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
    2014-08-03T00:25:02+00:00

    This fix worked for me.

    I set up and enabled the proxy in IE and ran Windows Update with no problems. It found the updates and I was able to install them.

    Then I disabled the proxy so my internet connection would work again and, Windows Update stopped working again. Same error code as before.

    So, until Microsoft fixes this issue, each time I want to update, I'll have to enable the proxy and run Windows Update manually. The good news is that IE remembers the proxy settings, so all you have to do is enable the proxy.

    I can live with this for a while, but I'd rather not. Microsoft, get this fixed!

    Alan

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-02T22:08:04+00:00

    Hi,

    I have tried all of the suggestions indicated in this discussion and all have failed.  Today I tried the WSUS offline definition update and got the following:

      It did not help either.  

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-16T01:47:20+00:00

    hi mr pen pen,  i have been suffering with this problem for three months and none of the tips, fixes, and just blah blah has helped. i installed the updates, via a microsoft web page. but alas no fix on updates.

    can you please help me understand how to use the WSUS-Offline updates?

    thanks

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  4. 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.

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