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.

@ VictorVierra , having spent over 50 hours last year resolving major Windows Update issues on Windows 8.1, I can sympathize. Due to unforeseen issues, there will always be some of us who run into issues with any operating system. Many people have had success contacting Microsoft Technical Support although the process can be frustrating and may involve a repair/refresh of Windows 8/8.1. You can download Windows 8.1 installation media yourself from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8 which should also work on systems that were upgraded from Windows 8 and therefore lack a Windows 8.1 product key (see FAQ, fourth entry from the bottom). Whenever doing major changes like this, a full system backup is a good idea.

@BobNusbaum, you can download Windows 10 from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 . I had major issues with Windows 8.1 updates on one laptop. Doing a repair/refresh using installation media corrected the corruption of the software stack - I have had no Windows Update issues since then. I would assume that the Windows 10 upgrade would also correct underlying software stack issues. As to Windows 10 reliability, I am holding off for a few weeks until the dust settles and I can free up some time.

Hide the KB3000850 and stay on Windows 8.1 - you can't do it this way in Windows 10, where the updates are forced.

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 Take the smallest again-again. And hide the big problem-update... Remember, you can't do it this way in Windows 10! Is it the KB3000850, you can't install? What don't you like in Windows 8.1? You can get it to start up to the desktop, and also change, when pointing to the upper-right corner, so the charms don't appear every time, you close a program or app.

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

2015-08-09T14:04:54+00:00

@VictorVierra, having spent over 50 hours last year resolving major Windows Update issues on Windows 8.1, I can sympathize. Due to unforeseen issues, there will always be some of us who run into issues with any operating system. Many people have had success contacting Microsoft Technical Support although the process can be frustrating and may involve a repair/refresh of Windows 8/8.1. You can download Windows 8.1 installation media yourself from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8 which should also work on systems that were upgraded from Windows 8 and therefore lack a Windows 8.1 product key (see FAQ, fourth entry from the bottom). Whenever doing major changes like this, a full system backup is a good idea.
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Anonymous

2015-08-09T13:52:36+00:00

@BobNusbaum, you can download Windows 10 from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10. I had major issues with Windows 8.1 updates on one laptop. Doing a repair/refresh using installation media corrected the corruption of the software stack - I have had no Windows Update issues since then. I would assume that the Windows 10 upgrade would also correct underlying software stack issues. As to Windows 10 reliability, I am holding off for a few weeks until the dust settles and I can free up some time.
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2015-08-09T13:00:14+00:00

Hide the KB3000850 and stay on Windows 8.1 - you can't do it this way in Windows 10, where the updates are forced.
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Anonymous

2015-08-09T12:57:17+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

Take the smallest again-again. And hide the big problem-update... Remember, you can't do it this way in Windows 10!

Is it the KB3000850, you can't install?

What don't you like in Windows 8.1?

You can get it to start up to the desktop, and also change, when pointing to the upper-right corner, so the charms don't appear every time, you close a program or app.
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