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
    2012-11-04T16:46:33+00:00

    Tried these solutions, no luck. Even your tech support doesn't know what's going on. I thought you would have spent a fair amount of time testing 7 to 8 upgrades.

    Any ideas besides scanhealth and restorehealth. I tried uninstalling my AV.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-11-07T05:01:24+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.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-11-07T05:29:15+00:00

    Please see my comment on page 3.  I'm terribly disappointed in Microsoft, on many levels.

    I ran your attempted fix.  It didn't work, but it generated a different error in the subsequent attempt to update.  Instead of 800F081F, I see 8024AFFF.  Whether that means anything... I'll leave it to you.

    I hope that you and/or another Microsoft moderator will return to this thread ASAP.

    It took 8 hours for me to actually download the Windows 8 upgrade.  Since then- except when evacuated during hurricane Sandy- I have had to spend an inordinate amount of time restoring functionality to my computer (despite saving everything during the upgrade).  I'm not at all pleased with the new layout, and I'm very angry that I/we users have to do all the work on behalf of Microsoft in order to make Windows actually work.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-11-08T01:49:31+00:00

    Whoooo...

    I got the Same Problem after Updating from Win7Ultimate x64 to Win8Pro.

    No Win Updates and no Mediacenter Update possible with the Serial.

    Chris

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