Windows could not get a list of devices from Windows Update



Updated April 2024: Stop getting error messages and slow down your system with our optimization tool. Get it now at this link
  1. Download and install the repair tool here.
  2. Let it scan your computer.
  3. The tool will then repair your computer.

Printers require drivers and are not always pre-installed on the system. So when you try to install a printer, the device tries to get the drivers from Windows Update.

Assume this situation. We are navigating to Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners > Add Printer or Scanner – but the system cannot find the printer. So we click on The printer I want is not listed.

In the Add Printer dialog box that opens, select Add Local Printer or Network Printer with Manual Settings . Ideally, a printer list should appear that displays the following error message: Windows updates the printer list.

If this fails, an error message may be displayed:

Windows could not get a device list from Windows Update



April 2024 Update:

You can now prevent PC problems by using this tool, such as protecting you against file loss and malware. Additionally it is a great way to optimize your computer for maximum performance. The program fixes common errors that might occur on Windows systems with ease - no need for hours of troubleshooting when you have the perfect solution at your fingertips:

  • Step 1 : Download PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista – Microsoft Gold Certified).
  • Step 2 : Click “Start Scan” to find Windows registry issues that could be causing PC problems.
  • Step 3 : Click “Repair All” to fix all issues.

download



We could run Windows updates and try to reload the driver list, but if that doesn’t help, do the following :

Rename the Software Distribution folder

To delete or rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Administrator). Enter the following commands in order and press Enter after each command:

net stop wuauserv
network stop bits
network stop bits
rename to c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
net to start wuauserv
net start bits
net start bits

Now proceed to the next step.

Catroot folder reset2

To reset the catroot folder2, do the following :

Open a high command prompt, type the following command in order and press Enter:

net stop cryptsvc
md %systemroot%system32catroot2.old
xcopy %systemroot%systemroot%system32catroot2 %systemroot2 %system32catroot%system32catroot%system32catroot2. old /s

Then delete all contents of the catroot2 folder

After doing this, type the following in the CMD windows and press Enter :

net start cryptsvc

Your Catroot folder will be reset when you restart Windows Update.

Close the command prompt, reboot the system, try again and see if the problem is solved.



Expert Tip: This repair tool scans the repositories and replaces corrupt or missing files if none of these methods have worked. It works well in most cases where the problem is due to system corruption. This tool will also optimize your system to maximize performance. It can be downloaded by Clicking Here

Related Video