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

The problem with MS is that Bill Gates is no longer involved in day-to-day operations. So now we have a lot of big egos in charge that are more interested in playing the corporate games and trying to protect their jobs rather than focusing on what got them there in the first place - THE CUSTOMER.

Watch and see. They will start getting worse and worse so long as the overpaid egotistical white shirts sit in their fancy offices oblivious to what is really going on and pretending they know what they're doing. Trust me when I tell you that there is nothing worse than trying to get something done in a big corporation, especially where common sense in concerned. Been there - Seen it.

After trying all suggested routines, sometimes several times, and seeing and feeling the despair at MS's lack of customer commitment common to virtually all correspondents on this thread, I decided a reinstall was the only answer. But I used a downloaded 8.0 ISO and had no isssue using the license key from my original download. Obviously I lost virtually all software and have had to rebuild - after upgrading to 8.1, which took ages (4gb is a lot to download and install!)

Time spent on this must be upwards of 50 hours, over about 10 days. I don't understand why this hasn't hit the media but perhaps it's down to most users not realising the significance of failed updates; as mentioned elsewhere, their awakening may be yet to come.

FWIW, my system finally updated. After trying the workarounds posted here along with everyone else, I got in touch with Microsoft Support. I figured I had put enough time and effort into the problem already; let Microsoft fix the problem themselves. They did.

After two calls with Level 1 techs and two calls with Level 2 techs, my laptop now has the update installed. I can't tell you the specific steps because the tech was working on my laptop remotely. From what I saw, the last tech edited my registry by removing 'with Media Center' from the entry where my product key was stored.

Then, he created a Wordpad document and pasted two new keys into it, one for Windows 8.1 Pro and one for Media Center, and then saved the document to my desktop.

Next, he went to this URL: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only, clicked on the 'Windows 8.1' button, pasted in the appropriate key and began the download and repair install process. From there, it was just like installing Win 8.1 again, but choosing the option to keep user accounts, files and apps.

The reinstall went without issue. I was left with a refreshed Win 8.1 Pro with my account intact. Next, I had to apply all the updates. The first batch totaled around 600 Mb. After all those updates had completed, I checked for updates once again and there were two: a small one and the infamous '355. Even though I had downloaded that update for earlier attempts to apply it locally, I chose to download both updates and install them.

These installed fine, too. After rebooting, I landed right on the desktop and the Windows Store icon was included in the Taskbar. Just to be sure, I checked the installed updates list and there '355 was along with all the others I had just applied.

Now that all the updates were in place, I 'Added Features to Windows 8.1' and got back my Media Center functionality. Now I'm finally where I would be if '355 had installed properly at the very beginning (back on 4.8.14).

What I would recommend is for other users to chat or call Microsoft Support and open a ticket. The Level 1 techs and the first Level 2 techs I worked with really didn't seem to know about these issues. Microsoft did delay getting back with me (told me they would call in the next 2 hours and then sent an email telling me to expect a call from them two days later, late at night) but, in the end, they did apply the update at no (monetary) cost to me.

I hope they own up to this problem and make it easier for the more tech savvy users like ourselves to work the fix ourselves. And, for those who are not as confident making changes to their systems, have better informed techs so that the best fix is applied quickly. Best of luck to you all!