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

I cannot download and install updates. I always get the same message about undoing changes. I have tried all the suggestions short of dumping Windows 8.1 and re-loading. I fear doing that as I am not sure what I would lose. I have no disc (so I can't reload it with a disc like all the instructions say). My laptop came with Windows 8 and I downloaded 8.1 off the Microsoft website,. If I had to g o back to the hated 8, with no start menu and no way to get to places I need to go, I would throw in the towel, sell the damn thing and buy an expensive Apple... At least they have support when you need it. 

Nothing works. Yes, I have tried the windows update troubleshooter, but EVERY time I employ the update troubleshooter, it says it has fixed errors, but every time I try to download updates, it gets permanently stuck. When I re-start, I always get the message that updates could not be completed and changes are being undone. The most recent codes are KB3021953 for the failure to install security updates. It's bizarre and it would seem self-defeating for Microsoft to sell you a product and then block you from any kind of technical support. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

It's bizarre and it would seem self-defeating for Microsoft to sell you a product and then block you from any kind of technical support.

They offer paid support which apparently works.  Free support, such as in here, means that you have to do some work on your own.

Here's an example of a user who is doing that.  We seem to be getting somewhere slowly.   ; )

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/ie11-windows_7/internet-explorer-11-will-not-work-at-all/30e0ecbb-869b-4485-b6d0-8a1482c7bf7d?page=3#LastReply

It's Windows 7 but same concepts in W8.1.  In fact, you have better tools in W8.1. so it should be easier to do it.

Robert,

I understand there is paid support, but for Microsoft to sell a defective product, then charge you to try to fix it is bad business. The product should work at least for a while -- and sellers other than Microsoft understand this by offering recalls, free support for a limited time, warranties, etc. I thus find your apology for the practice to be even more bizarre. The sheer length of this thread is strong testimony for the fact that many, many customers have this same issue. We can't all have viruses that cause the same issue.  In reaction to analogous abusive practices by sellers of other products, most states adopted "lemon laws" for cars and certain other products, as well as deceptive trade practices laws for goods and services generally. Should Microsoft continue to refuse to provide fixes for products that were defective from the start, then consumers will band together in "mass action" (which are distinct from class actions and thus have not been curtailed by Big Money paying off politicians and judges). In a mass action, nobody purports to represent a class of people; each individual signs up to join with others -- each in their own name -- and there is great strength in numbers. Perhaps a few of those suits around the country would persuade Microsoft that selling a defective product, then extorting money from customers just to make it work in the first place, is not smart business after all.

Robert,

I understand there is paid support, but for Microsoft to sell a defective product, then charge you to try to fix it is bad business. 

@showmethefacts,  there can be many reasons why updates cannot be installed.  Having been affected by the KB2919355 problem I suspect there is/was an underlying issue with how Microsoft is applying updates but at this point there is not enough information to determine if that is true in your case.  KB3021953 is the fix you are trying to sintall - what error code is associated with this update?  Are there other updates that are not installing and what are the errors?  Sometimes it is better to get the list of updates that are failing, disable automatic updating, researching the updates to identify any pre-reqs and then installing the updates one by one after a clean boot and disabling antivirus/firewall software.

Various forms of system corruption can be resolved by running sfc /scannow from an Admin prompt.  The software distribution stack can sometimes be repaired by running Dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth and Dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth from an Admin prompt.

If you cannot resolve the problem, then I would suggest contacting Microsoft Support and ask to have the charges waived since you are having trouble installing a Security Update.

In my case, nothing worked and I had to perform a Windows 8.1 repair using Windows 8.1 install media.  Unfortunately, you cannot download the Windows 8.1 install media from Microsoft because you only have a Windows 8 product key.  I managed to escalate high enough that Microsoft shipped me a Windows 8.1 install DVD with a new product key.  It was worth the hours on the phone to avoid having to rebuild the system from scratch.

I appreciate the detailed response, but when I tried the sfc/scannow process, I got a message saying another service or operation was running and to try later. No other service or repair operation was running, so I Googled that and found suggestions -- but those were blocked too. I was advised to try using the Computer Management tool to disable whatever was running -- but the thing I would have needed to clieck was dimmed and not lit up, so it was unclickable... Blacked, then bloacked again. When I try Microsoft support for Windows, I get a message that says 

Sorry, the page you requested is not available.

The page you were looking for is currently not available. The address may not be correct, or there may be a temporary problem with this site. Please try one of the following options:

So it is the perfect Catch 22. I can't fix it myself with all the resources offered here and I cannot contact Microsoft t hear the sales pitch on why I should pay to fix something that never worked right to begin with. Truly atrocious service.   This is reminiscent of what borrowers went through trying to contact their mortgage bank...  Too Big To Fail, Too Big to Care.