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.

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

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.

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
    2017-08-09T19:51:31+00:00

    I have a problem mine has been fine for quite some time and i did something without knowing it and i had to reinstall my windows on my surface rt tablet well now the one update kb3172614 says that this is not applicable to my pc for some reason but the other update will install with no problem so what can i do. I wish that Microsoft had put the system restore in these that would fix the problem. it is a pain in the as to have to reinstall you operating system every time something happens.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-08-07T08:45:13+00:00

    Ran into Store app installation issue (cannot re-install apps that were installed on the Surface RT before reset) after finishing all updates. Store will complain that PC doesn't meet the requirement. Apps that I never install before would install fine. Putting the registry back to do automatic update doesn't fix the problem. WSReset.exe doesn't fix the problem. The problem is resolved by deleting everything under C:\windows\SoftwareDistribution

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-08-07T03:51:53+00:00

    When I first reset my Surface RT, I ran into the same update hang and Store app install problem like others did. I left the Surface to do automatic updates by itself, and then I tried to resolve the issue by applying the .msu files mentioned in Stjinchan's solution. It didn't work because the automatic updates missed KB2919355, so KB3172614 cannot be installed (it will complain that the update is not applicable).

    I then followed friedpotato's solution on my Surface RT, and it worked. I manually controlled the update sequences using this priority order:

    firmware > security update > Windows 8.1 update > Optional updates> Defender update > Office update

    Always use control panel to get to desktop version of Windows Update, so you can control what to install. Nice tip by friedpotato to use registry setting to disable automatic update.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-06-27T22:48:20+00:00

    Unlike my Microsoft Surface RT, my Lumia 2520 has never had any problems with the store or updating.  It has Update 3 and the Windows 10 start menu installed.  But for the life of me I can't get it to work on my Surface RT.  I have a Surface RT 2 that also has all the updates and the start menu.

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