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
    2014-08-08T15:44:57+00:00

    As of now, Windows Update seems to be working. I just now ran it and it completed with no errors. I'm not sure why, but I hope it will keep working now.

    No, I had not tried the clean boot you mention, but if Windows Update breaks again, I'll try it.

    Thanks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-08T14:23:32+00:00

    Did you try reinstalling updates after restoring Windows? Did you also try to contact any local tech hop?

    I understand that buying another key is not possible for you. 

    No, I did not restore windows because I haven't been able to obtain the proper key. So therefore I was not able to reinstall updates after restoring Windows. However, as I mentioned previously, in the year since I have owned this computer, I have reinstalled Windows and all my software twice.

    I have not hired a local tech shop to work on this. Is that something Microsoft will pay for?

    Edit: I just obtained a "product key" from my BIOS using Belarc. However, Microsoft rejected the product key obtained in that way. Belarc also obtained my "product id" which did match the 20-digit product id I can view in the normal way, so it seems to be parsing my computer correctly. Perhaps when Asus reinstalled my Windows system, they did something to the "product key" that invalidated it? I don't understand this stuff ...

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-08T12:25:29+00:00

    Hello Wilson,

    Thank you for the reply.

    Did you try reinstalling updates after restoring Windows? Did you also try to contact any local tech shop?

    I understand that buying another key is not possible for you.

    Please reply with required information.

    Thank you

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  4. 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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