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'm getting this error as well. But my computer won't go off the error screen even after I broke down and did a hard reboot. Please help! I'm leaving for grad school in 3 weeks!

Rather than wasting more time on it, the only thing that worked for me on my machine with the problem, was to do a re-install. You need to start with Windows 8, go through the update process, then upgrade to 8.1. Be sure you have your security keys for both Windows 8, and 8.1. First back up all important files to external media. I know it su#ks, but it was the only thin g that worked for me.

But my computer came with 8.1 already installed. Can I do that?

I'm sure you can - as long as you have your product key. That does S#ck that this happened to you. A computer that started with 8.1, should allow seamless updates! I would start from here. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads

But I'm still stuck on the error screen. I can't even boot up into windows! Arg....

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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Anonymous

2014-08-03T15:21:08+00:00

I'm getting this error as well. But my computer won't go off the error screen even after I broke down and did a hard reboot. Please help! I'm leaving for grad school in 3 weeks!
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Anonymous

2014-08-03T15:38:20+00:00

Rather than wasting more time on it, the only thing that worked for me on my machine with the problem, was to do a re-install.

You need to start with Windows 8, go through the update process, then upgrade to 8.1.

Be sure you have your security keys for both Windows 8, and 8.1. First back up all important files to external media.

I know it su#ks, but it was the only thin g that worked for me.
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Anonymous

2014-08-03T15:48:11+00:00

But my computer came with 8.1 already installed. Can I do that?
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Anonymous

2014-08-03T16:41:32+00:00

I'm sure you can - as long as you have your product key.

That does S#ck that this happened to you. A computer that started with 8.1, should allow seamless updates!

I would start from here.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads
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Anonymous

2014-08-03T16:52:32+00:00

But I'm still stuck on the error screen. I can't even boot up into windows! Arg....
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