Windows 8.1 installation error 0x80004005

Anonymous
2013-10-17T19:35:19+00:00

I tried to update my Win8 Pro via the Win8 Store and it downloaded, proceeded to Applying Changes > Gathering info > Preparing to restart

and than : error 0x80004005; install cancelled.

No explanation why it did not do the restart. I tried it several times because initially I started everything while continuing work in a desktop application. Than I tried it with a restart w/o desktop. Same result.

So I am stuck with Win8 until there is a solution that does not require a clean install where I have to re-install all my software again. No way...

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-11-03T20:04:46+00:00

    Alex is right, it's all about the boot.  The Win 8 install App needs to see a clean boot path back to your Windows 8,0 installation or it throws its toys out the pram. Sometimes the Win 8.0 install Repair/Automatic fix does not work.  Despair not, just reload your Win 8.0 install CD and choose Repair and then the Command Prompt option.  Key in the following:

    c: <

    cd boot <

    bootrec /fixmbr <

    bootrec /fixboot <

    bootrec /rebuild bcd <

    This cannot harm your installation and has always worked for me.

    Harry

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-03T16:47:23+00:00

    Victory!

    Well, I finally got the 8.1 to install (through the store without a complete PC reinstall) and it took no longer than 25 days :). So for all of you using multiboot configurations (with different partitions or even physical disks), just follow the instructions given earlier in this thread, but do not make the mistake I made (see below). To sume up:

    1. Make sure your W8 partition is active.
    2. If you have multiple disks in your PC with other OSes, disconnect all of them from the motherboard except the W8 one.
    3. When your computer does not boot now, be sure to add BCD data to the W8 partition so that you actually boot from the W8 partition. BUT do not use other ways of achieving this (like I did - I used EasyBCD utility to make my W8 disk bootable). You have to insert to the W8 install CD, boot from it and select the automatic fix of startup options.

    4. Put your sunglasses on cos you will see a color tornado at the end of the installation, your entire screen will be changing from green to blue, to red, to pink burning deep holes into your brain (ooh, why do we have to undergo this? I love the decent gray of my Mac.). But your W8.1 update will succeed.

    Alex

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-02T08:15:17+00:00

    Have to wonder when and if the tech press are going to start to read about all these users jammed up?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-01T17:12:23+00:00

    Problem solved - back-up'ed my data and made a clean 8.1 install on a blank partition from the ISO i'd build. Now restoring all my personal data and configure various programs & apps ... nightmare !

    How did you build the ISO?

    I built one as per instructions earlier in this thread - boot 8.9 and cheat to 8.1

    BUT

    even though I used the Key I bought last year for this PC, it acknowledged the code on completion but then refused to take the code when I tried to install 8.1 fresh!!

    Not sure what else to try!

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-11-01T15:26:57+00:00

    Problem solved - back-up'ed my data and made a clean 8.1 install on a blank partition from the ISO i'd build. Now restoring all my personal data and configure various programs & apps ... nightmare !

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