How to Fix Fix Error 0x80070659 — Windows Installer Patch Error on Windows
Getting error 0x80070659 during updates or installations? "This update does not apply to your system"? Installer patch sequencing failed? Fix this MSI patching error.
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Windows Update fails with error 0x80070659
- •Software update/patch fails with this error code
- •MSI installer shows "patch does not apply" error
- •.NET Framework security updates fail with 0x80070659
- •Cumulative update partially installs then rolls back
- •Update history shows repeated 0x80070659 failures
Common Causes
- ⚠Update patch targets a version not installed on system
- ⚠Previous version of software was incompletely updated
- ⚠MSI patch sequencing broken — patches applied out of order
- ⚠Windows Installer cache missing required baseline MSI
- ⚠.NET Framework version mismatch with patch target
- ⚠Corrupted Windows Installer registration database
Solutions
Solution 1: Repair .NET Framework (Most Common Fix)
- 1This error most commonly affects .NET Framework updates
- 2Download Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool from microsoft.com
- 3Run the repair tool — it auto-fixes .NET issues
- 4Restart PC → retry Windows Update
- 5If still failing: manually install .NET versions:
- 6Settings → Apps → Optional features → Add a feature
- 7Search ".NET" → install all available versions
- 8Or: DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3 /All
Solution 2: Fix Windows Installer Cache
- 1The Installer cache stores baseline MSI files for patching
- 2If cache is incomplete: patches fail
- 3Download PatchCleaner tool (free) to identify orphaned patches
- 4Or: manually check C:\Windows\Installer folder
- 5Do NOT delete files from this folder — it will break uninstalls
- 6Instead: repair the affected application:
- 7Settings → Apps → find app → Modify → Repair
- 8This repopulates the installer cache
- 9Then retry the update
Solution 3: Reset Update Components
- 1CMD as Admin:
- 2net stop wuauserv
- 3net stop msiserver
- 4net stop cryptSvc
- 5ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- 6net start wuauserv
- 7net start msiserver
- 8net start cryptSvc
- 9Also re-register Windows Installer:
- 10msiexec /unregister
- 11msiexec /regserver
- 12sfc /scannow && DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- 13Restart → retry update
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