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

Just resolved the issue, it was due to my KIS 2013 firewall. Temporarily switched off protection and ran updates manually through windows update. Hope this helps

I have this error too and none of the solutions work. Windows 8 has several fundamental programming flaws to which failure to upgrade can be added. This is the first MS OS in recent  memory that is incompatible with some very common programs and drivers (try running CS6 with an ATI card or use web based programs in IE 10 that rely on drop down lists). Contacting these vendors elicits finger pointing at one another that shows just how much the PC/software business has never changed-deja vu all over again. I have three OSes on this machine, Mountain Lion, Windows 7 and Windows 8: I can only do sustained work in one of them, and it ain't OSx (IMHO the worst GUI ever afflicted on the naive) or Windows 8.

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.

I had this same windows update error on my brand new HP laptop- when ever I would restart the dang thing it would freeze at 12% updated and then restart itself and attempt it again.  After 3 attempts, the computer finally just restarts without the update (which gives me about 30 minutes of waiting).  Anyway, I tried your solution and it totally fixed the problem!  updated and restarted without any problems (mine lagged at 15% as well, but then finished).  I am not a trained computer person but I can follow directions!  ;)

Thank you for finding the solution and for sharing!!!!!

Thanks this was very helpful