Issue with installing updates on Windows 8.1.

 So I’m left looking at a reformat and reinstall of Win 8 and all my apps, favourites etc etc.

Given such an extreme action you could try taking some risks first instead.  For example, here is a poster who claims it should not be needed, provided you have access to the ISO and he explains how to do that supposedly legally too.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_update/error-0x80073712-when-installing-kb-2919355/c5a08cdf-6e41-4b67-b2ae-68f542070840?page=3&msgId=0728be00-0cfe-4780-b1ac-ef4c4de0961a

That one at least has the benefit of not resorting to /Resetbase  although that is definitely a controversial subject when it comes to these scripts.

I just wish we had more comprehensive (complete) diagnostics.  To maximize what we are given I use ProcMon filtering on Operation Is WriteFile.

Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle

Can you really qualify the thousands statement.

Also you said that they offer little or no support for you.  Perhaps you are unaware that Microsoft offers absolutely completely free, dedicated personal assistance for issues related to updates.  You can go to http://microsoft.com/support to chat or talk on the phone -- again completely free for update issues.  This isn't just for business customers, it's for anyone on the planet that needs help with updates.

Hi Shawn

Thanks for your reply.

While I understand the complexities involved (I work in IT as a developer) it seems I am far from alone in having problems with this update.

My main gripe is that MS has had years of practice (with hundreds of programmers) at this sort of thing but still gets it wrong and offers little support to those with problems like mine. And I’ve now wasted hours just trying to do what should be a simple, unattended process.

As to your recommendations, yes I’ve tried the troubleshooter and no, it made no difference.

I’ve tried the advice at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058/en-us (which tells you to re-register several components that don’t exist in Windows 8, like msxml.dll!).

I’ve tried booting from the recovery disk but it tells me the system drive is locked.

I have tried running sfc (as admin) but unless I disable UAC it refuses to run.

I’ve also tried re-installing Win 8 from my install disk but it tells me there’s not enough disk space – on a 256GB SSD.

I wouldn’t mind but this is a brand-new PC with i7 processor, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD, not some old piece of kit that I’m pushing too hard.

I would happily go back to Win 8 and wait for 8.2 but I can’t. So I’m left looking at a reformat and reinstall of Win 8 and all my apps, favourites etc etc. I have better things to do with my time than pick up the pieces of this abject failure.

So, in my book, because it doesn’t work on my PC - and thousands of others - it is broken.

Don't jump to generalizations.  Just because it doesn't work on your computer doesn't mean it's broken.  There's billions of people using Windows, and they have trillions of combinations of hardware, processors, installed programs and changes.

For what it's worth, I have no issues on my 4 computers, my family (7 more computers) or the fleet of 100 computers using Windows 8.1 at my company, so there's a good 111 computers without issues :)

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As for having an issue, let's see if we can fix it.  The first thing I would try is this Windows Update built-in troubleshooter diagnostic that will try to correct the problem for you.  You can find it in Control Panel, which is easily accessed by right-clicking the Start button.