I just want to cry now:

[staustelladam]

Is there anyone who can tell me what the hell is wrong with Windows 8.1 and updating the system. I am on so many reformatted reinstalls I am losing count, and each time Windows gets more broken. Have MS put something out there on purpose to fundamentally break the system and force users, through utter utter frustration, to upgrade to Win 10?

Every effort to activate/run system restore runs into problems
Windows Update is either hanging or it is failing to install updates: Code (800F0922)
The machine was bundled with McAfee and Norton - I have uninstalled both yet McAfee is still running in task manager and I cannot disable Norton from Start Up programs
I am getting (0x80070003) messages whenever I try to do anything
UpdateTroubleshooter "fixes" problems but then updates still won't install
Every update requires an incremental previous update first - and these are all "not applicable to your computer"
At reboot the "running diagnostics/repairing keep failing

All I want to do is get to the point where KB2919355 installs properly ... and then hopefully ... hopefully ... everything will be back up and running again.

Has anyone else been through all of this insanity just to get Windows working as an operating system, and allowing you to just get on with doing stuff?

 

[ceo54]

Why do you want to update so badly ? Is a final release of an OS broken ?

Windows 8.1 was broken or missing something important when it first came out, that is absolutely necessary ?

The answer would be something in between. You need updates but not all updates and not constantly.

I advise you to grab the Update 3 MSDN ISO of your choice get a list of updates (important) download them offline and integrate them into ISO. That's what I do so my ISO is always fully updated with important updates. I never use online Windows Update ever. Last update was August monthly Rollup. Next update will prolly be in 2020 or later.

 

[mrjimphelps]

I suggest that you do a Factory Restore on your laptop. This will bring it back to brand-new, out-of-the-box condition software-wise.

You can probably use the ALT-F10 method -- here's how to do it:
How to Restore Windows on my Acer Computer Using Alt + F10 on startup

You may be able to create the Recovery Media -- here's more information:
Use Acer Recovery Management to restore your system or create recovery media

If that doesn't work, then you can purchase the Recovery Media from Acer:
Purchase Recovery Media

It would be a good idea to have a set of the Recovery Media disks for future reference.

 

[staustelladam]

I suggest that you do a Factory Restore on your laptop. This will bring it back to brand-new, out-of-the-box condition software-wise.

It would be a good idea to have a set of the Recovery Media disks for future reference.

Hi Jim,

All of those methods was where I was having the problems to start with - restore USB drives, complete reformat/reset, the lot.

After ... unbelievably! ... my fresh Linux Mint install went and crashed (yes, really) I decided to have one last try with Win 8.1 again (I'm getting a new machine early next year so will, regrettably, probably try and learn to live with Win 10)

It installed from a tenth fresh install, I patiently waited whilst every single update installed, in its own good time, and allowed everything to run at its own pace ... I started this on Thursday morning, it's now Saturday morning, and other than my install of Libre Office, Acrobat and WOW, I have installed nothing else.

Two days, to get an OS up and running properly (almost) - with sleeps and eating breaks, obviously. I still have problems (though not update ones) - now it is taking 3-5 minutes to get from the boot screen to the log in screen (using MS/Outlook credentials) and then a further two minute delay for the cursor/input to register and finally logging in.

Will look elsewhere to try and resolve this, although reluctant to change anything now as the machine is, albeit a delayed start up, actually working once again.

A.

 

[mrjimphelps]

The fact that it takes 3-5 minutes to boot to the login screen means that you probably have a hard drive issue or some other hardware problem.

Check the most obvious thing: are all cables securely plugged in? If they aren't, plug them all in securely then reboot, to see if the problem has disappeared.

If that didn't fix it, then do an immediate backup of the hard drive. Then run some tests on it, such as chkdsk c: /f.

If the hard drive is very old, this might be a good time to replace it.

 

[Nick-072]

Have MS put something out there on purpose to fundamentally break the system and force users, through utter utter frustration, to upgrade to Win 10?

I often think this!!
I always get trouble with updates doing fresh installs on Win7 & 8.
I only put automatic updates ONLY to get the yellow warning symbols out of the device manager then switch it off! Your PC will thank you for it!!

 

[mrjimphelps]

I doubt seriously that Microsoft is trying to break W7 or W8. However, it is possible that they have introduced difficulties to the Windows Update system which require skill to overcome, which means that non-geek users will be forced to upgrade to W10 if they want to stay updated.

Probably a more accurate way of thinking about this is that if there are issues with W7 or W8 updates, Microsoft won't put too much effort into fixing them, which will force some people to upgrade to W10.