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.

I followed these steps however, when I go to view update history, it shows NEVER on the update history. So, how do I correct this and, is it an 8.1 issue? Maybe I should go back to Windows 8 where everything worked? Tony Ciavarra

Running Windows 8.1 on a 1.5-year-old 64-bit desktop with 8GB of RAM (plenty). For the last 6 months it has been attempting to install Windows updates, rebooting, getting to the 99% complete stage during the purple post-reboot screen, then saying "Unable to complete updates" and rolling them all back - taking up to 8 hours to do so, during which my system is unusable. When this happens, it wipes out the update history, so I can't find an error code to use in diagnosing the resolving the problem. It says I've never attempted any updates! I've been waiting eagerly for Windows 10 hoping it would solve my problem, but now I can't apply the Windows 8.1 Update that is supposed to be my migration path to Windows 10. Is it possible to upgrade directly to Windows 10? If not, how can I get this damn 8.1 Update to install when it not only won't tell me what failed, but tells me I never even tried to apply it?

It will not be better in Windows 10 - the update-problems continues... And you may have read all about other problems with the Windows 10. Are there many updates, you can't install? Then Try this In Windows Update Click on Change settings - set it to "check for updates but let me choose wether to download and install them" Unmark them all Take them in smaller groups - e.g. 4 - 5 updates, the smallest of them, get them installed, restart and go for the next 4 - 5 updates, again the smallest of them, and so on, until there isn't anymore updates to get

Thanks, Micael, though I hadn't read about the Windows 10 problems. But Windows 8.1 gave my nice, powerful desktop such a lobotomy that I figure even new, 10 can't be worse. Our review in the San Jose Mercury News said that anyone with Windows 8 / 8.1 should go ahead and upgrade. I actually tried that. I installed two smaller updates, which both succeeded, and the only one left was the big 8.1 Update. That not only failed - it rolled back the smaller updates as well! :-( Bob

This is the only thing that has worked so far. Take each update as small "chunks" and install / restart with each and everyone. I am using a wireless network so that may be an issue too I am going to connect via cable and see if it will do a better job. The one update I am still not able to download is KB3000850 which is approx. 720+MB and it shows the same error of "unable to install......" "undoing changes....." (tired of typing the MS language that I have seen everyday for months when I try to update this software.) I am not even sure that the windows 10 will load properly, which is now ready for install" because of my experience with 8.1 I am disgusted with the operating system. It has lots of issues that were not present in ,7, XP, Vista and so forth. MS keeps trying to release OP systems and is doing a poor job of fixing what they already have. Solutions are to change registry entries...run code etc. I don't want to program the operating system I want to use the computer to speed up chores that I purchased the computer for.

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

2015-08-08T14:33:42+00:00

I followed these steps however, when I go to view update history, it shows NEVER on the update history. So, how do I correct this and, is it an 8.1 issue? Maybe I should go back to Windows 8 where everything worked?

Tony Ciavarra
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Anonymous

2015-08-08T17:42:36+00:00

Running Windows 8.1 on a 1.5-year-old 64-bit desktop with 8GB of RAM (plenty). For the last 6 months it has been attempting to install Windows updates, rebooting, getting to the 99% complete stage during the purple post-reboot screen, then saying "Unable to complete updates" and rolling them all back - taking up to 8 hours to do so, during which my system is unusable.

When this happens, it wipes out the update history, so I can't find an error code to use in diagnosing the resolving the problem. It says I've never attempted any updates!

I've been waiting eagerly for Windows 10 hoping it would solve my problem, but now I can't apply the Windows 8.1 Update that is supposed to be my migration path to Windows 10.

Is it possible to upgrade directly to Windows 10? If not, how can I get this damn 8.1 Update to install when it not only won't tell me what failed, but tells me I never even tried to apply it?
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Anonymous

2015-08-08T18:14:56+00:00

It will not be better in Windows 10 - the update-problems continues... And you may have read all about other problems with the Windows 10.

Are there many updates, you can't install? Then Try this

In Windows Update

Click on Change settings - set it to "check for updates but let me choose wether to download and install them"

Unmark them all

Take them in smaller groups - e.g. 4 - 5 updates, the smallest of them, get them installed, restart and go for the next 4 - 5 updates, again the smallest of them, and so on, until there isn't anymore updates to get
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2015-08-09T00:20:45+00:00

Thanks, Micael, though I hadn't read about the Windows 10 problems. But Windows 8.1 gave my nice, powerful desktop such a lobotomy that I figure even new, 10 can't be worse. Our review in the San Jose Mercury News said that anyone with Windows 8 / 8.1 should go ahead and upgrade.

I actually tried that. I installed two smaller updates, which both succeeded, and the only one left was the big 8.1 Update. That not only failed - it rolled back the smaller updates as well! :-(

Bob
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-08-09T11:47:48+00:00

This is the only thing that has worked so far. Take each update as small "chunks" and install / restart with each and everyone. I am using a wireless network so that may be an issue too I am going to connect via cable and see if it will do a better job. The one update I am still not able to download is KB3000850 which is approx. 720+MB and it shows the same error of "unable to install......" "undoing changes....." (tired of typing the MS language that I have seen everyday for months when I try to update this software.) I am not even sure that the windows 10 will load properly, which is now ready for install" because of my experience with 8.1 I am disgusted with the operating system. It has lots of issues that were not present in ,7, XP, Vista and so forth. MS keeps trying to release OP systems and is doing a poor job of fixing what they already have. Solutions are to change registry entries...run code etc. I don't want to program the operating system I want to use the computer to speed up chores that I purchased the computer for.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments