Reset Windows Update Components: Open Command Prompt as Administrator
👇 See all 3 solutions belowWhat is Error 622?
Windows System Error Code 622, known as ERROR_EVALUATION_EXPIRATION, is a File & Disk error that occurs during file system and disk I/O operations. The error indicates that: {Windows Evaluation Notification} The evaluation period for this installation of Windows has expired. This system will shutdown in 1 hour. To restore access to this installation of Windows When this error is encountered, the Windows operating system was unable to complete the requested operation within the file management subsystem. The error code 622 is returned by the GetLastError() function and provides developers with a specific identifier to diagnose the root cause of the failure. The symbolic name ERROR_EVALUATION_EXPIRATION maps directly to this numeric code and is commonly referenced in Microsoft documentation, developer forums, and system logs. Understanding this error and its context within file system and disk I/O operations is essential for effective troubleshooting.
Common Causes
- Windows Update cache is corrupted (SoftwareDistribution folder)
- Required update services (BITS, Cryptographic) are stopped
- Insufficient disk space for the update to install
- Third-party antivirus is interfering with the update process
Resolving Component Store (WinSxS) Bloat and Corruption
An encyclopedia on the Windows Component Store: safely reclaiming disk space, understanding hard links, and fixing deep WinSxS corruption.
Read the full guide →Step-by-Step Solutions
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Run these commands in order:
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop bits
- ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
- net start wuauserv
- net start cryptSvc
- net start bits
- Retry Windows Update
Video Tutorials
Diagnostic Command
Run this PowerShell command to find related events in your system log:
Get-EventLog -LogName System -Newest 20 | Where-Object {$_.Message -like "*622*" -or $_.Message -like "*ERROR_EVALUATION_EXPIRATION*"} | Format-List💡 Open PowerShell as Administrator, paste the command above, and press Enter.
Prevention Tips
- Keep at least 20GB free on your system drive for Windows Updates
- Install updates promptly — don't let them accumulate for months
- If updates consistently fail, consider a Windows in-place repair upgrade