Potential Windows Update database error detected 0x80070490

Question

This is the response I get when I run the Windows update troubleshooter from the Windows 8.1 Action Center.  If I click next it reports the errors have been fixed.  However if I run it again it reports exactly the same errors.
After searching the Internet I have found that several users have reported having this issue.  As result of the aforementioned search I have tried the following:
1) Run the Fixit tool for Windows 8.1 located at:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us.
2) Run the System Update Readiness commands: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth and DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth located at:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821/en-us.
3) Saved contents of C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 to a temp folder and then deleted contents of C:\Windows\System32\catroot2.
4)Renamed C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.old
5) Restarted Windows 8.1.
6) Verified that C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 and that C:Windows\SoftwareDistribution folders had been rebuilt.
7) I then ran the Windows update troubleshooter from the Window 8.1 Action Center again and got the same response as listed above. The errors still exist and are not fixed.
8) Finally, I downloaded Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation and I did a completely new clean install of Windows 8.1 and without installing anything else (no updates, no software, no antivirus) the above errors appeared within minutes after connecting
to the internet.  I checked using the Windows update troubleshooter several times before connecting to the Internet and each time no problems were found, but shortly after I connected the above errors are shown to exists.
Any suggestions that will help fix this issue will be of great help.

Answer 1

Did anyone ever find an actual fix for this problem?  I have a very similar problem.  I have gone through the same steps for fixing my issues with getting a message of problems found every time I run the Windows Update troubleshooter.  It
continually finds what it says are Potential Windows Update Database error detected 0x800700D and says they are fixed, along with another message saying Windows Update components must be repaired and it says they are fixed as well.  However, each time
I run the troubleshooter it finds the same issues.  I have no problems running Windows Update under Windows 8.1 and them all installing without issue, yet I can't download or update ANY apps within the MS store and like the problem above, when it looks
for my apps it says it's having problems finding them and to try later.  If I try to download even a free app, I get an error message that something happened and your purchase can't be completed. Error code: 0x80096004.
I have dug through everything I can find on this error message and tried changing my sign in on my laptop to a local account, created a new MS account to access the store and continue to get the same error message.  I have tried it with my Kaspersky
Internet Security 2015 turned completely off.  I've also ran SFC scannow and there are no errors and have ran DISM which found a problem but says it was fixed.  After running it again, there were no errors.  I have no other problems with anything
else (that I know of on my machine).  It is an Asus Q400A and came with Windows 8.0.  I ran all the updates and then upgraded to 8.1 through the MS store without issue.  I have installed all updates since upgrading to 8.1 and have absolutely
no problem running ANY updates, but can't seem to access the store no matter what I try.
If anyone has found a solution to this I'd appreciate your input.  Hard to believe MS would put out a product that has such a basic problem that has affected so many users and can't seem to come up with some resolution that doesn't require registry
editing, running commands from elevated command prompts, and a CS degree to resolve--there are soooo many issues online regarding this kind of error and others related to running SFC and DISM...most ending up in their ultimate default answer....renew or reinstall
Windows and all the updates....which still doesn't resolve the problem for many!  I've always been a PC guy, but I'm starting to like the MacBook Pro I picked for work related reasons with great hesitation.  I've wasted more time chasing this issue
down than I all the time I've spent actually using the Mac without even a hitch!
Thx in advance for any feedback....please no MAC blasting....at this point, it would be not well received!!