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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Answer accepted by question author
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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319 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-18T16:13:41+00:00

    This whole thing is very frustrating.

    This is how I am using my RT these days. I did manage to download a few of the apps I use before the update issue arose. I have tried several times to download a weather app but gave up trying.

    When I am not using my RT I open up services and stop the Windows update. At this point I get Windows defender to update the latest virus definition. Once that is done the Windows update in services starts running again (with no results). If I am done with the RT at that time, I stop the windows update once more and turn wifi off. This way the windows update will not start again and drain the battery.

    When I need the RT again I turn on the wifi feature and perform whatever I have to do.

    If you turn off wifi but the windows update in services is running the CPU keeps on chugging regardless.

    Other than that unless MS gets a fix in soon I don't think there is much we can do especially for a non-techie like me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-18T17:04:32+00:00

    This whole thing is very frustrating.

    This is how I am using my RT these days. I did manage to download a few of the apps I use before the update issue arose. I have tried several times to download a weather app but gave up trying.

    When I am not using my RT I open up services and stop the Windows update. At this point I get Windows defender to update the latest virus definition. Once that is done the Windows update in services starts running again (with no results). If I am done with the RT at that time, I stop the windows update once more and turn wifi off. This way the windows update will not start again and drain the battery.

    When I need the RT again I turn on the wifi feature and perform whatever I have to do.

    If you turn off wifi but the windows update in services is running the CPU keeps on chugging regardless.

    Other than that unless MS gets a fix in soon I don't think there is much we can do especially for a non-techie like me.

    I laughed while reading your post but more or less it is the same way I am using my tablet in these days.

    When I go to sleep or having lunch I turn on windows update hoping it finds something, when I am back I turn WU service off and sometimes I have to reboot the surface because, even with the service down, svchost.exe keep using 25% of CPU.

    From time to time I realize that I forgot to install at the beginning some useful app, like a password manager, the Facebook app (using the website with the Surface RT is getting too frustrating... hardware of RT is no more able to handle big websites like Facebook), VLC for clips, and so on....

    The Store is the biggest of the problems actually than Windows Update.

    Sometimes I feel like in a candid camera or a comedy....

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-18T19:20:07+00:00

    I think that this thread is really getting a bit "long on the tooth" and there will be no real fix for the problems with the RT models.  Microsoft will probably say that they are looking at the problem but chances are, there will be no work on a solution.

    These machines are technically 'defunct' and are not really supported any more.

    You can use the machines in an off-line situation since they do have a full version of Microsoft Office on them and you can be on-line for email but web browsing has gotten to the point to where they are useless (too slow).

    They do have a great sound system and they do stream video perfectly.

    Windows Store and the Weather app issues are just the start and there will be other apps that will fail in the near future as well.  There is not much in the Store for them anyway and the weather app is probably detecting the ARM64 version in the Store and getting confused with it since Microsoft is developing an ARM64 version of Windows 10.  These machines are 32-bit and cannot run them.

    I suggest to everybody to look for something else.  I got an Asus T102 to replace my RT as a new low end machine for use and it is really good little machine.  Other tablets exist as well and they include keyboards (the T102 also included a pen).  These are ATOM based machines and run anything.  A bit slow but does work.

    Time to move on people!

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-18T20:19:02+00:00

    Yes I agree with every word of yours!

    I also lost the patience since the rt is getting useless even for web browsing. I will keep it just to stream movies to the television.

    I bought a surface 3 with 32 gb of disk space for just 300 euros, so i can use the type.cover 2 with it as well as a 64gb micro Sd memory that I already have. I dont need a desktop/laptop replacement but just a low end tablet for mobility, so I think I will be happy with it and I will stop suffering due to the RT!

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