KB2919355 (Windows 8.1 Update) Fails (800f0092 and 80073712) on Windows 8.1 Pro w Media Center

That's what I was thinking of doing. Not sure if MS is working on a fix for this or not. They have been silent for this whole thing.

Finally, success.

For me the solutions that I've seen posted here didn't work - tried all the sfc /scannow and DISM commands both with and without Eset Smart Security installed (and yes, with admin rights); I've no VPN client, and can't add a System Tools folder; and stuff only seemed to grow worse with lots of errors in the system event log.

I found a post about refreshing Windows 8.1 *without* losing all installed applications, here:

How to Repair-Install Windows 8 and 8.1 without Losing Anything

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26095-repair-install-windows-8-a.html

This procedure only removes all installed Updates - just what I wanted - and lets you start over with all your applications and settings intact. The repair-install took about 45 minutes; after that I did a Disk Cleanup for System Files to remove the old Windows.old folder. Verified all applications are still there & working; made a restore point for you-never-know.

Then I got a list of 41 Windows updates, which took another 45 minutes to install via Windows Update (so: no hassle with offline downloads, DISM, or elevated command prompts ). Restart, then I got two more (kb2919442 and an IE-11 security update). THEN the big WinUpdate kb2919355, again via the regular Windows Update. This got to 100% where before it failed at 99%. TA-DA.

I did the Update with Eset Smart Security running, btw; except that I had unchecked the option for HIPS, a "self-defense" feature under Eset's Advanced Options. Not sure if this made any difference though.

The eightforums site has another nice article about copying a well-working Windows system into a refresh folder for easy backup and restore - in case MS tries something like this in future and leaves us no way out but to re-install.

This experience is not something that'd make me recommend Ms at this point </understatement>

(Update (4/16/14):  A couple workarounds have been found to resolve most customers who are receiving this error.  Please first try these steps:

1)   Open an elevated command prompt.  (Enter command prompt into Search.  In the list of results, swipe down on or right-click Command Prompt, and then tap or click Run as administrator.)

2)    a) If you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows, enter the following command into the Administrator: Command Prompt window and press the Enter key:

 

dism /online /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB2919355~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.3.1.14

b)   If you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows, enter the following command into the Administrator: Command Prompt window and press the Enter key:

dism /online /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB2919355~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.3.1.14

c)   If you’re running Windows RT 8.1, enter the following command into the Administrator: Command Prompt window and press the Enter key:

dism /online /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB2919355~31bf3856ad364e35~arm~~6.3.1.14

3)  Then enter the following commands and press the Enter key after each command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup  

4)  Run Windows Update again and try to re-install KB2919355

      

5)  If Windows Update still fails to install the update, Windows 8.1 customers should try to install it manually from the Microsoft Download Center.  You can find the download links here:

    32-bit versions of Windows 8.1: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42327

    64-bit versions of Windows 8.1:  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42335

6)   If neither of these solutions resolves your error, please contact Microsoft Support so that we can further investigate your issue.  We thank you for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience.

No matter which version of the command I run from above it insists I have a 32 bit v ersion of the tool on a 64 bit platform. I don't know how or why. Windows update just kept stalling at 99% for the 8.1.1 update. Any attempts to run the DCIM recovery stalls at 40% for days. And any attempt to use my registered key for my 8.1 Pro to run a refresh or recovery says it isn't valid when I paid for it and the OS is completely validated.

"Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.3.9600.16384

Error: 11

You cannot service a running 64-bit operating system with a 32-bit version of DISM.

Please use the version of DISM that corresponds to your computer's architecture.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB2919355~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.3.1.14

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool

Version: 6.3.9600.16384

Error: 11

You cannot service a running 64-bit operating system with a 32-bit version of DISM.

Please use the version of DISM that corresponds to your computer's architecture.

The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log

C:\WINDOWS\system32>"