constant 0x800f020b update error

Hi, I'm Bernard, a fellow Windows user. I'm happy to help!

Just to confirm, have you already enrolled in the Extended Security Update (ESU)? If yes, this issue occurs when there is a miscalibration or corrupted system files with the Windows update, and for us to sort out the issue, kindly follow the steps below:

Reset Windows update components:

Open Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell(Admin) (Press Windows key + X then click Terminal(Admin))

Copy each line of command, then press Enter (one line at a time)

net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\*.*"
rmdir %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution /S /Q
rmdir %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 /S /Q
regsvr32.exe /s atl.dll
regsvr32.exe /s urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe /s mshtml.dll
netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset proxy
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc

Once done, restart the device and check.

If none of the above solutions work, I suggest doing an in-place upgrade, wherein it will update the device to the latest version and repair all issues without deleting any files.

Note: before doing this, make sure to create a restore point:  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4027538/windows-create-a-system-restore-point

1. Go to this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
2. Select Download Now, and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool.
3. On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select Accept.
4. On the What do you want to do? page, select Upgrade this PC now, and then select Next.
5. After downloading and installing, it should fix the issue.

Reference: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Error 0x800f020b indicates that Windows Update is trying to install a driver for a device that is not present on the computer. In this case, the offered update is an HP-related USB/device driver, even though there is no HP hardware or software in use.

This behavior matches a known pattern where Windows repeatedly offers an update for a nonpresent device. The fix is to let Windows Update stop offering that driver once the underlying issue is corrected by an update.

Actionable steps:

1. Run Windows Update and install all available updates, including cumulative and optional updates. This ensures any fixes for repeated/nonpresent device offerings are applied.
2. After installing updates, restart the device and run Windows Update again to confirm whether the HP driver update is still being offered.
3. If the HP driver still appears and fails with 0x800f020b, hide or ignore that specific driver update, as it is effectively a false positive for hardware that is not actually present.

If the update is a direct download flagged as HP/USB and marked as safe by Microsoft, it can be kept/allowed when prompted by the browser or SmartScreen, as it is an official tool.

References:

• Repeatedly offered update for a nonpresent device in Windows 8.1 Preview or Windows RT 8.1 Preview
• "Windows Update" Updates failed - Microsoft Q&A