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.

For two days now I have been living a nightmare with my Windows PC. It came with Windows 8 preinstalled; I upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro. When I tried to access the cloud drive a message said that I must first update Windows. When I tried to do this the PC took several hours and ended saying: "Failure configuring Windows updates. Undoing changes." This message remained all night and did not disappear in the morning. I cannot follow any of the suggestions that Microsoft makes because for all practical purposes my PC is dead. I note from the forum that I am not alone in experiencing this problem. I tried the chat line but after a long wait nobody came. The I tried phoning but did not get anywhere because the person I talked to kept diagnosing the problem as being unable to upgrade Windows 8 to Windiws 8.1 and no amount of explanation would clarify the mistake. Eventually the phone connection dropped (not the first time with Microsoft). I have been using Windiws since DOS 6.22 and Windows for workgroups 3.11 but now I seem to be stuck with a non-functioning PC and my best option seems to be to ditch this awful version of a once wonderful OS and look at alternatives (an Apple Mac comes to mind). To say that I am disappointed doesn't begin to describe the frustration I feel and I find it hard to believe that this is the same company that Bill Gates built. Microsoft please note: PCs are not toys and are too expensive to discard just because of problems with the OS that the creators are not competent to solve. Joseph Hamwee London W9 UK

hi i have same problem with updates

I finally got mine to install by starting over and doing a refresh. The refresh worked, took awhile because I had to go back to Windows 8, then update everything then move to 8.1 from the store and update and then the windows 8.1 update installed with no issues.

I hate to say this but, for most people with this issue this is going to be the only option. It isn't that I necessary agree with the way this has panned out, it just that is the way it is at the moment. Hope this helps and if you need further assistance post and we will be glad to Help you. The above opinion is mine and mine alone and doesn't necessarily reflect that of Microsoft, it's employees, or any other member of this forum. "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." -John Muir

I finally got mine to install by starting over and doing a refresh. The refresh worked, took awhile because I had to go back to Windows 8, then update everything then move to 8.1 from the store and update and then the windows 8.1 update installed with no issues. I'm not doing that. I have 60 field PCs to support and calling MSFT is no help; been there, done that. We have downgraded to Win7. If MSFT doesn't fix this, make it easy, then we will skip Win8. Win7 is good for several years.

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

2014-06-13T14:34:43+00:00

For two days now I have been living a nightmare with my Windows PC. It came with Windows 8 preinstalled; I upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro. When I tried to access the cloud drive a message said that I must first update Windows. When I tried to do this the PC took several hours and ended saying: "Failure configuring Windows updates. Undoing changes." This message remained all night and did not disappear in the morning. I cannot follow any of the suggestions that Microsoft makes because for all practical purposes my PC is dead. I note from the forum that I am not alone in experiencing this problem. I tried the chat line but after a long wait nobody came. The I tried phoning but did not get anywhere because the person I talked to kept diagnosing the problem as being unable to upgrade Windows 8 to Windiws 8.1 and no amount of explanation would clarify the mistake. Eventually the phone connection dropped (not the first time with Microsoft).

I have been using Windiws since DOS 6.22 and Windows for workgroups 3.11 but now I seem to be stuck with a non-functioning PC and my best option seems to be to ditch this awful version of a once wonderful OS and look at alternatives (an Apple Mac comes to mind).

To say that I am disappointed doesn't begin to describe the frustration I feel and I find it hard to believe that this is the same company that Bill Gates built.

Microsoft please note: PCs are not toys and are too expensive to discard just because of problems with the OS that the creators are not competent to solve.

Joseph Hamwee

London W9 UK
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Anonymous

2014-06-13T16:06:31+00:00

hi i have same problem with updates
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Anonymous

2014-06-13T16:41:37+00:00

I finally got mine to install by starting over and doing a refresh.

The refresh worked, took awhile because I had to go back to Windows 8, then update everything then move to 8.1 from the store and update and then the windows 8.1 update installed with no issues.
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2014-06-13T16:50:58+00:00

I hate to say this but, for most people with this issue this is going to be the only option. It isn't that I necessary agree with the way this has panned out, it just that is the way it is at the moment. Hope this helps and if you need further assistance post and we will be glad to Help you.

The above opinion is mine and mine alone and doesn't necessarily reflect that of Microsoft, it's employees, or any other member of this forum.

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." -John Muir
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2014-06-13T17:01:20+00:00

I finally got mine to install by starting over and doing a refresh.

The refresh worked, took awhile because I had to go back to Windows 8, then update everything then move to 8.1 from the store and update and then the windows 8.1 update installed with no issues.

I'm not doing that. I have 60 field PCs to support and calling MSFT is no help; been there, done that. We have downgraded to Win7. If MSFT doesn't fix this, make it easy, then we will skip Win8. Win7 is good for several years.
Was this answer helpful?

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