I had this message only once, but really worked for it. Apparently, especially HP drivers are the cause, I have found most questions about this in connection with HP printers. And also in my case it was a Deskjet 460, which would not install - but immediately triggered the Windows-Update error: The device list could not be retrieved from windows update .
After many updates, many restarts, and many other attempts, this is what got me to the finish line:
- Start command line as admin, then run one after the other:
- net stop bits - Stops the intelligent background transmission service
- net stop wuauserv stops the Windows update
- Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /startComponentCleanup - repairs & updates the Windows driver database
- sfc /scannow - SystemFileCheck to repair potentially damaged Windows files.
- del /F /S /Q „C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution“ - deletes the Windows internal update&driver cache
- del C:\Windows\System32\Catroot2- deletes the Windows internal update&driver cache part 2
- net start bits
- net start wuauserv
- Reboot- Restart the system
After that I could add printers again - my printer is not listed - reload printer drivers from Windows Update. This is e.g. also for necessary for my Navision-PDF solution..
English 
Deutsch 
Español