In this article, we will examine several ways to resolve the error 0x800736b3, which is followed by the message: “We can’t activate Windows on this device right now. You can try activating again later or go to the Store to buy genuine Windows“.
Option 1. Make sure you don’t have Crypto Pro installed. This application blocks Windows updates. During the product of the key, you need to uninstall Crypto Pro. After updating, you can reinstall it.
Option 2. Manual installation of the latest version of .NET Framework from the official Microsoft website.
1. Download the .NET Framework installation package from the official Microsoft website.
2. After the download is complete, run the file.
3. Wait for the installation to complete; this process may take some time.
4. After the installation is complete, restart the application that caused the error. In most cases, this will successfully resolve the problem. If the issue persists, proceed to the next step.
Option 3. Using DISM with a system installation media.
Windows 10 includes a powerful tool for restoring corrupted system files — DISM. However, when attempting to use it to resolve the error 0x800736b3 that occurred during the installation of updates, it may fail due to the absence of the SXS file. For this tool to work correctly, you will need installation media or an ISO image of the system.
1. Insert a DVD or USB drive with the Windows 10 image compatible with your system’s architecture (x64 or x86). You can see how to write the Windows 10 ISO image to a flash drive in our other article.
2. Find Command Prompt through search, right-click, and select “Run as administrator”.
3. In the command prompt, enter the following command:
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:X:\sources\sxs /LimitAccess
Replace X with the letter of your drive with the system image.
4. Wait for the command to complete. This may take some time. After that, check if the issue has been successfully resolved.
If the problem persists, proceed to the next step.
Option 4. Checking hardware
Faulty hardware, such as HDD/SSD or faulty memory modules, can also cause errors. There are many third-party utilities available to check drives for “bad” sectors and diagnose memory.
Option 5. Using built-in tools.
Windows 10 provides several built-in tools for solving system problems, including Windows Update and the SFC (System File Checker) utility.
Windows Update:
1. Open “Settings” in Windows 10 and go to “Update & Security”.
2. Select “Troubleshoot” and go to “Windows Update”.
3. Run the “Troubleshooter” and follow the instructions. After the check is complete, restart the computer and check if the problem is resolved.
Running the SFC scan utility:
1. Enter “cmd” in the search and open the command prompt as an administrator.
2. Then enter the following command:
sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the utility to complete, close the terminal window, restart the computer, and check if the error 0x800736b3 in your Windows 10 is gone.
Option 6. Resetting Windows Update components.
One way to solve the problem is to reinstall the components included in Windows Update. Although this does not happen often, users note the effectiveness of this approach. Windows Update is a key element of the Windows 10 operating system, and its operation can cause many problems, complicating the use of PCs and laptops.
1. Execute the following commands sequentially in the command prompt as an administrator:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop msiserver
ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start msiserver
In other words, we stop the cryptSvc and msiserver services, then rename the catroot2 and SoftwareDistribution directories. After executing all commands without errors, step by step, we close the command prompt and check the results. A computer restart is not required.
Option 7. Checking Windows Update services:
If Windows Update is disabled, Windows 10 updates will not be installed, which can cause the error 0x800736b3 when launching applications that require a properly installed and functioning .NET Framework.
1. Press the Win+R keys, then enter services.msc in the window that appears.
2. Find the Windows Update line and make sure that “Running” is indicated in the “Status” column.
3. If the service is stopped, right-click on its name, select “Properties,” set the startup type to “Automatic” on the “General” tab, then click “Start” and “OK.”
Option 8. Ensure that the BITS service is running and operational
The BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) plays a key role in the operation of Windows Update, ensuring secure file transfer over the network in the background, minimizing the impact on the user. If BITS is not functioning, Windows Update will not be able to download updates.
To check and enable BITS, perform the following steps similarly to the previous case:
1. Press the Win+R keys and enter services.msc in the window that appears.
2. Find the “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” and make sure that its status is “Running.”
3. If the service is disabled, right-click on its name => “Properties” and set the startup type to “Automatic,” start the service and confirm the selection.
Thus, you can effectively resolve the error 0x800736b3 using the methods listed above.
