Problem checking for updates - Code 80240442 - Windows Update ran into a problem

Anonymous
2014-04-08T19:18:08+00:00

Just updated to 8.1 update 1 manually hoping that it would clear an issue I'm having with Windows update, but to no avail.  (Oh - and the error message before the Win8.1 Update 1 was 80244FFF.  I think it's the same issue, just a new number.)

I've not been able to connect to Windows Update for over a month, and nothing I've tried has managed to reset it. 

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2014-08-13T22:37:43+00:00

bizarre, my update is working after months of failure. i am not joking. BUT only automatically. if i try to check for updates manually i receive the same error code and no updates

AND i believe i have the solution for all of these problems...

i needed to restart my modem. as soon as it had restarted, automatic updates worked. i think all who are suffering from this problem should at least give this a try. just unplug your modem, wait 30 seconds then re-plug in your modem or push the restart button. it is worth a try. 

paz from mexico

Was this answer helpful?

4 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

129 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-16T01:37:34+00:00

    Exactly the same as "Z Baird" above, tried every new suggestion in this and other posts to fix the dreaded 80244FFF -> 80240442 error with zero success (including different ISPs & connection types), applied my usual WSUS-Offline updates yesterday and now Windows Updates works again. 

    I hope this is a wider fix for others as well, best of luck.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-15T17:32:50+00:00

    I hate to say it, but sometime last week Windows Update suddenly started working for me. I have been dealing with the 80240442 error (which was the 80244FFF error before the 8.1 Update 1) since sometime last November. Ever since updating to Windows 8.1. 9 months! And suddenly it started working. I've seen others report this over the last few  months and always had my doubts. I don't see how this could just start working after it hadn't for so long. But now it happened to me. If something changed on my system that caused it to start working I unfortunately can't pin-point what changed. I hadn't checked for updates in over a month. I had been applying Windows Updates the last 9 months by using the Internet Explorer - LAN Settings temporary workaround, which knocks you off-line and had become a nuisance that I'd recently been putting off longer and longer.

    Maybe it was a third party program I removed, or a graphics card driver I updated. Maybe it was a Microsoft Security Essentials update I applied, which when done directly through MSE/Windows Defender worked. Maybe it was a change made by my ISP or their DNS.

    After 9 months I really I wish I knew what the fix was. If I discover anything or the problem comes back I'll update this thread.

    Good luck to those of you still dealing with this.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-15T08:57:25+00:00

    Hello Andy,

    Thank you for your response.

    Did you try using my response on June 4, 2014?

    Please try those suggestions and reply with results. We will be glad to assist you further.

    Thank you

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-07-13T14:02:54+00:00

    Followed those instructions... No joy.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments