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. I tried the method reset the Windows Update components (Stop services, delete Windows\SoftwareDistribution). It doesn't work. I check my installed update, I can't find KB2919442. I can't download or update any apps from Windows Store too. (wsreset.exe tried) ================ Updates (JANUARY 2017) *You can skip this to the solution below ================ gianpietromerighetti found Windows RT 8.1 update 3 standalone installer Evan Forrest made a step by step guide to get Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 Windows update and Windows Store issues are still not solved. 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. ================ Solution (Issues solved) ================ 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.

I`ve just gone through this myself and I wanted to share my notes and observations for others that may need this. I have the first Surface RT tablet that I carelessly performed a system reset on. I tried a few tines but had success using the downloaded recovery image, following the 15 steps, not localizing (i.e.) leave the tablet as US) and being patient. Leave the tablet plugged in to power for all of the process. Using the recovery image is easy. Format a USB drive as FAT32 (the default). It does not need to be bootable. Download the zipped image and unzip to the drive. Stick it in the tablet and hold the Volume Down while turning it on. There are guides that talk through this process. When the tablet first boots, before you do anything, change the power option to never switch off when plugged in. Be patient. When it says "check Windows update" it's not like your new machines; it can take hours. This process is best not hovered over but left alone and nudged along every few hours. Additionally, there are 2 "Windows Updates"; I exclusively used the Metro version until I had the tablet working (completed the 15 steps) and then ran the desktop version. Sometimes Windows Update would still show "checking" but updates were ready to be installed. The best option is to check the power button for the "update and restart" entry. It is crucial that you follow the 15 steps exactly as prescribed including the wifi settings and reboots. Once again, be patient. Good luck. I was able to get my tablet back up to fully functioning with all the latest updates. Thanks to all the smart people that put in the hours to bring us a solution.

Thanks for your work and sharing the solution. My RT was brought back to life using the MS recovery image, the remaining 15 steps and the Update 3 standalone installer. First update was 155, second update did not find KB2919355. Didn't leave the update page and searched for updates again and it was found with 10 others. The last update search found 210, took 4 hours to install them all. Searched again and still no Update 3 so I used the standalone installer. When it gets through with disk cleanup I'll remove the recovery partition. Thanks to all.

There are 2 different threads on here for the fix i was talking about and they have links to the updates download and install it will fix the problem.

The answer tech replies are almost funny sometimes. SMH.

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

Anonymous

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.

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

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

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

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

gianpietromerighetti found Windows RT 8.1 update 3 standalone installer
Evan Forrest made a step by step guide to get Windows RT 8.1 Update 3
Windows update and Windows Store issues are still not solved.
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.

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

Solution (Issues solved)

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

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.

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.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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.

0 comments

319 additional answers

Anonymous

2017-04-20T14:11:50+00:00

I`ve just gone through this myself and I wanted to share my notes and observations for others that may need this. I have the first Surface RT tablet that I carelessly performed a system reset on.

I tried a few tines but had success using the downloaded recovery image, following the 15 steps, not localizing (i.e.) leave the tablet as US) and being patient.

Leave the tablet plugged in to power for all of the process.

Using the recovery image is easy. Format a USB drive as FAT32 (the default). It does not need to be bootable. Download the zipped image and unzip to the drive. Stick it in the tablet and hold the Volume Down while turning it on. There are guides that talk through this process.

When the tablet first boots, before you do anything, change the power option to never switch off when plugged in.

Be patient. When it says "check Windows update" it's not like your new machines; it can take hours. This process is best not hovered over but left alone and nudged along every few hours.

Additionally, there are 2 "Windows Updates"; I exclusively used the Metro version until I had the tablet working (completed the 15 steps) and then ran the desktop version.

Sometimes Windows Update would still show "checking" but updates were ready to be installed. The best option is to check the power button for the "update and restart" entry.

It is crucial that you follow the 15 steps exactly as prescribed including the wifi settings and reboots.

Once again, be patient.

Good luck. I was able to get my tablet back up to fully functioning with all the latest updates.

Thanks to all the smart people that put in the hours to bring us a solution.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2017-04-15T21:07:45+00:00

Thanks for your work and sharing the solution.

My RT was brought back to life using the MS recovery image, the remaining 15 steps and the Update 3 standalone installer.

First update was 155, second update did not find KB2919355. Didn't leave the update page and searched for updates again and it was found with 10 others. The last update search found 210, took 4 hours to install them all.

Searched again and still no Update 3 so I used the standalone installer.

When it gets through with disk cleanup I'll remove the recovery partition.

Thanks to all.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2017-04-14T17:09:08+00:00

There are 2 different threads on here for the fix i was talking about and they have links to the updates download and install it will fix the problem.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2017-04-14T14:35:31+00:00

The answer tech replies are almost funny sometimes. SMH.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments