Windows 8.1 won't update

OK, what happened should be recorded in the Windows Update log. Obviously you can't copy the whole log file here, but what you can do is to take a screenshot of the time KB3146723 attempted to install. Include everything below that as well.

So copy/paste windowsupdate.log into the Run command (Windows key + R, then OK) and then grab the scrollbar and drag it all the way down to the bottom of the file.

From there. look on the left hand side where the time and date appear and then scroll upwards to the time you tried to install it.

If you prefer, you can copy the relevant text as follows.

1. Click the cursor on the first letter of the time and date on the left hand side that you want to copy from and then scroll down to the end of the file.
2. Hold down SHIFT while you click the last character. This will highlight everything in between.
3. Right click the highlight and click Copy.
4. Open Notepad, right click and click Paste.
5. Finally, give the file a name and then upload it to your One Drive / Shared folder account or to Dropbox and post the link to it here.

See this site for instructions on how to upload to OneDrive in case you don't know how it works: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/onedrive/4

I've run that before and it's said it fixed a couple of things (potential update database error & windows update component) but obviously hadn't.  I tried it again anyway but it still didn't install (tried to install from the cmd prompt as that's how the other problem ones installed).

Hi

It did not find any occurrence of OOBE.

Pity.

This is the error you're seeing, but unfortunately you can't use the Fixit because it's for Windows 8, not 8.1 https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/949358

However, there is a local troubleshooter you can try which is accessible by right clicking the Action Center icon on the taskbar and click Troubleshoot a problem.

In the menu which opens, click the link on the left near the top to View All.

The bottom troubleshooter is the one you want called Windows Update. Click the Advanced link on the left near the bottom of the next menu and then click Run as administrator. Click Next to start the ball rolling.

I should warn you though that this is going to wipe the View history menu in Windows Update so that the next time you open it will say "Most recent check for updates - Never".

It doesn't affect any updates installed already and these will remain on the system.

After you run it, try and install KB3146723 again.

Hi

It did not find any occurrence of OOBE.

Hi Julie,

I deleted my previous post regarding the commands I requested you run because I remembered another epic troubleshooting event where the user wasn't able to install Windows Updates. I just checked through that and I noticed that the error he was seeing in his log files is the same one that appears in your log file which you posted earlier.

So could you please do the following.

1. Hit Windows key + R to open the Run command, copy/paste windowsupdate.log and click OK. This will launch the Windows Update log file which is just a text file.
2. Click Edit ---> Find, type OOBE and click Find Next.
3. If it jumps to OOBE, scroll down a bit and look for the text you see in the screenshot. If you can see that as well, your machine is in Audit mode which blocks automatic updates from installing.

I'll wait to hear from you before proceeding further.