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)

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

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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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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  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-13T13:48:08+00:00

    Hi,

    For those who can't figure out how to install Windows RT 8.1 Update 3 after download the standalone update package. I have made a step by step guide here:

    https://surfacetip.com/install-windows-rt-8-1-update-3-2017/

    Hope you found it helpful!

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  2. 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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  3. Anonymous
    2016-11-23T08:46:59+00:00

    Hi Carlo San,

    Surface/ Windows RT do not allow manual install update. We can only update while Windows RT push the update to us. That's why we are facing this difficulty.

    My situation is exactly the same as Mikie19598. Can't get any Windows update and can't download any app from Windows Store.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-11-07T23:09:09+00:00

    Hi John,

    We'd like to know more information on this. What's the current state of your Surface RT?

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