SCCM Software Update - Job error 0x80004005 Failed to Add Update Source for WUAgent

SCCM Software Updates - Failed to Add Update Source for WUAgent 

Today I have been looking at a range of servers (Server 2008 /R2 2012 /R2) that were failing to communicate with the Software Update Point (SUP) in SCCM and retrieve deployment policy.

The UpdateDeployment.log was reporting the Job error 0x80004005

Job error (0x80004005) received for assignment ({af7a48e6-d550-4070-dd9b-ecc234567584}) action UpdatesDeploymentAgent 12/6/2017 10:32:27 AM 2096 (0x0830)

The WUAHandler.log  was reporting "Unable to read existing WUA Group Policy object" and "Failed to Add Update Source for WUAgent "

Unable to read existing WUA Group Policy object. Error = 0x80004005. WUAHandler 12/6/2017 3:41:00 AM 2828 (0x0B0C)Failed to Add Update Source for WUAgent of type (2) and id ({3AAB6A76-CE2D-4E8A-9F11-123AE69612A1}). Error = 0x80004005. WUAHandler 12/6/2017 11:03:31 AM 2276 (0x08E4)

Until the agent can report back to the SUP, SCCM will not be able to summarize Software Update status and offer the appropriate updates via Software Center. 

The resolution was to stop the "Windows update" service and remove the Registry.pol file and the comment.cmtx file if present as well as the SoftwareDistribution folder.

(C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Registry.pol)

(C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\comment.cmtx)

(C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution)

After restarting the "Windows update" service the SoftwareDistribution folder is created.

After the next SCCM "Update Deployment Cycle" the Registry.pol is created.

The WUAHandler.log will now state the scan completed successfully.

Waiting for 2 mins for Group Policy to notify of WUA policy change...Waiting for 30 secs for policy to take effect on WU Agent.
Added Update Source ({abc123abc123abc123abc123}) of content type: 2
Async searching of updates using WUAgent started.
Async searching completed.
Successfully completed scan

I have scripted the process to help others deploy a solution. If you think there is a better way to address this problem please leave a comment.