for support.
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Will System Restore remove this error?
System Restore can return system files, drivers, and installed programs to an earlier restore point, but it cannot repair every application-defined error and it does not restore personal documents. Use it only when a restore point predates the failure and you understand which software and drivers will be rolled back; create a current backup first.
Should I download a DLL or registry fix that mentions this code?
No. A matching filename or error number does not prove that a download is compatible with your Windows build, and replacing system files can create a second failure. Obtain components only through Windows, the hardware maker, or the affected application’s official installer and support channel.
Does this code prove that a hardware component is failing?
No. The number alone cannot distinguish hardware, software, or an application-generated condition. Hardware becomes more plausible when Device Manager shows a separate device status error, the device disconnects physically, or the failure follows that device across different applications; those observations should be documented separately from 0x0090145B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up 0x0090145B in Event Viewer?
Yes. Check Windows Logs > Application and Windows Logs > System around the failure time. The event details may identify the executable, service, or device that generated the message even when the hexadecimal value has no public description.
Will System Restore remove this error?
System Restore can roll back system files, drivers, and installed programs to an earlier restore point, but it cannot repair every application-defined error and does not restore personal documents. Use it only when a suitable restore point predates the problem and you have a current backup.
Should I download a DLL or registry fix that mentions this code?
No. A matching filename or error number does not prove compatibility with your Windows build, and replacing system files can cause additional failures. Use Windows, the hardware manufacturer, or the affected application’s official installer instead.
Does this code prove that a hardware component is failing?
No. The value alone cannot distinguish hardware from software or an application-generated condition. A separate Device Manager status error, physical disconnects, or failures that follow one device across applications provide stronger hardware evidence.
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