Errors 0x800703fa and 0x80071a2d when installing Cumulative Update

The latest Windows 10 cumulative update may fail with error code 0x800703fa. Many users are experiencing this issue when installing the KB5066791 update (October 14, 2025) or earlier. Installing it using the .MSU file from the Microsoft Update Catalog may not work either.

As a result, the affected systems can’t be enrolled in the Windows 10 Consumer ESU program.

The Setupapi.dev.log may report the following errors:

!    cpy:           Could not reference driver file 'C:\Windows\System32\drivers\stornvme.sys'. Error = 0x00001A2D
     inf:           Hardware Id  = PCI\CC_010802
!!!  inf:           Failed to create driver descriptor key 'PCI\CC_010802'. Error = 0x000003FA
     inf:      {Configure Driver: exit(0x000003fa)}
!!!  sto:      Failed to reflect driver package. Error = 0x000003FA
     sto: {Reflect Driver Package: exit(0x000003fa)}
!!!  sto: Failed to reflect all driver updates. Error = 0x000003FA
<<<  Section end 2026/03/09 00:30:56.475
<<<  [Exit status: FAILURE(0x000003fa)]

Cause

Error code 0x800703fa (ERROR_KEY_DELETED) means Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion.

0x00001A2D (0x80071A2D – ERROR_TRANSACTION_NOT_ACTIVE) means The requested operation was made in the context of a transaction that is no longer active.

This happens when a third-party filter driver (especially a file system minifilter driver) blocks write access to parts of the registry. Anti-Cheat programs are known to cause the above errors.

Resolution

To resolve the issue, please uninstall the following programs:

FACEIT

FACEIT Anti-Cheat

Vanguard

Valorant Anti-Cheat

Once done, restart Windows by running the command: shutdown /r /t 0

See if you can install the latest updates for your device.