Win 8.0 to 8.1 Fail- Required Update Won't Stick

Novice here.
Dell XPS desktop that came with 8.0 installed.
Go to MS Store, click on update to 8.1. Tells me I must first complete Windows updates.
Go there & find 1 important update ( update kb2802618 & 1 optional). The Important one is for Win 8 64 bit based o/s ( updates were set to auto). I manually & click install. I get the 'successfully installed' . Go back to d/l 8.1 & get same message re: need to update SAME UPDATE. . Do it multiple times.
Tried rebooting, shutting off auto update. same results.. Manually d/l'd update. same results. Used cleanup.
Update Troubleshooter found & claimed to fix problem . It didn't.
Looked at Update History & only saw this update listed 10 times ( half were successful, half unsuccessful) and only 1 other update & an adobe reader XI update. my other PC has a long list of Updates in history. None are hidden.

Running KIS & MBAM Pro . Turned off MBAM & actually uninstalled KIS with KIS removal util ( some claim that caused update issue). No luck.
Anyone have a fix?

Thanks

Why can't that update stick? Why is there no long list of previous updates?

If you are updating through the windows store you need to have 2 windows updates - best to install all of them..
or
use this - Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help

Which 2 updates? & why were they not offered by auto updates (as I said, only 2 updates in history..).And what is with update mentioned in op??
Also, If I must go with the installation media- I only have a Win 8.0 key. Will that bean issue?

Thanks

No that tool will allow you to download windows 8.1 and it will use your OEM windows 8 product key - the media can be used to upgrade windows 8 or it can be used to do a clean install of windows 8.1

I use to have and keep the 2 Microsoft files required to update through the store - but have since forgot about them, because that process is no longer needed because of the new MS Tool.

Thanks & Happy Holidays!