This error may appear anytime a Windows Update fails. To investigate possible solutions, we need to start with the specific error code. We can do this by viewing your update history. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), and tap or click Settings . Tap or click Change PC settings , and then Update and recovery . Tap or click View your update history . View failed update error code. Please post here with your error code, so that the Community can try to help guide you appropriately.

As promised , I can now update you with this. The issue was raised to 2nd level support who quickly judged that there must be a corrupted file either on the original installation or one of the earlier updates. He concluded that the only answer was to reinstall 8.1, which apparently only for this operating system , can be achieved without affecting either existing applications or data. He did this remotely and it took a couple of hours. After restart, magically, all the updates are in, no problem and the system is working fine. I can understand how you forum techies out there are desperate to establish exactly why this is happening, but for non techies like me, take my advice and pursue Microsoft Support - they came up trumps in the end and it's a lot less painful than attempting to read a 71 page thread !!

I have just had 2 Microsoft support personnel disappear on me saying "thank you for using us " I have just watched this message "couldn't complete the updates" for the 20th time. I use the Microsoft desk because they are able to take over the PC. Frankly I had enough trouble trying to find page 35 of this report, let alone follow the technicals expressed here. I had hoped that in time Microsoft may have found me a simple resolution that i can pass on - perhaps this is pie in the sky !! The real issue is that I have had my new PC for 2 months and it is becoming less secure by the day - so if I don't pursue Microsoft they will probably argue that I have left it too late to solve the problem. How frustrating this all is !

@ Islandboyjd , it is a painful experience but raising these issues directly with Microsoft will hopefully get Microsoft to investigate the root cause of these problems. In the end, Microsoft was not able to determine why I could not install KB2919355 on one of my laptops. After further escalation, they provided me with Windows 8.1 install media which allowed me to do an in-place repair that fixed the software stack (details in my post of June 25/2014 on page 35). If your computer came with Windows 8.1, you should be able to extract the product key and use that key to download installation media from the Microsoft site. Based on Robert's post on March 13/2015 and my response on March 15/2015 on page 62, it should be possible for you to create recovery media even if you only have a Windows 8 key. I have not tried to do an in-place repair using this recovery media nor have I heard of anyone in this forum confirming that the procedure worked for them.

Error: We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer.

Anonymous

This error may appear anytime a Windows Update fails. To investigate possible solutions, we need to start with the specific error code.

We can do this by viewing your update history.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you're using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), and tap or click Settings.
Tap or click Change PC settings, and then Update and recovery.
Tap or click View your update history.

View failed update error code.

Please post here with your error code, so that the Community can try to help guide you appropriately.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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998 answers

Anonymous

2015-05-22T23:53:34+00:00

8.1 error code KB3000850 The error report was "We couldn't complete the updates undoing changes don't turn off your computer". Can anyone advise how to repaid this error code please.
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Anonymous

2015-05-21T20:20:50+00:00

Error code is 0x80070490
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Anonymous

2015-05-21T06:12:15+00:00

As promised , I can now update you with this. The issue was raised to 2nd level support who quickly judged that there must be a corrupted file either on the original installation or one of the earlier updates. He concluded that the only answer was to reinstall 8.1, which apparently only for this operating system , can be achieved without affecting either existing applications or data. He did this remotely and it took a couple of hours. After restart, magically, all the updates are in, no problem and the system is working fine.

I can understand how you forum techies out there are desperate to establish exactly why this is happening, but for non techies like me, take my advice and pursue Microsoft Support - they came up trumps in the end and it's a lot less painful than attempting to read a 71 page thread !!
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-05-19T15:47:16+00:00

I have just had 2 Microsoft support personnel disappear on me saying "thank you for using us "

I have just watched this message "couldn't complete the updates" for the 20th time. I use the Microsoft desk because they are able to take over the PC. Frankly I had enough trouble trying to find page 35 of this report, let alone follow the technicals expressed here. I had hoped that in time Microsoft may have found me a simple resolution that i can pass on - perhaps this is pie in the sky !!

The real issue is that I have had my new PC for 2 months and it is becoming less secure by the day - so if I don't pursue Microsoft they will probably argue that I have left it too late to solve the problem. How frustrating this all is !
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-05-19T14:50:11+00:00

@Islandboyjd, it is a painful experience but raising these issues directly with Microsoft will hopefully get Microsoft to investigate the root cause of these problems. In the end, Microsoft was not able to determine why I could not install KB2919355 on one of my laptops. After further escalation, they provided me with Windows 8.1 install media which allowed me to do an in-place repair that fixed the software stack (details in my post of June 25/2014 on page 35).

If your computer came with Windows 8.1, you should be able to extract the product key and use that key to download installation media from the Microsoft site. Based on Robert's post on March 13/2015 and my response on March 15/2015 on page 62, it should be possible for you to create recovery media even if you only have a Windows 8 key. I have not tried to do an in-place repair using this recovery media nor have I heard of anyone in this forum confirming that the procedure worked for them.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments