Solved Windows 8.1 Update Broken after fresh install

[Matt zz]

Hi,
I'm running Windows 8.1. Windows update stopped working, it would keep running indefinitely. I tried running the update troubleshooter, manually applying updates, deleting update cached files, among other things. After several attempts to fix the problem, I finally did a fresh install of Windows 8.1.

After a fresh install of Windows 8.1 with no other software the updater still runs forever. I tried running the Microsoft Update troubleshooter after the fresh install, and the problem remains. Does anyone know how to fix Windows 8.1 so that the updater will work correctly?

 

[KYHI]

A fresh install of Windows 8.1 results in 141 or so Updates ( I believe close to a 1GB download)
The download meter stays at 0 for about 80% of the download...
Just did a fresh install on 2 PC's... And that was the result.. Just be patient..

 

[Matt zz]

Well, that would be fine, but no updates were ever applied. This is a laptop and when I installed Windows, when I put in the wifi password Windows setup stated that it could not connect to the wifi connection.

But now that the install is finished, the wifi works, but Windows update does not work. It just continually checks for updates but never finishes, it never gets past the "checking for updates" window. I had running for over 4 hours.

I'm wondering if Windows 8.1 needs an internet connection to set up correctly now that Windows 10 is out, and their updater probably changed a few times since 2014. Should I try the Windows install again, with a direct network cable connection?

 

[Matt zz]

I just reinstalled Windows again with the network cable plugged in. It did apply updates while installing, but the updater is still not working.

 

[KYHI]

Go into control panel > System
Does it show windows as activated ??

 

[Matt zz]

Yes. Under windows activation it shows windows is activated.

 

[Bat 1]

If You've opened Task Manager and made sure it's not actually downloading updates, Turn off updates in Control panel, restart Your PC and Run The Standalone Installer Microsoft Update Catalog After it updates and restarts You can turn auto updates on again.

It's possible that KB2919355 Microsoft Update Catalog may need to be installed Before KB3172614 but not positive ?

 

[Matt zz]

Thanks very much. I was not aware of this website for standalone installers.

I got it working now, thank you both for your responses.

If anyone else has this problem, first make sure the update rollup (KB2919355) is installed. Then do the same with the Servicing stack update (KB3021910). To get these, use the update catalog tool at Microsoft Update Catalog .

After that, install the update rollup from Aug. 2016, KB3172614. You can use Bat 1's direct link to get this one, at: Microsoft Update Catalog .

This might not be an issue on other PCs, but this is what I had to do to get Windows update working for my laptop, a Lenovo IdeaPad P400. I completely formatted the drive, and I used the full installation disk for basic windows 8.1.


-Matt