Windows 8.1 - Cannot install windows updates

[Brad]

Hi All,

As the title suggests I recently got a PC in .. Machine was BSOD'ing ..

Managed to get a reset done but ever since i've done that the machine refuses to install windows updates.

I can do a check and see there is around 90 various updates.

When I choose to install them, it downloads and "installs" then wants to reboot, it reboots and carries on installing before booting the OS - but almost towards the end it fails with the message something like : We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer....

I am not too sure what this can be and it is a "clean" install done via the inbuilt reset .

I am almost tempted to blow it away and install fresh from install disk, but thought i'd see what replies i got here first ..

Cheers.

 

[MDD1963]

sometimes installing all available updates might take a bit....; you might selectively choose/install them in 4-5 smaller batches, rather than hope the entire 300-400MB kit and kaboodle proceeds flawlessly.

 

[Brad]

sometimes installing all available updates might take a bit....; you might selectively choose/install them in 4-5 smaller batches, rather than hope the entire 300-400MB kit and kaboodle proceeds flawlessly.

Thanks for the reply - I did try just installing one or two updates .. but when i reboot to install ... it then wants install the 80+ updates ... I am wondering if I will have to somehow clear out all the updates - does anyone know the best way to do that ?

Thanks.

 

[MDD1963]

Same place as add/remove programs/features, there is an option for viewing/uninstalling 'installed updates'

 

[frase]

Hi Brad you could check this thread in regards to your issue - worked for me.

https://www.technibble.com/forums/t...using-to-check-for-updates.64631/#post-504099

 

[SAFCasper]

Save this as a .bat file and give it a try.
I made it with the information from here - https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/971058

It fixes most issues I come across with Windows Update.

@ECHO OFF
:Selection
CLS
ECHO 1.Stop Services
ECHO 2.Delete QMGR files
ECHO 3.Rename catroot2 and SodtwareDistribution
ECHO 4.Reset BITS and WU security descriptors
ECHO 5.Re-Register DLL's
ECHO 6.Reset Proxy
ECHO 7.Reset Winsock
Echo 8.Start Services
ECHO 9.Exit
ECHO.

CHOICE /C 123456789 /N /M "Please choose an option"

IF ERRORLEVEL 9 GOTO End
IF ERRORLEVEL 8 GOTO StartServ
IF ERRORLEVEL 7 GOTO ResetWinsock
IF ERRORLEVEL 6 GOTO ResetProxy
IF ERRORLEVEL 5 GOTO ReRegDLL
IF ERRORLEVEL 4 GOTO ResetSecDescr
IF ERRORLEVEL 3 GOTO RenSoftDist
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO DelQMGR
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO StopServ

:ResetProxy
netsh winhttp reset proxy
pause
GOTO Selection

:ResetWinsock
netsh winsock reset
pause
GOTO Selection

:StartServ
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc
pause
GOTO Selection

:ReRegDLL
cd /d %windir%\system32
regsvr32.exe atl.dll /s
regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll /s
regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll /s
regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll /s
regsvr32.exe browseui.dll /s
regsvr32.exe jscript.dll /s
regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll /s
regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll /s
regsvr32.exe msxml.dll /s
regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll /s
regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll /s
regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll /s
regsvr32.exe softpub.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll /s
regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll /s
regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll /s
regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll /s
regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll /s
regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll /s
regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll /s
regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll /s
regsvr32.exe ole32.dll /s
regsvr32.exe shell32.dll /s
regsvr32.exe initpki.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wups.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wups2.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll /s
regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll /s
regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll /s
regsvr32.exe muweb.dll /s
regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll /s
pause
GOTO Selection

:ResetSecDescr
sc.exe sdset bits D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
sc.exe sdset wuauserv D:(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRSDRCWDWO;;;BA)(A;;CCLCSWLOCRRC;;;AU)(A;;CCLCSWRPWPDTLOCRRC;;;PU)
pause
GOTO Selection

:RenSoftDist
Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
pause
GOTO Selection

:DelQMGR
Del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat"
pause
GOTO Selection

:StopServ
net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
pause
GOTO Selection

:End

 

[ohio_grad_06]

If I might make the suggestion, suggest to the client that Windows 10 is out, to let you simply upgrade to Windows 10, and bypass Windows 8.1 altogether.

 

[smlie4]

Remember some Windows updates can't be installed at the same time as others and if you try it will fail. It's always the .Net's, but there are a couple others.

If you are doing this to get paid, also be mindful that Windows failing to update can be a huge mine field of check after check after check until you end up down in the registry at 4am in the morning.

Never forget the foundations > Dying hard drives can behind many Windows corruptions especially laptop hard drives! If the drive so much as shows any sign of a fault. Stop what your doing, ring the customer and tell them they need a new drive and you have to re-install the operating system. Sure you can tip toe around the issue, but remember it is your time and time is money. A drive that shows any signs of fatigue will soon become your problem if you don't make it the customers first.

Check SMART status (anything else but good, replace it!) http://crystalmark.info/software/CrystalDiskInfo/index-e.html
Scan the drive and look for bad spots (Any bad spots show, replace it!) http://hddscan.com/

 

[Mainstay]

Check the HD.

 

[HFultzjr]

Check for other issues....Hard Drive, etc. Fix them 1st.
Run Win AIO repair...Follow the instructions, including clean boot. Do all the steps including chkdsk and SFC.
Install updates a few at a time, maybe there is one or two giving you issues.