Solved Latest W8 Updates

I have spent hours this morning with the latest set of updates. The installation went to 59% then hung for a long time before going to restarting. Restarting never progressed further. After trying physical restarts a couple of times I finally managed to achieve failure to config updates and reversion to previous set-up.

I have since set updates to manually install and made a recovery disk using Paragon Hard Disk Manager. The question is what do I do now?

As background I had enormous problems in getting W8 installed. I started from XP which failed, after installing Vista two times I finally managed a successful installation. There is one visible trace of all this in that when I start up I am offered 2 choices of OS to boot with. Both are for W8 but only 1 works; the 2nd brings me back to the OS choice screen. Would deletion of 2nd boot option help and if so how do I delete it?

The one thing I've notice with the MS updates in windows 8 is that it does seem to take longer vs MS updates in windows 7. One should never do anything until the updates are completed, if not you take the risk of causing some seriou system damage.

How did you install windows 8, upgrade or clean install?

bassfisher6522 said:

The one thing I've notice with the MS updates in windows 8 is that it does seem to take longer vs MS updates in windows 7. One should never do anything until the updates are completed, if not you take the risk of causing some seriou system damage.

How did you install windows 8, upgrade or clean install?

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I think the length of time for Windows updates to function depends on too many factors to state that "It's slower" than W7.

Depends on

1) Your own Internet connection speed
2) how much contention there is on the Ms download servers - in other words how busy are they in your location.
3) What Hardware you have on your machine
4) what software you have on your machine - in particular if you have any 3rd party AV software running
5) Whether you are downloading "stand alone" or doing other tasks on the machine itself.

In general the Ms updates work very well indeed on W8 -- if they don't work properly or perform poorly then there is usually some major problem with your current Windows setup --both Hardware and Software need to be looked at.

The fact you had problems installing Windows 8 in the first place seems to indicate something wasn't quite right at the start of the process.

Windows 8 installations are usually a BREEZE -- whatever the criticisms are of W8 -- problems of installation really shouldn't be one of them.

I'd basically wipe your disks completely including the MBR if it's an MBR type of disk --usually that's the case if you previously had VISTA or XP on it --if you had XP get into DOS mode and run a FIXMBR to wipe the MBR. Now boot a W8 install disk or USB device and it should create a nice clean install without prompting you to choose an OS --this also indicates to me that the original install isn't quite 100% Kosher either

Once you've got a nice clean W8 install updates should run essentially smoothly and quite quickly --assuming a decent internet connection.

Cheers
jimbo

When I get a Windows 7 update, after the update, I immediately go to Windows 8 and do an update. Considering that I have a dual boot setup, the parameters are the same, yet the Windows 8 update typically takes longer than for Windows 7.

Hi. I'm new and just a geek in training so please bare with me
Always been a windows user but 8 has me pulling my hair out. I hope you guys can offer me some advice.
My new windows 8 laptop was cool until my first lot of updates. after sticking at 15% with god knows which one ..my laptop crashed..i managed to get it back up and running and after hours of online searching i managed to find a fix that got my updates installed ( temporarily uninstalling audio and sound drivers)
yay..but i have the fear now!
I am soo scared of installing updates now..I don't know if i can risk it again!
the next lot are:
KB2750149
KB2756872
KB2779768
KB2785094
KB2770917

Have you guys installed these ones?
Sorry and thank you in advance

What I found with the updates is that while you can select all updates to be run, it often causes a crash of sorts and the updates fail. If I find that happening, I go through the update process by selecting each KB one at a time, usually starting from the largest and working down. I've found that is the only way that I can get all updates successfully completed. It's a slow, painful, process requiring a lot of restarts, but better than the frustration of constant failure.

Ray8 said:

What I found with the updates is that while you can select all updates to be run, it often causes a crash of sorts and the updates fail. If I find that happening, I go through the update process by selecting each KB one at a time, usually starting from the largest and working down. I've found that is the only way that I can get all updates successfully completed. It's a slow, painful, process requiring a lot of restarts, but better than the frustration of constant failure.

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Thank you for the reply Ray.. I might just try this tomorrow. god help me lol

Thank you people for posts above. Further to jimbo45 remarks I started with XP and could not get W8 to install. I spent over 2 hours with MS support, a lady in the Philipines controlling my computer, and the fault with XP could not be identified. I had Vista from another computer that I had upgraded to W7 and the MS lady suggested I installed it. I installed Vista as an upgrade to XP. The double installation was because I did not realize that Vista had to be authenticated and only found out whilst browsing 2nd installation. After doing that W8 installed over Vista. I did the installation with save my settings and later had 2 old windows installations which I have since deleted.

The whole process has been an absolute nightmare. Having at last reached a stage where I can use the computer I am reluctant to spend hours more doing a complete new installation, especially as others are having problems with updates as well that appear to take up considerable time. It should be noted that previous updates installed OK.

I use Avast Internet Security and after messages from W8 I have turned off W8 Firewall. I have noticed that it takes several minutes after start-up before my internet access is fully functional. I do not have this problem on 2nd computer with W7 + Avast.

Jimbo45 recommends a disk wipe. My hard disk has various partitions principally to separate my data from the programs; see attachment.
1. Can I do a disk wipe only to Drive C where all the programs are?
2. Can I use Paragon Hard Disk Manager? It is many years since I regularly used DOS and I do tend to struggle with it nowadays

All advice / recommendations gratefully received

Polterry (I am an English guy living in Poland - hence moniker)

Just a thought: There is a problem with KB2785094 on some machines. I have it and I googled it and many others are having a problem. On my all in one lenovo it tries to install but about half way it stops for a bit then tells me it failed and gives a code. Looked up the code and didn't find anything that worked with mine.

I wonder if it is causing other sorts of problems with different computers????

I've tried to get it to install a number of times and it won't go.

exscentric said:

Just a thought: There is a problem with KB2785094 on some machines. I have it and I googled it and many others are having a problem. On my all in one lenovo it tries to install but about half way it stops for a bit then tells me it failed and gives a code. Looked up the code and didn't find anything that worked with mine.

I wonder if it is causing other sorts of problems with different computers????

I've tried to get it to install a number of times and it won't go.

Click to expand...

There's been a problem with several of the updates..serious ones at that! don't they test these things before they release them?

Hey, that is a great idea! Should we suggest it to microsoft

Actually I'm amazed they don't have more problems with all the different systems, OSs and setups.

I found one fix on their site listed for windows 8 and server, downloaded it and was informed it wasn't for my system.

exscentric said:

Hey, that is a great idea! Should we suggest it to microsoft

Actually I'm amazed they don't have more problems with all the different systems, OSs and setups.

I found one fix on their site listed for windows 8 and server, downloaded it and was informed it wasn't for my system.

Click to expand...

lmao I find one fix then another problem thread..geez! lol :huh:

Good news at last people.
Day 1
Following Jimbo45 post I did a clean install, see tutorial for great step-by-step instructions. Actually I did a Refresh as according to Tutorial it is quicker. I then installed Avast Internet Security and started to set-up users, layouts, programmes etc. I also set Windows Update to notify me before installation. Duly informed several updates ready. Tried installing and usual cancelled, failed etc. Tried trouble shooting Windows Updates, it made some changes but updates did not work.
Day 2
Jimbo45 also mentioned 3rd party anti-virus so I switched off Avast and tried again; surprise another failure. Tried trouble shooting Windows Updates again, made some changes and the holy grail was at last achieved! The updates downloaded and installed after a restart.
Summary
1. Consider a clean install or Refresh
2. Turn off any 3rd party anti-virus
3. Run Troubleshoot Windows Update
4. Manually select required update(s)
5. If you have a god then pray to him or her

Good luck everybody
Polterry