Solved: How to Fix Error Code 0x800B0109 When Installing Windows Updates

Error code 0x800B0109 summary

The error code 0x800B0109 typically occurs during the installation or update process of software on Windows, particularly when attempting to install certificates or updates that require digital signatures. This error indicates a problem with verifying the certificate trust chain or the integrity of digitally signed files, often due to issues with certificate revocation lists (CRLs) not being accessible, trusted root certification authorities missing from your system’s store, or outdated CRLs. To resolve this issue, one can take several troubleshooting steps that range from updating certificates and modifying system settings to downloading new updates or installations via alternative methods like offline installation packages.

Description of error code 0x800B0109 and scenarios where it appears

This error code may appear in various contexts within Windows environments:

  • Certificate Installation: During the process of installing a certificate (like a code signing or trusted root certificate), if your system cannot verify the certificate’s trustworthiness due to issues with CRLs or missing intermediate certificates, you will encounter this error. This often happens when attempting to install a new root certificate authority or importing a code-signing certificate for software distribution.
  • Software Updates: When Windows Update attempts to download and apply updates that include digitally signed components, it relies on the system’s ability to verify these signatures. If there are issues with your trusted root certification authorities list or if you’re unable to access CRLs (due to network restrictions), you might see this error during the update process.
  • Application Installation: Certain applications that require a secure installation environment may also rely on digital certificates and their verification. If an application installer needs to download updates from a trusted source but encounters problems with certificate validation, it will throw this error. This can happen frequently in enterprise environments where strict security policies are enforced.
  • Signed Driver Installation: Installing digitally signed drivers is another common scenario where 0x800B0109 might occur. If the system cannot verify the driver’s signature due to issues with its trusted root store or network connectivity for CRL checks, you’ll receive this error when trying to install a new device driver.

Howto solve error code 0x800B0109

  1. Update Your Trusted Root Certification Authorities List
    To ensure your system has all necessary certificates for verifying signatures, download and install the latest Windows Update. This often includes updates to trusted root certification authorities that are essential for validating digital signatures.
  2. Manually Install Missing Certificates
    If you know which specific certificate is missing from your system’s store (e.g., a code signing or intermediate CA), manually download it from a trusted source and install it using the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
  3. Disable Certificate Revocation List Checks Temporarily
    In cases where network restrictions prevent access to CRLs, temporarily disable these checks in Group Policy Editor. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\AuthRoot, create a DWORD value named DisableCheckForCertificateRevocation with the value 1.
  4. Use an Alternative Update Source
    If you frequently encounter this error when downloading updates from Windows Update, try using an alternative source like WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) or manually downloading and installing offline update packages directly from Microsoft’s website.
  5. Run a Network Troubleshooting Tool
    This step involves running the built-in network troubleshooting tool in Windows to check for connectivity issues that might be preventing your system from accessing CRLs. Open Troubleshoot settings, select Network adapter, and follow through with the steps provided.

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