[Needs Confirmation]: Removing several "seemingly safe to remove" components now bricks Windows Update

[AsadAlrafidain]

I noticed recently that removing Windows Copilot (Feature Experience Pack), and the inbox app from components, irreversibly bricks windows updates, causing Error code: (0x80073712).....and in the process of isolating the cause , I also discovered that removing other previously safe to remove components now break windows update one way or the other (at least they prevent cumulative updates) :
- CEIP (customer experience improvement program)
- Onedrive
- Shared PC Mode
- Targeted Content Service 32-bit
- Wi-Fi Sense
- Content Delivery Manager

I am starting to suspect maybe removing anything from (Remoting and privacy), (Network) and (System Apps) breaks windows update now...of course, I can't test all of them, but at least I tested the components above, plus many more from these sections.



you can use the preset below, reset everything except "Components" and test. and don't integrate latest cumulative updates in the image (to allow immediate finding of the latest Cumulative update when checking for updates, and see the error in action)


W11 25H2 (26200.7462) Desktop , and Windows 11 25H2 (26200.7840) VM
NTLite: 2026.3.10873 (64-bit)

 

[garlin]

Why do you both remove Recall component, and DISM disable it from Post-Setup?

There would be no Recall to disable after it's been removed.

                <c>microsoftwindows.client.aix 'Windows Copilot (Windows Feature Experience Pack)'</c>

                        <Item type="19">
                                <Path>Dism</Path>
                                <Params>Disable-Feature /FeatureName:"Recall"</Params>
                                <Index>2</Index>
                        </Item>

 

[AsadAlrafidain]

Why do you both remove Recall component, and DISM disable it from Post-Setup?

for insurance, I guess.... noted for correction in the final (issue-free) preset.

 

[garlin]

Error 0x80073712 is ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT.

Was the source image untouched from MCT or UUP dump?

 

[AsadAlrafidain]

Error 0x80073712 is ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT.

Was the source image untouched from MCT or UUP dump?

tried both untouched and from UUP dump...same results.

 

[HSeber]

Before WU -> delete "c:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log" & "c:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_date&time_here.log". Run WU. After WU error checkout CBS.log to identify the issue.

 

[AsadAlrafidain]

Before WU -> delete "c:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log" & "c:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_date&time_here.log". Run WU. After WU error checkout CBS.log to identify the issue.

I appreciate your input on this, but the simpler solution for me was not removing the components above. all the errors in CBS.log indicate corruption in component store (collection of errors listed bellow )



2026-03-25 22:39:05, Info CBS Exec: Failed to commit stager to resolve execution chain. [HRESULT = 0x80073712 - ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT]
2026-03-25 22:39:05, Info CBS Failed to resolve execution chain. [HRESULT = 0x80073712 - ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT]
2026-03-25 22:39:05, Error CBS Failed to process single phase execution. [HRESULT = 0x80073712 - ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT]
2026-03-25 22:39:05, Info CBS WER: Generating failure report for package: Package_for_RollupFix~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~26100.8037.1.19, status: 0x80073712, failure source: Resolve, start state: Absent, target state: Staged, client id: UpdateAgentLCU
2026-03-25 22:39:05, Info CBS Reporting package change completion for package: Package_for_RollupFix~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~26100.8037.1.19, current: Absent, original: Absent, target: Staged, status: 0x80073712, failure source: Resolve, failure details: "(null)", client id: UpdateAgentLCU, initiated offline: False, execution sequence: 209, first merged sequence: 209, pending decision: InteractiveInstallFailed, primitive execution context: Interactive
2026-03-25 22:39:06, Info CBS Exec: Processing complete. Session: 31243406_4106563055, Package: Package_for_RollupFix~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~26100.8037.1.19, Identifier: KB5079473 [HRESULT = 0x80073712 - ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT]
2026-03-25 22:39:06, Error CBS Failed to perform operation. [HRESULT = 0x80073712 - ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT]
2026-03-25 22:39:06, Info CBS Session: 31243406_4106563055 finalized. Reboot required: no [HRESULT = 0x80073712 - ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT]
2026-03-25 22:39:06, Info CBS Failed finalizing session [HRESULT = 0x80073712 - ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT]
2026-03-25 22:39:06, Info CBS Failed to call Process on TiWorker session [HRESULT = 0x80073712]