Can't do any Windows 8 update (error code 800F081F)

Anonymous
2012-10-27T09:23:06+00:00

I just update my Windows 7 laptop to windows 8 pro and found that I couldn't install any update due to this error 800F081F. It seems that MS had a solution, "System Update Readiness Tool", for all other windows version from vista to server 2008; but anyone know any solution for windows 8?

Some attemps I did:

I've tried troubleshooting to fix Windows update automatically but it doesn't help (Funny thing is that when troubleshooting has complete it actually tells me "Potential Windows Update Database error detected 0x800f081f -- fixed");

I've tried a MS tool called "Fix it" but the problem is still there;

I even uninstalled my anti-virus software and use Windows Defender instead; I also tried to restart Windows Update services several times.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2012-11-19T01:36:18+00:00

Just wanted to share with anyone else who was having this issue what it was that I did to resolve it. First off some quick background, this is a brand new HP laptop so was no update over windows 7.

I first had issue updating due to a device issue with an installed HP codec that conflicted with a Windows Codec update, I resolved that and manually updated that single update. Then Windows update failed again. I tried doing the DSIM w/ Restorehealth option as suggested previously in this post, but to no avail.

Some more research led me to the following folder "C:\Windows\servicing\Packages" in this folder I did a quick search for some of the failing updates KB numbers.. (KB2727528 for example) and sure enough found the following...

Package_for_KB2727528~<blahblah>~6.2.1.0 cat and mum files

Package_1_for_KB2727528~<blahblah>~6.2.1.0 cat and mum files

Package_for_KB2727528_RTM~<blahblah>~6.2.1.0 cat and mum files

Using the following command (note that trying to remove the _1_ or _RTM results in a package not found!):

dism /online /NoRestart /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB2727528~<blahblah>~6.2.1.0

and recieved a 100% package removed! No way! Installed just that update and booyaah success, restarting it seemed to stall at 15% but then kept going after a few mins and success.

I then wrote out a batch file to execute the above command for any found package namefor anything that had a KB code in the the Windows Update list and viola all were removed. Windows update then completed successfully!

As my wife pointed out.. what do people who don't know computers/software as well as me do, and I told her they probably take them back for a refund, and she replied this is why people use Macs LOL! Probably true. I hope this helps someone else.

After 20+ years you'd think MS would've finally stopped releasing broken Windows software *sigh*

Doc.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-11-15T18:59:01+00:00

    Same problems, same obstacles.

    The entire Windows 8 experience has been terribly disappointing.

    I can't believe that there has only been one reply here from Microsoft, with a suggested fix that has proven ineffective.  Then radio silence.

    But what I find absolutely appalling are the dozens of troubleshooting pages that provide countless instructions for the USER to waste his/her time trying to coax a lackluster system into doing its most fundamental jobs.  Wipe your drivers, issue commands and download ineffectual "maybe" fix-it utilities, spend all day on the phone, spend all night on the internet... and do all these things in order to compensate for poor production and lazy or non-existent (or costly) technical support on the part of Microsoft.  When a company's primary response in the face of their own poor performance is to shift the burden onto its end users, it signifies an irreversible breakdown, the center can't hold when the foundation disappears.

    I have been using Macs at work for a decade, but have been a steadfast PC user at home for longer.  I'm changing my mind.

    Ditto that (twice I guess, since I already quoted it). I couldn't say it any better. I can understand to an extent no Microsoft visibility on the forums prior to the official release, but now I think they would be much more attentive to people having issues with a major release. People do have choices these days and it seems Microsoft has not accepted that notion yet. I can also understand plenty of kinks in a significantly "upgraded" OS, to also have major kinks with the fixes becomes a bit less acceptable. I have spent weeks trying every workaround and fix-it only to find my computer in worse shape. Also, I am bit perplexed as to why there is not an option to reset the system to defaults, while keeping everything else. A refresh is essentially doing a new install other than it saving your documents. The most labor intensive part is installing all of the programs again. Since almost any error than renders your computer unusable is system based it is nonsensical and unnecessary to make starting over the only solution .

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-11-15T13:37:30+00:00

    Nah, it's not Lenovo. I have this error on my self-assembled computer.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-11-15T12:38:07+00:00

    I have this same problem.

    I also upgraded from Win 7 x64 to Win8Pro.

    No Win Updates and no Mediacenter Update either.

    Ran DISM.exe but it doesn't work... didn't change anything.

    I also tried manually downloading the updates and running them from my desktop, but they also failed there.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-11-15T02:42:51+00:00

    This **** is driving me crazy too. I am sure it's Lenovo bloatware, seems most people have the issue are using Lenovo or other major OEM laptops. I had the problem not being able to upgrade Windows 8 with Pro Pack, my god that made me angry till I found the solution mentioned with msconfig. So I got that sorted but the Windows updates (4 of them) still can't be installed. Maybe I will just leave it until Microsoft fix it. I am not spening hours and hours troubleshooting something like this probably fix itself in a few weeks. I darn well hope.

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