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
    2012-12-03T20:13:39+00:00

    I am having issues with this process...Keep getting Error 87 when attempting to remove the files.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-06T19:58:56+00:00

    This worked for me:

    1. Open Computer by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Computer.
    2. Double-click the local hard disk where Windows is installed, typically drive C.
    3. Double-click the Windows folder, and then double-click the SoftwareDistribution folder.
    4. Double-click the DataStore folder to open it, and then delete all files and folders in the folder.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
    5. Click the Back button. In the SoftwareDistribution folder, double-click the Download folder to open it, and then delete all files in the folder.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

    I did uninstall sound drivers and ran a DISM command "dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth" besides that and all the updates were installed successfully,

     I hope it helps

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-12-08T20:59:13+00:00

    Got update from Nvidia for my Grapich Card, it solved my problem right away...and I have had this problem since I updated from Windows 7...

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-12-09T21:20:02+00:00

    Thanks for this.  Don't agree exactly with your mac comment.  Microsoft has way more system configurations to deal with versus the less than a handful from Apple Corp comes out with every year.  Being customizable and diverse has its own unique set of issues.

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