Update failed: Cumulative Update for Windows 11, version 25H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5070773) (26200.6901)

• The uninstaller may be blocked by running Edge processes or by update services.
• The setup.exe may run but return a non‑zero exit code (silent failure) — we need the exit code or the installer log to know why. You already told me the exact Edge Installer folder path earlier (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\141.0.3537.92\Installer).

• Set another browser as default (this immediately stops links and .url files launching Edge):
  • Settings → Apps → Default apps → choose Chrome (or Firefox) → set for HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, .html.
  • Or open this from PowerShell: Start-Process ms-settings:defaultapps
• Unpin Edge from Taskbar / Start (right‑click → Unpin).

• If the ExitCode is 0 → uninstaller succeeded. Check the folder:
  Test-Path 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge'
• If ExitCode ≠ 0 or you see errors, do the next step.

• If you want, copy the most recent log file to your Desktop and paste its last ~50 lines here (I’ll read it and tell you the single fix):
  Get-Content '<full-log-path-from-above>' -Tail 50

• This prevents Edge from running as before; you can reinstall later:
  Rename-Item 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge' 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge.removed' -Force
  

  If you rename, also remove Edge shortcuts from Taskbar/Start and set defaults as above.​

• Fix one example: right‑click the desktop icon → Properties → Change… → choose your browser → Always use this.
• If many .url files, setting default browser for HTTP/HTTPS handles them.

• Run the Stop + Start-Process block above and paste the ExitCode.
• Copy the most recent Edge installer log and paste the last ~50 lines. I’ll read it and give a single command to finish the uninstall (or the exact folder rename command if that’s simplest).

• Do just the safe step: set a different default browser now and unpin Edge. That fixes the immediate annoyance. Run the uninstall + log steps when you’re fresh and I’ll parse them immediately.

• I previously suggested the same Stop → run setup.exe → check logs sequence and the default-app fix.

• “Try the uninstall” — I’ll wait for the ExitCode and log lines.
• “Just set defaults” — I’ll guide you step‑by‑step to set Chrome/Firefox as default and unpin Edge.
• “Rename folder” — I’ll give the exact rename command and clean‑up steps.

• Right‑click Edge on Taskbar → Unpin.
• Start → right‑click Edge → Unpin.

• “Try uninstaller + show log” — I’ll wait for the ExitCode and the log tail you paste.
• “Rename now (fallback)” — I’ll wait while you run the rename & sc.exe delete commands and report success.

• ExitCode 93 = the uninstaller failed for some reason (installer log would explain).
• Rename-Item succeeded (you renamed the folder). But while Edge processes, services, scheduled tasks or pinned shortcuts remain, you may still see Edge behaviour until you reboot or stop those services/processes. A reboot usually finishes the rename cleanup; if you don’t want to reboot now, stop Edge processes/services and remove the update services and scheduled tasks — then remove the folder.

• Reboot the PC. After boot Windows will no longer be able to run Edge from the original path and the rename will take effect. That is the simplest, least‑risky option. After reboot:
  • Set your default browser (Settings → Apps → Default apps) if needed.
  • If any Edge files remain, you can remove them then.

• Run these commands in an elevated PowerShell (copy/paste). They stop Edge processes/services, remove scheduled tasks, delete Edge update services, and remove the renamed folder (if not in use). I’ll show the commands and what each does. If a command fails because a file is in use, a reboot will be required.

• Settings → Apps → Default apps → pick Chrome/Firefox → set for HTTP & HTTPS and .htm/.html.

• You diagnosed and attempted/followed the correct servicing repairs (DISM RestoreHealth, SSU, mbr2gpt conversion, in‑place repair).
• You extracted the KB package, installed the SSU, converted the disk to GPT, ran the in‑place repair.
• You removed Microsoft Edge (and stopped it from hijacking links).
• The system is booting on EFI/GPT now. Good progress.

• If it’s listed — we’re done. Re‑enable Kaspersky and test what you need.
• If it’s not listed — run the small log collection (one shot) and attach them so I can give one exact remedial command:
  a) DISM excerpt:
  Select-String -Path "$env:windir\Logs\DISM\dism.log" -Pattern '0x800f0991','Error','Failed' -Context 3,8 | Out-File "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\dism_err_excerpt.txt" -Encoding ascii
  b) Full package list:
  dism /Online /Get-Packages | Out-File "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\Packages_full.txt" -Encoding ascii
  c) CBS excerpt:
  Select-String -Path "$env:windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log" -Pattern 'KB5070773','0x800f0991','error' -Context 3,8 | Out-File "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\CBS_excerpt.txt" -Encoding ascii
  d) WindowsUpdate log (optional but useful):
  Get-WindowsUpdateLog -LogPath "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\WindowsUpdate.log"
  Attach those files and I’ll give the single next command.

• If Windows.old exists and you want to recover personal files quickly, we can run robocopy to restore Desktop/Documents/Pictures. I’ll paste the exact robocopy lines when you’re ready.
• For missing apps (Office, Adobe), the usual approach is to reinstall from vendor accounts (Office via Microsoft account; Adobe via Creative Cloud). I can help with steps and product‑key advice.

• After any installs/repairs, re‑enable Kaspersky and any other security tools.

• Say “Continue tomorrow” or post the KB verification output when you return and I’ll pick up exactly from that point and give one single command to finish the job.

• If you’d like the quick robocopy commands to recover Desktop/Documents from Windows.old, say “Give robocopy” and I’ll post them now so you can run them tomorrow.

• Converted disk to GPT and created EFI boot entry (mbr2gpt).
• Ran in‑place repair.
• Stopped/removed Edge and its update tasks/services.
• KB5070773 still did not commit — we’ll finish that next time.

• If you want to restore personal files from the previous installation (Windows.old) later, use these robocopy commands tomorrow (run as Administrator). They copy Desktop and Documents from Windows.old into your current profile, preserving attributes:

confirm Windows.old exists​

copy Desktop​

copy Documents​

• I’ll read the logs and give one single remedial command (apply a CAB, run a DISM command with a specific source, or the minimal next repair step). No more trial‑and‑error.

• I can give step‑by‑step to reinstall Office/Adobe or attempt a partial repair from Windows.old. We can do that tomorrow when you’re rested.

• Reinstall from Microsoft or run:
  winget install --id Microsoft.Edge -e

• You’ve earned a break. When you come back, tell me “Verify KB” or attach the small logs above and I’ll finish this with a single command. Sleep well — I’ll be here when you return.

• Do nothing now; allow Windows Update to complete and the PC to restart if it asks. Don’t interrupt power or force shutdown.

• Quick check:
  dism /Online /Get-Packages | findstr /I "KB5070773"
• Alternative:
  Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -eq 'KB5070773' }

• Re‑enable Kaspersky after the update completes and you confirm success.
• If the in‑place repair changed apps/settings and you want to recover files next, we can run robocopy from C:\Windows.old — I can paste the commands tomorrow if you want.

• If you want me to wait while it finishes, say “I’ll post results” and I’ll stand by.
• Otherwise run the verification commands after the reboot and post the result; I’ll take it from there.

• KB5070773 is installed. Good — the main objective of this thread is done.

• Re‑enable Kaspersky and any other security apps you paused. Open Kaspersky and turn protection back on.

• If Setup created C:\Windows.old and you want to copy Desktop/Documents back, run (Admin PowerShell — replace %USERNAME% if needed):

• Reinstall Office from your Microsoft account (or the installer/license you have).
• Reinstall Adobe via Creative Cloud.
• Reinstall Chrome/Firefox if you removed them. (Sign in to each service to restore profile sync if used.

• If you no longer need Windows.old, remove it to free space (Admin PowerShell):
  Remove-Item "C:\Windows.old" -Recurse -Force
• Create a system Restore Point or a disk image now that the system is in the desired state.

• Confirm the KB (one more time):
  dism /Online /Get-Packages | findstr /I "KB5070773"
• Show installed hotfix:
  Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -eq 'KB5070773' }

• If after re‑enable/reinstall you find further problems, capture the three small logs and attach them and I’ll parse them and give one exact command:
  • DISM excerpt: select DISM log lines mentioning 0x800f0991
  • Packages list (dism /Online /Get-Packages)
  • CBS excerpt lines mentioning KB5070773
    (We used these earlier — they give the exact failure detail if anything reoccurs.

• You converted the disk to GPT and completed the in‑place repair; the system now boots via EFI. Your board doesn’t support Secure Boot / TPM PCR7 (that’s OK — Windows runs).
• The in‑place repair removed some installed apps (Office/Adobe) — you will need to reinstall those. Your personal files are almost certainly intact (and recoverable from Windows.old if present).

• Post a short “Resolved — temporary workaround/in‑place repair applied and KB5070773 installed” message for the forum thread you asked to close.
• Walk through recovering your Desktop/Documents from Windows.old step‑by‑step and then help with reinstallation of Office/Adobe.
• Parse any logs if you see an error later.

• Can R: be deleted? — Yes, but only if it’s a recovery partition you no longer need and after you confirm the system doesn’t rely on any files stored there. Deleting it is irreversible for the recovery data; always make a recovery USB / image first. See the safety checklist below.
• Can System Reserved be hidden by removing its drive letter? — Yes. It’s normal and safe to remove the drive letter for the System Reserved / EFI partition so it no longer shows in File Explorer. That does not delete anything. If the System Reserved partition actually still contains boot files that Windows needs, do NOT delete it — just remove the drive letter to hide it.

• The OS boot files and BCD (boot configuration) sometimes live on small “System” / “System Reserved” partitions or on other recovery partitions. If you delete the wrong partition (or remove the wrong files) you can make the system unbootable. The usual safe process is: confirm where the boot files are, make boot/recovery media, then remove the partition (or hide it). Forum posts show people moving boot files with bcdboot and only then deleting the SRP.

• Use your imaging tool of choice (Macrium Reflect Free, Acronis, etc. and make a full image of Disk 0. This protects you in case you need to roll back.

• Search “Create a recovery drive” in Start and follow the wizard. Alternatively in an admin prompt you can run:
  Start-Process ms-settings:recovery
  (But use the UI wizard — it’s safer for most users.

• If R: is currently mounted you can inspect it. If not, assign and inspect:
  diskpart
  list disk
  select disk 0
  list partition
  select partition <#> <-- pick the partition that corresponds to R: from Disk Management
  assign letter=R
  exit
• Then in PowerShell (Admin):
  Get-ChildItem R:\ -Force | Select-Object Name,Length
  Look for folders like RecoveryImage, WindowsRE, \Recovery\WindowsRE\, or an install.wim. If you see an install.wim or RecoveryImage, that partition contains a recovery image you may want to keep or export.

• To hide System Reserved (E and recovery (R so they don’t show in Explorer:
  

  Example — replace disk/partition numbers with the correct ones you saw​

  Remove-PartitionAccessPath -DiskNumber 0 -PartitionNumber 2 -AccessPath "E:\"
  Remove-PartitionAccessPath -DiskNumber 0 -PartitionNumber 4 -AccessPath "R:\"
• Or using diskpart:
  diskpart
  select disk 0
  select partition <partitionNumberForE>
  remove letter=E
  select partition <partitionNumberForR>
  remove letter=R
  exit

• verified the boot files are on the EFI/System partition (you should see Windows Boot Manager in bcdedit) — you already converted to GPT and showed the EFI entry earlier, so that step is probably OK on your machine, but double‑check; and
• created a recovery USB or full disk image.

• Use diskpart to delete the partition (this is definitive):

• If the unallocated space is NOT directly adjacent to C: (i.e., there are other small partitions between), Windows Disk Management cannot move / merge partitions. Use a trusted third‑party partition tool that can move/resize partitions (example: MiniTool Partition Wizard, AOMEI Partition Assistant, GParted live USB). Many in the forums recommend using GParted or Partition Wizard to move/merge partitions safely — but only after you have a full image backup.

• If you deleted the recovery partition or removed letters, verify boot works:
  bcdedit /enum ALL
  Get-Disk -Number 0 | Format-List PartitionStyle
  Get-Partition -DiskNumber 0 | Format-Table PartitionNumber,DriveLetter,Size,Type -AutoSize
• If you moved boot files earlier there are documented commands using bcdboot to copy the boot files to C: before deleting the SRP (example: bcdboot C:\Windows /s C — the forum guidance shows this as the standard method before deleting an SRP.

• Boot from the Windows recovery USB you created and run Startup Repair, or use the command prompt and run:
  bootrec /fixmbr
  bootrec /fixboot
  bcdboot C:\Windows /s <EFIdriveLetter> /f UEFI
  (If you used mbr2gpt earlier you should boot UEFI and use bcdboot accordingly. Forum threads show using bcdboot and diskpart to repair/replace boot files if you moved or removed partitions.

• Your disk is now GPT and you already have an EFI System partition and Windows Boot Manager entry (good). That means R: is likely a leftover recovery partition you can remove if you don’t need the OEM recovery image — but do this only after making a full image and creating a Windows recovery USB. If you only want it hidden, remove the drive letter for R: (and for System Reserved/E — that is the safest immediate step. If later you want the space merged into C:, use a partition tool to delete/move partitions and extend C:.

• Walk you through the commands step‑by‑step while you run them (I’ll wait at each step), OR
• Provide the exact diskpart commands you need for your current partition numbers (tell me the PartitionNumber for R: and for System Reserved from Disk Management) and I’ll produce the copy‑paste commands.