Windows 11 24H2: MSU update installations fail

Microsoft warns of problems installing Windows 11 updates. After the September patch, subsequent updates may fail with the error message “Operation is not supported”. A solution is in the works.

New update, new problems

Microsoft has confirmed an issue with the recently released Windows 11 24H2 update. According to the company, after installing the September 2024 update (KB5043080), users may encounter difficulties installing subsequent updates.

All editions of Windows 11 24H2 are affected, including versions for ARM, Intel, and AMD processors. The issue occurs specifically when manually installing updates via the Windows Update Standalone Installer (MSU). Affected users receive the error message “Operation is not supported” when trying to install an MSU package by double-clicking.

Cause and background

The cause of this problem lies in the new “Checkpoint Cumulative Updates” method that Microsoft introduced with Windows 11 24H2. This method is intended to reduce the size of the monthly updates and speed up the download process. Ironically, this innovation is now causing installation problems.

Microsoft explains that the problem occurs when a Feature on Demand (FoD) or a Language Pack (LP) was installed from a local source without a connection to Windows Update (WU) or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). In such cases, the local components cannot be updated, which then leads to the installation error.

Microsoft’s solution approach

Microsoft has already published a solution for the problem. Affected users must download and reinstall all Checkpoint Cumulative Updates – so you have to take action yourself to avoid future problems. The company has provided detailed instructions:

Manual installation

• Check the Microsoft Update Catalog for the latest update.
• Download all required MSU packages.
• Either install the packages manually in the correct order or use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool.

This is not the only update-related issue that has occurred with Windows 11 24H2 this week. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will provide an automated solution in the near future; the company has not commented on this.

Background MSU files

MSU files are a standalone update file format for Microsoft Windows called “Microsoft Update Standalone Installer”. These files have the extension .MSU and are often used by advanced users and system administrators to manually install updates.

Impact on users

For most home users, the problem is unlikely to be noticeable, as they usually use automatic updates. Companies and advanced users who frequently perform manual updates may be more likely to experience problems. They will now have to take additional steps to keep their systems up to date.