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
    2014-05-01T04:15:58+00:00

    No luck. Both Dell and Microsoft couldn't remedy and suggested i wipe and reinstall (again!).

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-05-01T17:46:40+00:00

    To all watching this error.  I had the same issue for the last two months.  

    Suddenly as of yesterday, the updates started working again.  I had been using WSUS but now I'm pulling through the update channel.

    I've changed NOTHING on my system.  Just suddenly working again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-01T21:11:01+00:00

    Hi andy,

    This looks to me to be a problem with a couple of services failing, so could you please do the following:

    1. Right click a blank part of the Taskbar and go to Task Manager.
    2. Next, click the Services tab and then click the link at the bottom called "Open Services".
    3. Near the top of the list,  double click "Background Intelligent Transfer Service". It should look like you see it in the first screenshot.
    4. If it says Stopped, that's where the problem lies. Click the Close button and go to step 5.
    5. Next, hit the letter W to take you to all the services which start with that letter (saves all that scrolling) and double click "Windows Update". This should look like you see it in the second screenshot.
    6. Next, click the Close button and then exit the Services console.
    7. Next, right click the Start button and go to "Command Prompt (Admin)".
    8. Type (or copy/paste from here) net start bits and hit Enter. This will start the Background Intelligent Transfer Service a.k.a. BITS..
    9. Next, using the same elevated command prompt which you have open, type or copy/paste: net start wuauserv and hit Enter. I'm assuming that's listed as being "Stopped" as well.
    10. Close the command prompt and then hit Windows key + R to open the Run command.
    11. Type: services.msc and click OK to take you to the Services console again. Confirm that both BITS and Windows Update are now showing as "Running". Provided they are, you should now be able to download from the Windows Update site.

    Let me know how you get on please.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-05-13T18:42:27+00:00

    I also had the 80244FFF error and now have the 80240442 error.  I spent at least 5 hours with T1-T3 Microsoft support remotely connecting to my machine and trying things (which appeared to only burn out one of my SSDs).  I changed my system drive and bought a larger SSD.  It had been fine after a reinstall on the new drive, but today I started getting the 80240442 error on that machine when I try to check for updates.  Xircal, those services are running, and restarting them doesn't fix anything for me.  I had tried every "solution" to the issue before when I had the old error code, but nothing worked, except a reinstall, which just pushes the issue back a couple months..

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