Windows 8.1 refuses to update

roytom

Here a list of the first page of files in the Windows update history..

View your update history Update history
Most recent cumulative update: KB3000850 Successfully installed on 22/11/2014
Definition Update for Windows Defender - K82267602 (Definition 123511320) Successfully installed on 24/01/2017
Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3134815) Failed to install on 23/11/2016
Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3118401) Failed to install on 23/11/2016
Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3139921) Failed to install on 23/11/2016
Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3126030) Failed to install on 23/11/2016
Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3126033) Failed to install on 23/11/2016
Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3123242) Failed to install on 23/11/2016
Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB3121261) Failed to install on 23/11/2016


Any ideas of how to get updates to work. I've searched Microsoft's web knowledge and can't find a satisfactory answer.

thanks
roy

Neil_Jones

Try this:
https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/Reset-Windows-Update-Agent-d824badc

You need the ResetWuEng.zip at the top of the page.

DavidP24

Usually when they get their knickers in a twist it is because there is a prerequisite update, you have to try them one by one, then if you find one that installs you run check for updates again and new ones appear, then you install those and then keep trying, again one at a time.

agarnett

I think Microsoft has rushed out some updates in the last day or so to counter the ransomware hack, and I wonder if their updates for older OS were indeed rushed. Reason being, a friend showed me how she had had to Google last evening for a solution for her Windows 7 wanting to update but getting stuck or failing (her PC has run perfectly without ever upgrading to Windows 8 or 10 - she has a Linux specialist in the family who counselled against both He incidentally thinks W10 is a sophisticated big brother spyware system sponsored by US govt.;)).

Anyway, my friend successfully got around the stuck/unsuccessful update problem by finding a list of instructions somewhere on the web which step by step went through some manual installs of pre-requisite updates much as DavidP24 suggests.

I watched a few hours ago as she rebooted the final time and her system confirmed all up to date with no outstanding updates - job done :T

I'll see if I can find out tomorrow where you can find those instructions and maybe give it a go on W8.1

esuhl

Have a look in the Event Viewer (in "Administrative Tools") and you should see an error code that will indicate why the update failed.

agarnett

Interestingly the same W7 machine I said got stuck with an update and was fixed with a set of step by step instructions found on t'internet with certain pre-reqisite manual updates, decided this evening when switched on to enter a further automatic 188 item update! And it is taking hours - reminds me of the unintended W10 free upgrade I blundered into.

Now I would not be surprised if Microsoft have decided to put a W10 engine under the bonnet of older operating systems as an easier way of dealing with the major security flaws identified at the weekend. Will report back when I have seen what this massive W7 update looks like when done!

millie

agarnett wrote: »

Interestingly the same W7 machine I said got stuck with an update and was fixed with a set of step by step instructions found on t'internet with certain pre-reqisite manual updates, decided this evening when switched on to enter a further automatic 188 item update! And it is taking hours - reminds me of the unintended W10 free upgrade I blundered into.

Now I would not be surprised if Microsoft have decided to put a W10 engine under the bonnet of older operating systems as an easier way of dealing with the major security flaws identified at the weekend. Will report back when I have seen what this massive W7 update looks like when done!

My Windows 7 does not even find any updates I have left it searching for 24 hours after a suggestion on another forum but nothing. can you give me your step by step solution please. My last updates were December 2016.

jshm2

The windows update module can be funny on some systems. It's why you're better to use wsusoffline update instead.

agarnett

millie wrote: »

My Windows 7 does not even find any updates I have left it searching for 24 hours after a suggestion on another forum but nothing. can you give me your step by step solution please. My last updates were December 2016.

Hi millie, sorry I have not got around to asking for that step by step instruction yet. I forgot!

I did get told tonight however that it isn't 188 updates in the last couple of days on that unstuck W7 installation but over 250!! It had to be left alone for some hours yesterday on the last 188, and seemed not to be moving for long periods, but slowly they all counted by. It is stable now and still looks like W7.

Meantime however, I just Googled and found something that looks promising because I vaguely recall my friend said she had to manually reinstall five prerequisite updates, and whilst what I just found is 14 months old, it is a Microsoft answers.microsoft.com article and it talks about five updates also ... https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_7-update/fix-windows-7-update-stuck-on-checking-for-updates/ad6cfeef-232a-49b4-a57b-39978eea6630.

I don't know so, and I have to put on the caveat that it is at your own risk. but if you don't mind risking it (I'd certainly make sure I chose the right 32 bit or 64 bit option), then I don't think you can do much irreparable damage and it might just get you unstuck ...

Otherwise, here's another more general approach: https://www.lifewire.com/when-windows-update-gets-stuck-or-frozen-2624439

But if you want to wait, I'll try to remember to ask again tomorrow what my friend used.

millie

agarnett wrote: »

Hi millie, sorry I have not got around to asking for that step by step instruction yet. I forgot!

I did get told tonight however that it isn't 188 updates in the last couple of days on that unstuck W7 installation but over 250!! It had to be left alone for some hours yesterday on the last 188, and seemed not to be moving for long periods, but slowly they all counted by. It is stable now and still looks like W7.

Meantime however, I just Googled and found something that looks promising because I vaguely recall my friend said she had to manually reinstall five prerequisite updates, and whilst what I just found is 14 months old, it is a Microsoft answers.microsoft.com article and it talks about five updates also ... https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_7-update/fix-windows-7-update-stuck-on-checking-for-updates/ad6cfeef-232a-49b4-a57b-39978eea6630.

I don't know so, and I have to put on the caveat that it is at your own risk. but if you don't mind risking it (I'd certainly make sure I chose the right 32 bit or 64 bit option), then I don't think you can do much irreparable damage and it might just get you unstuck ...

Otherwise, here's another more general approach: https://www.lifewire.com/when-windows-update-gets-stuck-or-frozen-2624439

But if you want to wait, I'll try to remember to ask again tomorrow what my friend used.

Thanks been like it for sometime now so a little longer makes no difference


Thanks