Issue with installing updates on Windows 8.1.

Hi Robert

I tried PowerShell (with admin privileges) as you specified but just got an error. So I tried just 'Get-WindowsPackage -Online' and got the same error:

An attempt was made to load a program with an incorrect format.

at line:1 char:1

with Get-WindowsPackage -Online underlined

I have no idea what the implications of this might be.

the ‘staged’ installation of KB2929355 has been superseded by a failed installation.

Did your list of installed packages change too?  I think you can use Powershell in the Command only boot.

So I tried booting from my Win 8 recovery disk. It says the drive where windows is installed is locked. But dropping to a command prompt reveals that the drives have all been remapped! The SSD normal boot disk is E: and my old system disk is C: (which now only has data on it). There doesn’t seem to be any way I can tell recovery to look at E: to refresh it.

I don't think you have to worry about the letters.  That seems to be normal, especially when you are booting from a different drive.   I don't think it is normal for the install drive to be locked though.  I imagine that  diskpart  has a way of "unlocking" it but I'm not sure of the details.  Please don't do anything drastic.  I had one user misinterpret my suggestion to use diskpart as a diagnostic to somehow cause it to format the drive.

Hi John

Thanks for the top, but I've already tried that.

Here's an update and my latest problems:

Rebooted this morning to find that I was right – the ‘staged’ installation of KB2929355 has been superseded by a failed installation.

Update history:

The update diagnostic/troubleshooter reports the same problem:

Proxy :    Direct access (no proxy server).

Last Installed Update :Windows 8.1 Update for x64-based Systems (KB2919355),05/28/2014 12:05:31

Last Displayed Message :2014-05-29  08:24:20:413      1132  154c  AU    WARNING: Failed to get Wu Exemption info from NLM, assuming not exempt, error = 0x80070032

Language settings :en-US

bits : Stopped

wuauserv : Running

WORKGROUP :WORKGROUP

Windows Update Agent Version :7.9.9600.16384

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro SP: 0

CPU Type : x64

OS Architecture :64-bit

So I tried booting from my Win 8 recovery disk. It says the drive where windows is installed is locked. But dropping to a command prompt reveals that the drives have all been remapped! The SSD normal boot disk is E: and my old system disk is C: (which now only has data on it). There doesn’t seem to be any way I can tell recovery to look at E: to refresh it.

Hi,

Sorry for inconvenience caused, since you have tried all the troubleshooting steps. You can try refreshing the PC and check. You can refresh your PC without deleting any of your personal files or changing your settings.

How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

Refresh PC disclaimer:

The apps that came with your PC or you installed from Windows Store will be reinstalled, but any apps you installed from other websites and DVDs will be removed. You'll find a list of the removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.

Hope this helps.

However, DISM /online /get-packages says KB2919355 is ‘staged’ (whatever that means):

693.3 MB

I suspect it means that you don't have at least one of the other feature-updates that -355 brings with it or perhaps an update to one...  

I just did this query and noticed that they are all in your list but perhaps your versions for the first two aren't as high as mine?

I'm not sure where I would have to go to check on their size in order to test my hypothesis further from my end.

In case it would help to compare non-zero versions see mine, in particular I suspect the one for -355: