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

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.

Doc,

I am so grateful you put this up. Managed to get KB2756872 on somehow. The rest I did using your method. Worked perfectly, save that KB2770917 proved a bit stubborn. Eventually got there.

This has taken me hours. I couldn't have done it at all had you not posted, so thank you.

Matt.

I feel your pain RhondaStraw, my wife continually says if it wasn't for me she would still be using her MAC which is though a few years old now. 

I have a HP computer (and sometimes I'm ashamed to say work for them!) and had the exact same problem, stalling at 13%.

What I did was go into Device Manager -> Game, Audio and Sound Controllers and remove the IDT codec device (right click -> uninstall) as well as the other device found in there (sorry can't name it at work and laptop isn't with me). Just to be safe I'd say go ahead and uninstall everything you find in that group but make sure you leave the files! You should then be able to install the MS 'Codec' Update (it's what is causing the stalling). I think however that you'll still have to use my 'fix' above to perform the rest of the updates.

Good Luck.. if you still have the laptop :)

Doc

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

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.