Windows 8.1 won't update

Anonymous
2016-04-26T17:06:57+00:00

My laptop won't update the normal updates.  I have tried running the windows update troubleshooter, it says it fixed a couple of things but it still won't update any updates.  We've also tried upgrading to windows 10, but that doesn't work either.  I've had to turn off the automatic updates, otherwise it says it updating, then says failure to update, undoing changes and takes absolutely ages to boot up.  Any ideas anyone?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-02T10:42:02+00:00

    You must be dogtired after installing 723 updates!

    Anyway, try performing a so called Clean Boot which loads a minimal set of drivers and files. You'll find illustrated instructions in this support article:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

    Don't forget to make a note of the instructions on how to return to normal mode afterwards. You'll find them under the heading: "How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting".

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-05-02T08:08:41+00:00

    I've managed to install them all apart from KB3146723.  It still keeps failing on that one.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-01T19:42:58+00:00

    I wouldn't advise it until you've installed all the updates for 8.1

    But you can use the same wusa command to install the updates which won't install normally. Just change the name of the folder to that of the update and amend the path.

    If you like, you can copy/paste the KB numbers to Notepad and then upload it to your OneDrive account / Shared folder and then post the link to it here. I'll create download links for the files for you and create the commands to install them. Might take a while considering there are so many, but we'll get there in the end I'm sure.

    You can use the same folder you created already, but will just need to change the name (number) of it each time.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-01T19:21:13+00:00

    That worked!  It's still saying 723 failed though.

    Is there any way we can update to Windows 10, every time we've tried its failed.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-05-01T19:00:40+00:00

    I just deleted my previous post because I omitted an important part of the operation.

    OK, here we'll try to force Windows to install the update which failed when you tried to install it using IE just now.

    1. Hit Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
    2. Double click your C: drive to open it.
    3. Right click and click New ---> Folder with the name 3148198

    If you lose the highlight so that it gets the name "New Folder", click it to select and then hit the F2 key. You can also right click it and click Rename if you prefer. Either way works.

    Next, go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=51833 and choose to Save the file. It usually goes to the Downloads folder. So copy it to the folder called 3148198 you created earlier.

    Close File Explorer and right click the Start button and click Command Prompt (Admin).

    Copy and then right click and paste the following command and hit Enter:

    wusa.exe c:\3148198\Windows8.1-KB3148198-x64.msu

    wusa.exe is actually an acronym for Windows Update Standalone installer and the command instructs it to go to the folder called 3148198 on your C: drive and install the file called Windows8.1-KB3148198-x64.msu

    If it's successful the computer might reboot suddenly but this is normal with Windows Updates which can only be installed completely when Windows is no longer in use.

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