Resetting Surface RT in NOV 2016. Cannot get Windows RT 8.1 Update 3. [Solved]

Anonymous
2016-11-15T05:47:14+00:00

Hi

I reset my Surface RT recently. After resetting, I could not get Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 back like before.

My Windows Update now checking for update forever. I left it open for 24 hours, the process is in infinite loop.

  1. I tried the method reset the Windows Update components (Stop services, delete Windows\SoftwareDistribution). It doesn't work.
  2. I check my installed update, I can't find KB2919442.
  3. I can't download or update any apps from Windows Store too. (wsreset.exe tried)

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Updates (JANUARY 2017) *You can skip this to the solution below

================

  1. gianpietromerighetti found Windows RT 8.1 update 3 standalone installer
  2. Evan Forrest made a step by step guide to get Windows RT 8.1 Update 3
  3. Windows update and Windows Store issues are still not solved.
  4. According to Barb Bowman, Surface Support is aware of the problem and working to push a fix out quickly but don't have an exact time frame.

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Solution (Issues solved)

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Thanks to one of the community member Stjinchan found a solution and provided a complete guide.

Step 1: Download KB3173424 from HERE.

Step 2 : Download KB3172614 from HERE.

Step 3: TURN OFF your WiFi, and reboot the surface.

Step 4: Install KB3173424 by opening it.

Step 5: Reboot the surface.

Step 6: Install KB3172614 by opening it.

Step 7: Reboot the surface.

Step 8: TURN ON your WiFi, start searching for updates.

▲ Windows Update: I completed every updates using the method above.

▲ Windows Store: My Windows Store is working and got a new interface.

Surface | Other

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2017-01-17T19:55:27+00:00

After contacting Microsoft, and doing research for at least a few weeks, I found a solution to this major problem.

Alright, so I got a permanent solution for the Windows Update searching disaster! :)

Step 1: Restore your Surface RT with the recovery image from the microsoft website. (optional)

Step 2: Set up your surface and head to Windows update.

Step 3: Search for updates, after 30m-1h you will see a firmware update, press install without modifying the update list.

Step 4: After the installation succeeded, and your surface rt restarted go ahead and search again for updates.

Step 5: Again you will see a package of updates, this update includes the Windows RT 8.1 Update 1 update (kb2919355).

Step 6: When you finished installing the updates and your surface rebooted again, go to "installed updates" and check if kb2919355 is installed.

Step 7: If not, try to install the updates again. If it did, start searching for updates again.

Step 8: Once Windows Update is searching for at least 4 hours we came at the point where most of us are stuck.

THE SOLUTION

Step 9: Download kb3173424 from HERE.

Step 10 : Download kb3172614 from HERE.

Step 11: Turn off your Wifi, and reboot the surface.

Step 12: Install kb3173424 by opening it.

Step 13: Reboot the surface.

Step 14: Install kb3172614 by opening it.

Step 15: Reboot the surface.

Step 16: Turn on your Wifi, start searching for updates and after 10+/- minutes you will see 180+ updates coming your way :D.

I hope this helps a lot of people, since it was a major problem on the Surface RT.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-13T14:08:15+00:00

    Does anybody know ware i can get the original windows 8 that came on my surface from the factory.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-12T14:38:51+00:00

    My applogies, I realized after sending my reply that you were asking about other updates that can be used without the Windows update resident program,  not the the updates obtained through windows update. .

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-12T13:33:02+00:00

    oh i know how to do all of that threw the services i work on computers out of my house but i have been searching for updates that i can download and install myself like the start bar one i just found in your tread but have not been able to . and i thank you for the link to download and install the start bar i have been trying to get thios for a long time.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-12T06:32:54+00:00

    The stand alone installer comes with the KBxxxxxxx number of the update. (KB standing for "Knowledge Base")  If you read the complete thread, the KBXXXXXXX  (Where X stands for the Microsoft numbers given to the update) you can see which update they are referring to. Often Googling the problem with the problem description will turn up which update you need for whatever problem you are having. My experience with the stand alone Installer is that it works, but can be a giant hassle getting it to actually perform correctly. If you have seen other mentions of it in this thread,  you can see that it's not just a matter of downloading it and applying (running) it.  Windows won't let 2 installers run at once, so if Windows Update is running in the background (and it does, often with little indication it is still active), the standalone installer won't work correctly. You have to use the task manager to kill Windows Update under the services tab, or the update you are running under the stand alone installer will hang and show "searching for updates on this computer" in an unending, nonproductive loop.  Those who have succeeded are correct, you can get this menu update to install, but you must be patient and have bullheaded determination, along with some computer skills. I finally managed to get it to work, but the installer likes to skip right to the "searching for updates in this computer" when it should show "preparing for installation" (I forget the exact wording) for more than just a second or two. The caveat is, it will show the latter statement for awhile before doing the update, so it can appear it is not working when it actually is. You should get a box (like old Windows Xp's updates) showing "preparing installation" if it is working correctly). So be patient. I went through many failures (some may have been due to my impatience) before it finally worked. Killing windows update on the first tab of the task manager (running apps), while necessary does no good by itself, you must stop the one under services (task manager, last tab), and beware, it may restart itself.

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