Windows 8 updates won't install

This is a generalized post rather than a reply.  I'm sitting here going through hundreds of windows update because my system crashed while doing a Windows update that knocked out restore functionality and refresh but also reinstall from standard boot. It also caused some problems getting safe mode to start and after solving that made restore function fail but managed to do a refresh install that still left my system funny but able to update but it was bad enough I did a full reinstall of the os. Basically consider I tried a load of these solutions in different forms without success to gain good function from my system.  The reason I'm posting is just to share a tip I've found to be really helpful through this last three day troubleshooting experience. I'm fortunate to be using two monitors on this three year old laptop while being able to search online for tips on a tablet. That's a tip on it's own but the real helpful suggestion I have saves you the headache of wondering if the update process is stalling or it's just really, really,  really really real realllllllllllly slow. Here it is: using a combination of task manager and it's resource monitor, open hardware monitor, and performance monitor (opn hdwr montr is a download btw, also I spread these out on my second monitor) you can actually watch your computer at least doing something real in a semi-realtime setting. What I've learned is that if you can see that your system is doing a bunch of hdd writes, cpu spikes, some ram fluctuations, and seldom network actions, just wait the damn slow garbage out, especially because it seems every time you stop the dl-install process it gets worse. Even the "check for updates" is huge hdd activity and almost zero network activity. I look at it like a flaw but it at least works. Remember this,  windows is notorious for having progress monitor issues.  I've concluded it just RARELY shows you it has done anything. I've seen it in real time. My best understanding is the update process is very different than a simple dl install and poof it's done. My observations lead me to conclude it is a scan- send report- host computer understand and generate proper reply- send- receive- understand -read/write on your drive- generate report- send -repeat repeat repeat,  yes for hours. It's much like,  and is subject to- through the pipeline, the routines of data transmission: throughput, handshake, loop back,  verify data received correctly process. Remember this too, it's hard to or impossible to tell how many of the quirks of your system are interrupting this process as well as all the computers from you to the files you need. Fortunately this is a fresh install with diligence paid to the system setup and removal of oem junk long before I connect to the Internet and then more tweaking before even going to any type of update. So far the windows update process has gone smoothly, but we all know how slow it is even when it works. 

Enjoy watching your system work. Having the programs open does slow it down....

Enjoy

I reset my PC.

I know theirs new updates because my PC is so different now. like its the old updates. i click check for updates but that bar just keeps going. never stops. so if they wont get detected i cant update.

I am tired of having to refresh evertime I need to update. Please fix this!

I have been having same problem. Called Microsoft today and talked to two different techs they remotely controlled my computer and ran a couple scans they said it would cost me around $200.00 for a one year contract with them and they could fix it right that old them I could add a little more to that and buy brand new laptop , they never once suggested anything for me to try and help. What phone number do any of you use when contacting Microsoft for support?

I have been having an ongoing problem with Windows 8.1 64-bit updates. I am no longer afforded the option of simply rebooting or shutting down. Windows *insists* I install updates (which always take 'forever' and always fail to install). After installing updates, I get a message that Windows was unable to update and is undoing the updates (which repeats the uninstall process 2 or 3 times) before rebooting often taking up to an hour to uninstall whatever it is I didn't want in the first place. The on the next shutdown, even if I simply hard shut down (holding the power button in until computer shuts off), it *still* tries and fails to install the same updates as before. How do I stop this insanity?