Windows 8.1 installation error 0x80070004

Anonymous
2013-10-17T12:56:28+00:00

I got the following message while updating Windows 8 to 8.1 from the Store (translated from hungarian):

An error had occured and the installation of Windows 8.1 was unsuccessful. Try again. Error code: 0x80070004

The event log shows the following:

"Telepítési hiba: A Windows 0x80070004 hiba miatt nem tudta telepíteni a következő frissítést: Hungarian ESD Bundle Parent."

In english: Installation error: Windows could not isntall the following update: Hungarian ESD Bundle Parent, with error 0x80070004.

What should I do?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2013-12-10T01:08:25+00:00

Hi,

If you receive error 0x80070004 when you install Windows 8.1, please first check the following:

1.      This error may occur if you are using symbolic links (via the mklink command) to redirect your user profile to another drive.  If so, you can resolve this by restoring your user profile to the system drive by following the steps in KB 2876597.

2.      This error may also occur if you have a corrupt user profile.  To check for this:

·         Open the System Properties (Type “System” at the Start screen, and then select “System”.)

·         Select Advanced system settings.

·         In the Advanced tab, under User Profiles, select Settings.

·         Try to log into any profiles you see listed here.  If you’re unable to log in, that profile may be corrupt.  Return to the User Profiles in Advanced system settings and delete the corrupt profile.  If you see any profiles listed as “Unknown” or that otherwise look corrupt, delete those profiles as well.

·         Try creating a new administrator profile and try installing Windows 8.1 from the new profile.  You can find steps for creating a new profile and copying the old profile to the new one at Fix a corrupted user profile.  (This was written for Vista, but the steps are similar.  You can find Folder Options for displaying hidden system files in the Control Panel, under Appearance and Personalization.)

If you’ve confirmed that you’ve tried all of these steps and you’re still receiving error 0x80070004 when installing Windows 8.1, we would like to collect more information to try to identify additional causes.  Please run this automated utility, which will collect log files and send them to Microsoft.  (You can also choose to save the information to your desktop.)  If you get a message that says the utility has already expired, that means we have already collected enough sample files. 

This log analysis may take some time.  We will post a fix or solution as soon as additional sources for this error are confirmed.  We appreciate your help in collecting this information.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-10-18T21:48:54+00:00

    Awesome!!!  I am trying it right now.  Thank you

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-18T22:03:19+00:00


    I am following your guideline at this moment. I actually had all the Users folder on my SSD linked to HDD. I removed the links, restored the User accounts back on SSD with exception to one specific user under users, which makes up the majority of folder space.


    So, now the link is specific to one user only and I created a local user with administrative privileges on my SSD and logged in from DELETE and installing 8.1 as I type this. (Haven't confirmed if it installs fine yet)


    What I was wondering is if you managed to resolve the "secureboot is not correctly configured" error.


    Thanks


    Update: Got the same error, logging in from DELETE w administrative privileges and leaving my main user C:\Users\XX linked to H:\Users\XX. All other users are stored under C:\Users w/o any links to HDD.




    I found a way to install it, please try.

    First i like to add some notes:

    • I also moved my personal folders to another partition using links but i found out its not a good idea because if you need to make a system restore your profile will stop working, and you have to create it again.
    • As we can see, this also messes with some profound updates, like Windows 8.1
    • The best way to move your profile to another hard drive / partition is to just move all the common unhidden folders like documents, pictures, vídeos, etc to your desired destination - DO NOT MOVE THE HIDDEN APPDATA FOLDER!! If you need to save some data from this folder, just use some kind of backup software like free Cobian Backup.

    To install Windows 8.1 (i have done this after having the same problems reported here):

    • Create a new user local user with administrator privileges and choose a good name like DELETE ;)
    • Logoff and logon using the new user
    • Go to the Windows Store and start the download / install of Windows 8.1
    • It will download and start installing fine, when choosing to restart the computer do it.

    The first time you logon to Windows 8.1 if you try to add your existing account you get an error stating that the current user exists, this is fine, just choose to logon using other account. Windows will the logon using your previously created local account (DELETE) and afterwards you can logoff and logon using your account.

    Everything should be fine, i did this and all was good!!

    EDIT: I noticed now i have a message on my desktop stating secure azboot is not correctly configured, but at least Windows 8.1 is installed and working fine. If someone can help with that ;)

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-18T22:04:38+00:00

    I got the same code error 0x80070004 - AND all my data has gone, the pc is on 0 - nothing on it anymore...if i try to reinstall the update it doesnt work and it shows this code...during the first update the pc automatically went to stand by mode, because it took so long and the pc was just downloading the update,...when i restart the update it starts at 50 % and then it takes like 15 minutes until this code appears...im pretty upset..all my data has gone...only the programs on the desktop are still there, but itunes is empty (also the music data has gone...)

    What can i do?????

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-18T22:52:36+00:00

    What do you mean by all your data? Folders like documents, music etc.? But all desktop applications are still there? Has the installer restarted the computer, or just stopped while collecting information? A Windows.old directory should have been created during install, which contains the previous installation as a backup, your data can be there. If you have really suffered a data loss, it might be possible to restore most or all of the data with software like GetDataBack for NTFS. In that case you should avoid using the system, as the files left on the HDD may get overwritten.

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