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
    2012-11-21T19:41:02+00:00

    A batch file is a .bat file that can be executed within a Command Prompt window. 

    I wrote one to do the work, here are the steps to create it.

    1. Create a new Text File on your windows desktop.
    2. Rename the Text File to MSUpdateCleanup.BAT, click YES when the dialog warns you that changing the file name could make the file unusable.
    3. Right click on the BAT File (you should notice that it's icon changed!) and select EDIT.
    4. Paste in the following lines:

    SET ARG=%1

    FOR /F "usebackq delims=" %%A IN (dir /B C:\Windows\servicing\packages\Package_for_%ARG%~*.cat) do SET FOUNDPKG=%%A

    SET PKGNAME=%FOUNDPKG:~0,-4%

    DISM /online /NoRestart /remove-package /packagename:%PKGNAME%

    1. Save the File and Copy and Paste it into C:\
    2. Put mouse in right hand corner and click on the Search Icon (not sure what this bar is called)
    3. Type in COMMAND, you'll see a Command Prompt icon as the result.
    4. Right click the Command Icon and at the bottom select RUN as ADMINISTRATOR.
    5. In the Command Prompt type in C: and hit Enter
    6. In the Command Prompt type in \ and hit Enter
    7. Type in MSUpdateCleanup <And whatever KB###### that is failing> and hit Enter
    8. Repeat step 11 for the KB numbers for each Windows Update.
    9. Do the Windows Update.

    Hope that helps you and anyone else who want's an easier way to do this ;)

    Doc

    Now you've just made my day! Thank you.

    Matt.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-11-21T19:24:12+00:00

    A batch file is a .bat file that can be executed within a Command Prompt window. 

    I wrote one to do the work, here are the steps to create it.

    1. Create a new Text File on your windows desktop.
    2. Rename the Text File to MSUpdateCleanup.BAT, click YES when the dialog warns you that changing the file name could make the file unusable.
    3. Right click on the BAT File (you should notice that it's icon changed!) and select EDIT.
    4. Paste in the following lines:

    SET ARG=%1

    FOR /F "usebackq delims=" %%A IN (dir /B C:\Windows\servicing\packages\Package_for_%ARG%~*.cat) do SET FOUNDPKG=%%A

    SET PKGNAME=%FOUNDPKG:~0,-4%

    DISM /online /NoRestart /remove-package /packagename:%PKGNAME%

    1. Save the File and Copy and Paste it into C:\
    2. Put mouse in right hand corner and click on the Search Icon (not sure what this bar is called)
    3. Type in COMMAND, you'll see a Command Prompt icon as the result.
    4. Right click the Command Icon and at the bottom select RUN as ADMINISTRATOR.
    5. In the Command Prompt type in C: and hit Enter
    6. In the Command Prompt type in CD \ and hit Enter
    7. Type in MSUpdateCleanup <And whatever KB###### that is failing> and hit Enter
    8. Repeat step 11 for the KB numbers for each Windows Update.
    9. Do the Windows Update.

    Hope that helps you and anyone else who want's an easier way to do this ;)

    Doc

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-11-21T18:59:02+00:00

    My patience finally ran out so I took the laptop back to PC World where we bought it 3 weeks ago, they installed the update for us from a memory stick, they knew what the problem was straight away. All sorted now. He did it quite quickly, but it look like it was either the sound card or video card driver was the problem, so if you are technically minded and follow the Microsoft way, then that is the fix.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-11-21T18:52:36+00:00

    Glad it worked Matt, I almost didn't post but I didn't find an answer anywhere and it took me hours of research to determine the root cause and fix for the problem so I'm really glad to hear it's working for others. 

    KB2770917 was stubborn for me as well, i think that is was the largest of the updates at something like 200MB.

    Doc

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