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.

Installing updates gets to 30%, restarts and reaches 75% then "We couldn't complete the updates, undoing changes" but no error code. Ok, after spending all day with this finally got it fixed, downloaded the standalone KB2919355 package and made a note of the install order. Changed windows update settings to prevent automatic update as a precaution. Ran "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" (without the quotes) from elevated command prompt, rebooted and ran "sfc/scannow" (again without the quotes) from elevated command prompt and received no errors. Disconnected from the Internet then uninstalled all peripheral drivers, Logitech keyboard and mouse, joysick drivers, Nvidia drivers, soundcard drivers, chipset and usb drivers. Checked all drivers in device manager and uninstalled any that were not Microsoft's own like IDE, HID and network ticking the box to delete driver if available rebooting where necessary. Checked windows update history and made a note of any updates that said "without KB2919355" and uninstalled through Programs and features (could not uninstall KB2961908). Installation instructions state "KB2919442 is a prerequisite for Windows 8.1" but received error "not for your system" so did not install. Installed the standalone KB2919355 package in order and rebooted after each one, the first time installing KB2919355 it got to 30% again then rebooted into windows but in windows update history KB2919355 showed requires reboot, after installing KB2932046 and rebooting KB2919355 showed succeeded. Installed the rest and Installed updated drivers for sound video mouse etc, now receiving proper updates again, phew. You may not need all these steps but better to be safe. Good luck, Reg.

There is no error code because when Windows rebooted after the update failed with the message "We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer" the update history in Windows Update had been deleted. It is empty and says "You have not tried to install any updates for your computer". Which is obviously untrue. I have been trying and failing to install this update for months now (I just haven't had the time to dedicate to figuring out what the problem is). I also tried downloading the updates and installing them individually in order, in accordance with the instructions at this page: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42335 . The first update in the series, KB2919355, failed upon install (it just froze with no progress for an hour). So I cancelled it, and restarted the computer. However, upon reboot, the computer went into an infinite update loop of messages saying "installing updates" followed by "We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer". I finally got it to load windows again just by sheer luck, cutting the power and pressing random buttons. Not the most scientific solution. Any guidance that a layperson could understand would be welcome.

There is no error code because when Windows rebooted after the update failed with the message "We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes. Can you give yourself a Boot menu? C.f. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_update/my-windows-8-not-booting-since-after-an-automatic/5916fc9b-5d5a-4529-a240-44762d03a5ce?page=2#LastReply

No, I couldn't get to the boot menu while it was booting. Pressing F12 didn't do anything.

@ 8jbh1 , it is possible that earlier installs left Windows Update in a corrupted state. In my case (Win 8.1 x64), I did the following before manually trying to install KB2919355. All this may not work. In the end, I had to escalate with Microsoft to get Win 8.1 install media and a new product key, do an in-place repair, prevent Windows Updates from running automatically, installing KB2919442 (the pre-req for KB2919355) and then the standalone version of KB2919355. * disable automatic Windows Updates * from admin prompt: sfc /scannow dism /online /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB2919355~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.3.1.14 * check status of Windows update image dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth * reset Windows Update components http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058 * clean boot ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 )

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

2014-07-19T22:43:55+00:00

Installing updates gets to 30%, restarts and reaches 75% then "We couldn't complete the updates, undoing changes" but no error code.

Ok, after spending all day with this finally got it fixed, downloaded the standalone KB2919355 package and made a note of the install order. Changed windows update settings to prevent automatic update as a precaution. Ran "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" (without the quotes) from elevated command prompt, rebooted and ran "sfc/scannow" (again without the quotes) from elevated command prompt and received no errors.

Disconnected from the Internet then uninstalled all peripheral drivers, Logitech keyboard and mouse, joysick drivers, Nvidia drivers, soundcard drivers, chipset and usb drivers. Checked all drivers in device manager and uninstalled any that were not Microsoft's own like IDE, HID and network ticking the box to delete driver if available rebooting where necessary.

Checked windows update history and made a note of any updates that said "without KB2919355" and uninstalled through Programs and features (could not uninstall KB2961908).

Installation instructions state "KB2919442 is a prerequisite for Windows 8.1" but received error "not for your system" so did not install. Installed the standalone KB2919355 package in order and rebooted after each one, the first time installing KB2919355 it got to 30% again then rebooted into windows but in windows update history KB2919355 showed requires reboot, after installing KB2932046 and rebooting KB2919355 showed succeeded. Installed the rest and Installed updated drivers for sound video mouse etc, now receiving proper updates again, phew.

You may not need all these steps but better to be safe.

Good luck, Reg.
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Anonymous

2014-07-20T15:21:42+00:00

There is no error code because when Windows rebooted after the update failed with the message "We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer" the update history in Windows Update had been deleted. It is empty and says "You have not tried to install any updates for your computer". Which is obviously untrue.

I have been trying and failing to install this update for months now (I just haven't had the time to dedicate to figuring out what the problem is). I also tried downloading the updates and installing them individually in order, in accordance with the instructions at this page: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42335. The first update in the series, KB2919355, failed upon install (it just froze with no progress for an hour). So I cancelled it, and restarted the computer. However, upon reboot, the computer went into an infinite update loop of messages saying "installing updates" followed by "We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer". I finally got it to load windows again just by sheer luck, cutting the power and pressing random buttons. Not the most scientific solution.

Any guidance that a layperson could understand would be welcome.
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Anonymous

2014-07-20T16:06:52+00:00

There is no error code because when Windows rebooted after the update failed with the message "We couldn’t complete the updates, Undoing changes.

Can you give yourself a Boot menu?

C.f.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-windows_update/my-windows-8-not-booting-since-after-an-automatic/5916fc9b-5d5a-4529-a240-44762d03a5ce?page=2#LastReply
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Anonymous

2014-07-20T16:43:41+00:00

No, I couldn't get to the boot menu while it was booting. Pressing F12 didn't do anything.
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Anonymous

2014-07-20T16:43:55+00:00

@8jbh1, it is possible that earlier installs left Windows Update in a corrupted state. In my case (Win 8.1 x64), I did the following before manually trying to install KB2919355. All this may not work. In the end, I had to escalate with Microsoft to get Win 8.1 install media and a new product key, do an in-place repair, prevent Windows Updates from running automatically, installing KB2919442 (the pre-req for KB2919355) and then the standalone version of KB2919355.

* disable automatic Windows Updates

* from admin prompt:

sfc /scannow

dism /online /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB2919355~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.3.1.14

* check status of Windows update image

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

* reset Windows Update components

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

* clean boot (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135)
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