Windows update successfully installs KB2802618 repeatedly

CONCLUSION

Manual repair was NOT successful.  After exhausting MANY MANY routes, including one-by-one installs, found to be down to the Software Protection Service not wanting to start - at all.  This was NOT fixed by a "Refresh" within Windows 8, nor was it fixed by off-line SFC or by DISM /cleanup (when I eventually got it to work).

Solution was to burn a Windows 8 DVD, run Setup, and then run an installation and remove ALL applications, leaving only User Data (second option).

After this, all updates installed correctly, and no software I have installed subsequently has brought the problem back.

Ie - there is NO FIX for my issue of the Software Protection Service failing.

To see if this is your issue too, go:

Start --> type "Services" (or Windows Key + R --> services.msc)

Scroll down to find Software Protection.

It will be stopped.

attempt to start it by double-clicking and clicking Start.

I get an Access Denied error.

I tried a myriad of fixes, over many MANY days, and in the end concluded that the amount of time it was taking me exceeded the amount of time it would take me to copy off all my data to an external HDD and re-install all my applications.

I recommend that you just do to the same.

It's faster than 7, you can get a real start button, and programs not updating has happened since XP days. You can google all issues and find this is something that's always happened. Linux distros suffer from the same issue and OS X has it's share of problems too. So before complaining about something why not CUSTOMIZE your experience to YOUR needs. If you like something KEEP IT (you can always try previews MS has ALWAYS released them).

Also I'd love for people like you to play the price premium for Apple, have it break, and pay more because fewer people know how to fix COMMON problems in that OS. In all honestly Linux would be a better bet for you, at least there you have TONS of user input, but you can't be lazy and just expect the handout like MS and Apple give you.

<Removed>

I regret the day i decided to take on microsoft's offer to upgrade to windows 8 from windows 7 for 30€. Shitty UI, problems with drivers and programs and now can't even update it.. Of course it's kind of my own problem that i don't even have either of the OSs on DVD. You really need to solve these kinds of problems microsoft, otherwise i'll trade all my devices for apples.

Office plays no role in this. I DO NOT have Office installed on the computer I'm trying to upgrade. It's fairly new and went with an OEM version of WIndows 8 after I built it. The computer I upgraded from Windows 7 on has Libre Office and it upgraded with no issues. And the older computer I build 3 years ago that I put an OEM Win8 version on (no office) had no issues (was used as multi different distros of linux prior to Windows).

Only thing I know for a fact is different is that the OS is on a SSD that's not upgrading. Also dual HDD have no factor and will upgrade. The SSD with HDD secondary doesn't update.

I still have my 4th computer I haven't tried upgrading yet (since it got replaced with the new one) that went from Vista upgraded to Win8 it also has dual HDD's though.

Well after one week of waiting i finaly tryed that solution to update my windows to 8.1 ->

http://www.neowin.net/news/here-is-how-to-get-the-windows-81-iso-and-create-a-usb-install-stick

Using that trick and that workaround (with general serial) to install 8.1 is the worst way i never used to upgrade my system. Thank microsoft...

Anyway for the who whant to try, i simply choosed usv stick way and then when the stick with the update is created i have launched setup application. In the menu i choosed to keep all my data and apps and it worked.

After 8.1 installation i activated my copy with purchased windows 8 key that i used before.

Entire process take me about 2 hours.

Cyberium.  Can you say if you had word or office installed before you did this.