PowerEdge: Windows - System Boots to "Error C0190019 applying update operation"

Summary: This article gives the steps for resolving a specific no-boot condition in Windows: "Error C0190019 applying update operation x of y (filename)"

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

Windows fails to boot and gets stuck at a screen showing the Windows logo and the message "Error C0190019 applying update operation x of y (filename)." The numbers represented by x and y vary, as does the filename.

Cause

Two possible causes are known:

  1. The C: drive is full or nearly full.
  2. A problem occurs during the process of updating Windows.

Resolution

When this issue arises, Windows is unable to boot. Booting to Safe Mode produces the same error screen. The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is the only viable option for troubleshooting.

WinRE can be reached by booting to operating system media. If no media is available, the system will also boot to WinRE automatically after several boot failures.

Once the system has booted into WinRE, perform the following steps:

  1. At the Choose an option menu, select Troubleshoot.
  2. At the Advanced options menu, select Command Prompt.
  3. Supply administrative credentials if prompted.
  4. At the prompt, type diskpart.
  5. At the Diskpart prompt, type list vol to determine the drive letter of the volume where Windows is installed. It may or may not be C: in WinRE.
  6. Type exit to close Diskpart.
  7. Switch to the drive obtained in step 5.
  8. Type dir and check the amount of free space listed at the bottom of the output.
  9. If the output of the command indicates a shortage of free space, determine what files can be deleted or moved to another drive. After freeing up space, reboot the server. If the error persists, repeat steps 1-7 before proceeding.
  10. Run the following command to undo any pending Windows updates, replacing X: with the drive letter obtained in step 5: (This command may take several minutes to complete.) 
    dism /image:X:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions
  11. After the command completes, run this command to check for corruption in the component store, again replacing X: with the drive letter from step 5: (This command also takes a while to complete.) 
    dism /image:X:\ /cleanup-image /scanhealth
  12. If the previous command indicates that corruption is present in the component store, run this command to attempt to repair it, once again replacing X: with the drive letter from step 5: (Again, this command takes a while. If the previous command finds no corruption, skip this step.) 
    dism /image:X:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth
  13. Type exit to close the command prompt and return to the Choose an option menu.
  14. Click Turn off your PC.
  15. After the system shuts down, power it back on. It may run an automatic startup repair, but it should then boot into Windows.

Affected Products

Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows Server 2025, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge C6615, PowerEdge C6620, PowerEdge FC640 , PowerEdge HS5610, PowerEdge HS5620, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R260, PowerEdge R360, PowerEdge R470, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R570, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415, PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R660, PowerEdge R660xs, PowerEdge R6615, PowerEdge R6625, PowerEdge R670, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R760, PowerEdge R760XA, PowerEdge R760xd2, PowerEdge R760xs, PowerEdge R7615, PowerEdge R7625, PowerEdge R770, PowerEdge R7715, PowerEdge R7725, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R860, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T360, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T640 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000194588
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 07 May 2025
Version:  5
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