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
    2014-07-15T15:15:39+00:00

    OK I understand now, your original Win 8.0 was an OEM version.  Can you restore an image of your original Win 8.0 OS, do the 8.1 upgrade and then install a Pro 8.1 upgrade with your new key?  If you keep an image of your current OS you can always go back to where you are now if that doesn't work.   Can't think of another way around this - can your laptop support help?

    I actually tried to do this but the version of Win 8 that came with the Sony laptop was from Nov 2012. There were over 190 updates and the updates failed after numerous tries. I could never get to the point of installing 8.1 since it required all windows updates to be applied? I restored my working copy of Win 8 Pro with MC and I'm still looking for a work around to get passed the UEFI problem. Any other suggestions? I really don't want to start from scratch if I don't have to since I have a large number of applications installed and it would take days "literally" to reinstall everything!!! Very frustrating.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-14T22:33:07+00:00

    OK I understand now, your original Win 8.0 was an OEM version.  Can you restore an image of your original Win 8.0 OS, do the 8.1 upgrade and then install a Pro 8.1 upgrade with your new key?  If you keep an image of your current OS you can always go back to where you are now if that doesn't work.   Can't think of another way around this - can your laptop support help?

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-14T21:45:52+00:00

    Frank, I'm not clear why you have a different product key for an upgrade?  If you are just upgrading from Win 8.0 the existing product key should be ok as it is not a new operating system, just  a free upgrade.

    I realize that this is confusing but this is what happened. The laptop came with Windows 8, I upgraded it to Windows 8 Pro and then added the Media Center Upgrade. As a result, the product code for my active system is not the same as the original product code that came pre-loaded on the system (and apparently also resides in the UEFI so that the system can be "RESTORED" to the original operating system if necessary).

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-07-14T19:54:03+00:00

    Frank, I'm not clear why you have a different product key for an upgrade?  If you are just upgrading from Win 8.0 the existing product key should be ok as it is not a new operating system, just  a free upgrade.

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  5. Anonymous
    2014-07-13T20:44:02+00:00

    Has anyone found a solution to this problem? I'm still trying to figure out a way to get the Win 8.1 Upgrade installed but every attempt to do so has failed.  There must be a way to get the Product Code in the UEFI BIOS updated to reflect the fact that a new operating system has been installed and it has a different product key. Anyone out there know how to do this?

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