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.

0 comments
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.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

319 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T20:37:21+00:00

    My POS RT after two full resets and one day and half looking for updates, just found 51 new updates, including 8.1 Update 1.

    Installing them right now. Keep you updated about who it is going.

    So i realized that it really takes one century to detect updates... Even when you have the feeling that Windows Update searching would last forever... just let it doing and wait. One or two days.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T20:21:56+00:00

    My RT is nor downloading at all. Sometimes I can update Winows Defender immediately after running the Windows Update troubleshoot but as far as anything else - nothing comes across in the download process. Winmdows 10 update seems to be fine.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T18:49:48+00:00

    The issue that is going on here is the update panel (the app) itself.  It is not displaying updates that are coming across.  They system "IS" updating in the background.

    This issue is also happening in Windows 10 to include the downloading of Insider Builds.  The update panel will display 0% for a length of time and then all of a sudden, display 40%, 50%, etc.

    The Windows  Update panel (the application) needs to be looked at.  Both the RTs and the regular x86 systems are downloading updates - just not showing them.

    Also, another point!  It should not take 4 days to download updates for the RT models.  The clowns at Microsoft better get their act together!!!!!!!  If they are going to abandon the RT models, at least somebody have the backbone to tell everybody.  You pass that on to the management.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T18:33:34+00:00

    If Windows Update has been checking for a long time, try manually stopping and restarting the service to see if it has found any updates to install. To do this, leave the Windows Update window open and:

    1. Run services.msc
    2. Scroll down the list to Windows Update.
    3. Tap and hold Windows Update and select Restart.
    4. Go back to the Windows Update window and see if it found any updates.

    Hope this helps,

    Greg

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments