[SOLVED] An invalid character was encountered 0x80070246

Component : Windows Update
Error Code: 0x80070246
Error ID: ERROR_ILLEGAL_CHARACTER
Error Description: An invalid character was encountered

What is Windows Update error 0x80070246 means ?

Windows Update error “An invalid character was encountered 0x80070246” could be a hardware related issue or it could be associated with Windows update component corruption. Follow these steps to fix error An invalid character was encountered 0x80070246.

How to fix Windows Update error 0x80070246 ?

Follow these step by step instruction to rectify this corruption error. You have to attempt Windows Update after each step to see whether the corruption has rectified.

1. File system integrity scan
2. Use DISM command line tool to repair/replace Windows Update system files
3. Scan your system files for corruption
4. System Update Readiness Tool to automatically fix Windows Update corruption

1. Check file system integrity

Run CHKDSK command to verify the integrity of file system and fix logical file system errors. CHKDSK will also check for bad sectors in your hard disk and it will try to recover and relocate the damaged sector. Windows Update error “0x80070246 – An invalid character was encountered” may occur if a files that belongs to Windows Update components is affected by a bad sector. Open command prompt as administrator and run this command .

C:\Windows\system32>chkdsk /R

CHKDSK may show this message “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)” , then enter “Y” and restart your computer. During the reboot process CHKDSK will scan the file system for errors and it tries to recover any errors.

2. How to repair/replace Windows Update system files using DISM tool?

Open command prompt as administrator, Copy and paste this command given below.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

It may several minutes to complete the repair process. After the repair process, install the MSU package. Follow the next step if the installation failed.

3. Scan your system files for corruption

Run System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files.

Open command prompt as administrator and run SFC /scannow command

C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow

4. System Update Readiness tool to fix 0x80070246 error.

Download appropriate System Update Readiness tool package from “Microsoft Update Catalogue” for your operating system. Make sure you select the right version and architecture suitable for your OS. Install the downloaded package to repair the Windows Update components.

Download URL: https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=947821

Click “Yes” and complete the installation process.

Now try Windows update; if you have any further query please comment to this post.