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Updates from Microsoft are supposed to improve Windows 10’s performance and fix its bugs. However, things don’t always go smoothly when they are rolled out. Some users complained that when they installed a standalone package or an entire update, they would get the Error Code 0x8009001d. Usually, this is accompanied by a message which says, “Provider DLL failed to initialize correctly.”

What Is the Windows Error 0x8009001d?

There are many reasons why the Error 0x8009001d shows up. Junk files, software leftovers, corrupt system files, and other issues could be behind it. So, once we share the methods on how to fix the ‘Provider DLL failed to initialize correctly ’ error, you will see that all the solutions are related to resolving the aforementioned problems. Make sure you work your way down the list until you get rid of the problem permanently.

Method 1: Running the Troubleshooter for Windows Update

One of the great things about Windows 10 is it has troubleshooters for various issues. Since the Error 0x8009001d is related to Windows Update, you can use the dedicated troubleshooter for that. To run the utility, follow the steps below:

  1. Launch the Settings app by pressing Windows Key+I on your keyboard.
  2. Once the Settings window comes up, click Update & Security.
  3. Go to the left-pane menu, then click Troubleshoot.
  4. Move to the right pane, then select Windows Update.
  5. Click the Run the Troubleshooter button.

Let the utility identify the error and resolve it accordingly. Now, if the troubleshooter recommends that you take further actions to fix the problem, follow them.

Method 2: Resetting the Components of Windows Update

It’s possible that some of the Windows Update components are corrupt or damaged. So, if you want to learn how to fix the ‘NTE_Provider_DLL_Fail’ error, you need to know how to reset the Windows Update components. Doing so will replace any corrupted system files, fix a damaged system image, and reset Winsock settings. To do that, follow the instructions below:

  1. The first thing you need to do is go to Microsoft’s official website, then download the Reset Windows Update Agent Tool.
  2. After downloading the utility, right-click it, then select Run as Administrator from the context menu.
  3. On the window, type “Y” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  4. You will see the following options:
  • Scan all protected system files and replace the corrupted ones (sfc /scannow)
  • Scan, detect and repair corruptions in Windows system image
  • Clean up superseded components
  • Reset Windows Update components
  • Change invalid values in Windows Registry
  • Delete temporary files
  1. Type “4” (no quotes) to reset the Windows Update components.

After completing these steps, several messages will be displayed on the screen, detailing the status of the process. You can press any key once the operation is done. Restart your computer, then check if the error is gone.

Method 3: Deleting the Contents of the Catroot2 and SoftwareDistribution Folders

There’s another trick in learning how to remove the Windows Error 0x8009001d. Windows Update stores downloaded files in two folders—Catroot2 and SoftwareDistribution. So, if the update files are corrupted or damaged, you can delete the contents of these folders. Keep in mind that you need administrative privileges to do this. To proceed, follow the instructions below:

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+R to launch the Run dialog box.
  2. Inside the Run dialog box, type “CMD” (no quotes).
  3. You need to launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges. So, you must press Ctrl+Shift+Enter on your keyboard.
  4. Once Command Prompt is up, execute the following command lines one by one:

net stop wuauserv

net stop bits

Note: These commands will stop the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and the Windows Update Service.

  1. The next thing you need to do is navigate to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder.
  2. Press Ctrl+A on your keyboard to select all the files, then select Delete.

Note: If some of the files in the folder are in use, you may need to restart your computer and run the command lines again.

  1. After emptying the SoftwareDistribution folder, reboot your PC. You need to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges again, then execute the following command lines one after the other:

net start wuauserv

net start bits

After following these steps, the folder will be repopulated automatically. Now, you need to flush the contents of the catroot2 folder. Once again, you’ll need to open an elevated form of Command Prompt.

  1. Once Command Prompt is up, execute the following command lines one after the other:

net stop cryptsvc

md %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old

xcopy %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 %systemroot%\system32\catroot2.old /s

  1. After running these command lines, remove all the contents of the catroot2 folder.
  2. Now, you need to run the command below:

net start cryptsvc

Once you’ve completed these steps, the catroot2 folder will be reset when you run Windows Update again. If the Error 0x8009001d still prevents you from installing the updates successfully, then you should try the next solution.

Method 4: Running the Cleanup-Image Command Line

One of the reasons why the ‘Provider DLL failed to initialize correctly’ error appears is because of a corrupt Windows image. You can execute a command line to clean up Windows images. Here are the steps:

  1. On your keyboard, press the Windows key.
  2. Type “Command Prompt” (no quotes).
  3. Right-click Command Prompt from the results, then select Run as Administrator from the context menu.
  4. If prompted to give permission to the app, click Yes.
  5. Once the elevated Command Prompt comes up, run the following command line:

dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

Once the process is complete, restart your computer and try installing the updates again.

Method 5: Clearing Temporary and Junk Files

Once your computer has accumulated too much junk, such as useless cache and unnecessary files, certain services and processes will not run as they are supposed to. So, we recommend that you get rid of these junk files. You can use the Disk Cleanup utility, but the process can be time-consuming. Aside from that, you won’t have total control of what goes away. As such, we suggest that you use a reliable tool dedicated to cleaning out PC junk.

There are many applications out there designed for this purpose, but not many promise effective and convenient results like Auslogics BoostSpeed does. All you need to do is install the program, and within a few clicks, you can get rid of junk files safely. Aside from deleting overloaded cache, this tool will also remove invalid registry keys, defrag your drives, and slim down your Windows to make it clean and efficient. Once the process is complete, you’ll be able to restore system stability and enjoy a faster computer. Of course, you’ll get rid of the Error 0x8009001d and install available updates successfully.

We hope one of the solutions we shared helped you resolve the Error 0x8009001d. That said, if you think we missed any excellent fix, feel free to share it in the comments below!