4+ Methods for Fix Error Code 0x80004005 for Windows | Solved
Error 0x80004005: This is one of the less common errors found on Microsoft PCs, but it can still be frustrating and sometimes even paralyzing to your Windows experience.
When it comes to desktop operating systems, Microsoft has control over the majority of the market. As of late 2016, Windows 7 accounted for 48% of the market, and Windows 10 had 24%.
With a total control of 72%, Microsoft dominates the desktop game, and these two pieces of software have become cornerstones of their success. People have praised Windows 7 and 10 for their unique features and user-friendliness.
Microsoft Support’s Lack of Resources
*Edit: Microsoft has recently updated its site to provide some handy solutions. But don’t bail on us just yet; we have unique fixes and video tutorials below to solve the problem.
This support document also helps with the following errors: 0x80004005, 0x80090006, 0x8009001d, 0x80070002, 0x8007007f, 0x8007007e, 0x800705aa, 0x8007007e, 0x80004005, 0x800705aa, 0x80070002, 0x80004005, 0x800405aa, 0x80090019, 0x800703e7.
Microsoft is among the most unhelpful when it comes to helping customers troubleshoot problems they encounter. I can back it up with years of experience. However, they appear to be making a fresh start with Windows 10.
Microsoft doesn’t have support for these error codes on their website as of this writing.
On their actual support page, they list the error codes without providing possible solutions.
Instead, they have an answers page, which reads like a forum. Its premise is similar to Yahoo Answers, as it allows users to ask questions based on various topics and for other users to answer. I prefer it when the actual company has the answers, like Nintendo does with their Wii error codes.
However, the answer concept for Microsoft works pretty well, so check it out here if you have any additional questions. They also have experts working for them, so the information is typically accurate.
When it comes to Error Code 0x80004005, there are a lot of variations. The error appears as “Unspecified Error,” and the user must identify its cause. Sometimes, like with the Outlook error, it is easy to tell as only the Outlook program won’t work correctly.
However, many times, the error will affect many programs at the same time. Regular users utilize some of those programs on a daily basis. Some programs are also suitable for business use. Microsoft Dynamics AX serves as an excellent example of a program for business management, encompassing sales, logistics, and client relations, among others. Of course, to use that tool properly, you need the help of a Microsoft Dynamics AX developer.
In other cases, to do all the fixing, you will have to try various solutions until they work. For this list, I compiled the four most common causes of this error, as well as the most effective ways to fix each.
What is error 0x80004005?
This error can be frustrating because it is often hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. When this error occurs, an “Unspecified Error” appears.
Therefore, the first thing the user must do when correcting this error is to determine what the case is. This error occurs when using Windows 7 and 10. There are four common causes. They are here:
- Update to Windows 10
This error is specific to Windows 10 and occurs when a user tries to download an update. This usually means that the update files are corrupt. Usually, Microsoft itself will notice this error and be able to fix it within a week. However, if you want the update before then, it is essential to correct this error.
- Microsoft Outlook Error
This will affect Windows 7 and 10 users; it most frequently occurs when a new message arrives through the Outlook app. The displayed error message reads, “Sending and receiving reported error 0x80004005: The operation failed.” This error will prevent you from sending or receiving emails.
- Registry key error
The broadest error on the list, an error in the registry key, affects many programs, and it is hard to determine precisely what is causing it. Virtual machine errors or attempts to access shared folders are typically the cause.
- Corrupt.dll file
The A.dll file represents the dynamic link library. It is essentially a library containing code and data used by more than one program at a time. This error is necessary to fix because it can cause multiple programs to malfunction at the same time.
“Never trust a computer; you can’t throw out a window.” Steve Wozniak
Solution for Case 1: Windows 10 Update
When updating Windows 10, corrupt update files can cause this error. If you receive this error while editing, you are lucky because this is usually the easiest to correct.
The Windows Update Control Panel is actually causing the error. Therefore, downloading Windows 10 from Microsoft’s website should fix this problem.
Yes, you will have to go through the entire setup process again, and it will be a little more work than simply updating it from the Update Manager, but it will give you the update without the error.
Solution for Case 2: Microsoft Outlook Error
If you use Outlook regularly, this is an error you want to fix as soon as possible, as it makes it impossible to send or receive emails. This can be especially detrimental if you use Outlook for work or other important purposes. Here are two methods to resolve this issue:
Method 1: Disable the antivirus blocking feature.
The most common cause of this error is that your antivirus software is giving a false positive report. If you have antivirus software on your computer, try to resolve this issue by turning it off. After turning off the software, check to see if Outlook is running correctly.
If so, make sure to report it to the software developer. A significant disadvantage of doing this is that the computer may not be well protected. Still, the developer should be able to fix this issue within a couple of days.
Method 2: Disable New Mail Notifications
If your computer doesn’t have antivirus software installed, turn off the Outlook notification for reporting new emails.
To do this, open Outlook and select the Tools menu in the menu bar. From there, click Options and choose Preferences. Next, navigate to Email Options and remove the check mark next to “Display a notification message when new mail arrives.” Click OK to fix this error and stop receiving notifications when receiving new emails.
Method 3: Registry Key Error
To simplify, think of a registry key as a folder within Windows. An error in the registry key will cause this error, and it will most likely affect many programs.
To fix it, start by opening the Run dialog box. To accomplish this, press the Windows key and R simultaneously.
To open the box, select the run option. Once you open it, type Regedit in the dialog box and click OK. This allows you to open the Registry Editor.
Now that you are in the Registry Editor, type in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ Current Version\AppCompat Flags\Layers.
During this step, you are checking if the registry key is already present. If so, delete it and test to see if the error persists. Deletion of the registry key should get the error fixed in most cases. If that registry key isn’t present, then this is not the issue.
Solution for Case 3: Corrupt.dll file
As mentioned, this error will affect the functionality of several programs, so it is imperative that you fix the issue as quickly as possible. Luckily, it is a simple and quick fix.
- Begin by going to the Start menu and clicking on All Programs->Accesories->System Tools.
- From there, select Disk Cleanup to see which files you can delete and how much disk space you can free up.
- Select Temporary Internet Files and click the Clean Up System Files button.
Although a corrupt.dll file is a complicated issue, simply cleaning up the system files from the Internet will usually fix it.
When encountering error 0x80004005, another crucial step is to check if any data was lost or corrupted. Immediately conducting a data recovery scan can assist in retrieving deleted files before they permanently disappear. Thankfully, the BLR data recovery tool makes this process easy by efficiently scanning and restoring damaged or lost data resulting from this error. Acting fast to recover data is key, as over time, those files may not be retrievable. Overall, having a good data backup and recovery solution in place provides peace of mind if 0x80004005 or other errors cause data loss.
Recovering Lost Data
When receiving this error, another important thing to keep in mind is that it will often result in lost data. Avoid this error at all costs, as it can be disastrous. Luckily, recovering lost data is possible if you catch it in time. However, as time passes, some files might permanently disappear and remain unrecoverable.
There are several pieces of software on the market that provide this service. Checking your files regularly and perform a lost data scan right after receiving this error is crucial if you want to retain all of your data.
Conclusion
As you can see from the list, Error 0x80004005 can mean a broad range of things. From Outlook to updates, it is most commonly associated with file or data corruption. Unless you are familiar with some computer programming languages, these things can seem daunting.
You probably weren’t comfortable with some terms in this article, such as “.dll file” or “Registry Key.” They may seem complex and strange to you at first, but once you learn what they mean and how they work, you’ll understand that they really aren’t that complicated.
It’s not necessarily as important for you to understand how these programs or errors work, but rather how to fix them so you can continue to use Windows error-free.
Luckily, because Windows 7 and 10 are similar enough to each other, the solutions for fixing these errors are the same for both.
Read our article on Runtime Error 203, another window error you may encounter. When you receive this error, it doesn’t allow you to run a piece of software properly, which can also make you lose data. In that regard, it is similar to this error.