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)

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

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
    2016-12-29T03:21:53+00:00

    All i can say is don't hold your breath on MS helping anybody with this the surface is out of warranty so they don't realy care anymore it's our problem now i think people are just going to have to live with it or find a better tablet me myself i would rather have an android tablet i can do more with my 7 " android tablet than i can with this surface im sorry i ever bought it.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-01T07:41:50+00:00

    Any luck?

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-01T10:58:52+00:00

    I can't even get the 233 updates, and after my RT recovery reimage my Windows store , while showing everything, will not download anything, says connection is too slow, which is absolute bull@#$%. Have searched the slow connection problem in regards to the Windows Store on 8.1, no solutions work, and apparently that problem has existed for a long time, over 12 months. Since the RT is locked into the Windows store, it renders this Surface RT close to useless. Windows 7 has the same interminable update problem, although it at least does (after more than 24 hours searching) eventually come up with the updates. A solution exists for that problem on Windows 7 which I found on the internet,, but apparently Microsoft would rather sweep the whole RT thing under a rug. I would retry the reimage, but already lost some irreplaceable photos from Microsoft Skydrive changes to One Drive and a bitlocker code lost in the same screw up. I have too much working again to chance making things worse. So, I renamed the RT "Useless Brick". At least it plays music from the microSD card slot.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-01T17:34:31+00:00

    When I uninstall KB2919355, I can use the store and get windows updates.  But, with RT I cannot turn off automatic updates, so it just gets reinstalled.  Sigh.  Also, while I see that Update 3 is installed (**KB3033055)**I do not have the nice new start menu option.   I am using a Lumia 2520 and not a Surface so maybe the 2520s do not get all of the new features.  Oh well, at least I know what I have to do when I want to use the store.  Annoying as it is.

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