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)

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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
    2017-01-19T15:40:00+00:00

    You, Sir, are a WIZARD! Thank you for toiling to find this fix (and in advance and of the surface support team!). Was very frustrated at my inability to download apps that I needed after doing a resent reset (to fix other glitches I was encountering out of the blue).

    A solution HAS been found!

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-19T10:51:43+00:00

    Now I am getting a 80240440.  That's new.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-19T09:05:08+00:00

    Hi Stjinchan,

    I was fighting for 3 days on this issue when I saw your message.

    Thank you very much for your work with the microsoft support and for sharing this clear guide that helps solving the windows update and windows store stucking problem !

    Thanks again,

    Best regards,

    Didier

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-18T22:29:46+00:00

    For performance?  No!  More RAM doesn't mean faster performance.  In fact, the RT actually streams video better than the Asus as an example and the additional RAM actually allows working with larger data files since the machine will spool to disk less often (sort of a fake speedup).

    For the office suite, you will encounter some lagging.  That suite is not as refined as Office 2016 but you do have access to the web app versions via the OneDrive web site (http://www.onedrive.com).  Your cloud storage has the Office web apps and they do work with the RT (also with Linux and on a Mac).  A bit limited and will encounter a lag there as well but can try it.

    The Asus came with the Mobile apps pre-installed but will probably move up to install my subscription of Office 365 on it a bit later.  The mobile apps to include the web apps are extremely limited such as inserting an automated date/time (doesn't have it) and also a table of contents (doesn't have it either) but will update them if they already exist in a document you open up.

    The Surface 3, however, should be able to handle documents pretty well but there, you have to buy Office for it.  In fact, I think that when machines come out in the near future with the ARM64 version of Windows 10, they will not include Office RT.  That system will have a x86 runtime engine to install/run regular Windows programs and Microsoft relies on Office to be one of their "cash cows".  I think that the subscription version of Office is much better since you pay an annual fee ($100 US) and you get the entire full office suite.  That suite also has a rolling update/upgrade policy as well and always stays current.  Probably consider getting it for the Surface 3.

    Myself, the RT I have will be going back into its box and keep it as a souvenir since it is the first model of the Surface line to come out, it might even become a collectors item in the future.  Who knows.  A working copy, that is.

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