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

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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

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-08-08T11:41:09+00:00

    Asus doesn't give out product keys. "Buying one" is basically the same as buying a new W8.1 license. Sort of feels like a scam.

    See: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2053093 for an example of user struggles with getting a product key from Asus.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-08T11:09:54+00:00

    Hello Wilson,

    Thank you for your response.

    In case, you do not have product key, either you need to buy one or you may get the product key from ASUS.

    Thank you

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-08T10:57:53+00:00

    I tried a clean boot recently. After going through the process with no improvement, I then ran WSUS Offline during the clean boot. Then, after restarting twice normally, I still got the error when checking Windows Update. So then I worked normally for a day or so. After that time, I decided to reboot my computer and found that it did not reboot. I had to revert to a recent restore point.

    I also looked into the idea of downloading 8.1 and installing it from a disk. However, I have a Product ID (20 characters) with my Asus not a Product Key (25 characters) so that doesn't seem to be allowed by Microsoft.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-08-08T05:58:52+00:00

    Hello Alan,

    Thank you for the reply.

    Did you try using suggestions in my response on July 4, 2014?

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

    Thank you

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