Surface RT will not update - error 8007000e windows update ran into a problem

Question

I've tried every solution I can find, nothing works. I've even completely reset it. 

The only thing in Window Update history after the reset is: kb2883295.

Other then not updating it works fine.

• There are about 50 items in the SoftwareDistribution/Download folder after an attempt
• I did delete all files in SoftwareDistribution, reran update - no luck
• I did rename the SoftwareDistribution folder, reran update - no luck
• Tried all the troubleshooter files in different KBs

I'd offer more information but have none!!

Any hints what to do next would be appreciated. I just reset it again so it's a blank page.

Thank you for your time!

Answer 1

Hi,

Using Office to get the updates didn't work for me but I found a way to fix Windows Update, following the instructions in the pages linked by PiergiuseppeQuarato AND in this page: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/microsoft-windows-8-update-patching-modern-ui,26504.html

Summarizing, I downloaded all of the following packages and installed them in this order, turning wifi off:

1. Download and install update KB-2919442: http://download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/software/crup/2014/02/windows8.1-kb2919442-arm_506ed7113697c597c2859d295d562fa4311834ec.msu
2. Download and install update KB-2932046: http://download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/software/crup/2014/02/windows8.1-kb2932046-arm_fe6acf558880d127aef1a759a8c2539afc67b5fb.msu
3. Download and install update KB-2919355: http://download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/software/crup/2014/02/windows8.1-kb2919355-arm_a6119d3e5ddd1a233a09dd79d91067de7b826f85.msu
4. Reboot when asked to do it
5. Download and install update KB-2938439: http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/crup/2014/03/windows8.1-kb2938439-arm_4a536d9ddcd9993cbe4fbc309ebd50a18d65f954.msu
6. Reboot again
7. Download and install update KB-2937592: http://download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/software/crup/2014/02/windows8.1-kb2937592-arm_860c83a0cccc0519111f57a679ae9f9d071315e5.msu
8. Reboot again
9. Download and install update KB-3173424: http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/crup/2016/06/windows8.1-kb3173424-arm_e11b6837c0586d2b8d887f3bc33b3372fe83c8c7.msu
10. Download and install update KB-3172614: http://download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/software/updt/2016/07/windows8.1-kb3172614-arm_3d918d6c809bf6f57c8fcefa5db5c739e1754426.msu
11. Reboot again
12. Turn on wifi and search for updates (it worked for me now)

I really find pitty that Microsoft gives such a poor support for their own devices, forcing us to follow random procedures to perform an update. At the very least they should have a page explaining the procedure.

Answer 2

Hi,

I finally managed to solve the problem. Here what it worked for me. It is a mix of different guides that I found online and a bit of luck (https://surfacetip.com/install-windows-rt-8-1-update-3-2017/#download-and-install-windows-8-1-rt-kb3173424 and https://forum.xda-developers.com/windows-8-rt/rt-general/guide-windows-update-stuck-checking-t3540008). In these guides, they suggest key updates to install to solve the problem. My problem is that the first update can be installed correctly while the installation of the second and third update, miserably fails.

I suggest you try to follow the steps listed in these guides, and, if they don't work, try the method I suggest below.

Here what I did to solve the problem:

I restored my Surface 2 RT to Factory settings.

After restoring, download the Update KB3173424 (http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/crup/2016/06/windows8.1-kb3173424-arm\_e11b6837c0586d2b8d887f3bc33b3372fe83c8c7.msu), turn Wi-Fi off and install it. 

Restart the computer

Activate Wi-Fi. You can try to search for updates but most likely it will give you the same error.

Use your tablet normally, especially open and configure Microsoft Word. After a few hours using Microsoft Word, Surface downloaded Microsoft office update and some Windows 8.1 RT updates. I restarted and updated the computer.

After restarting, download kb2919355 (http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/software/crup/2014/02/windows8.1-kb2919355-arm\_a6119d3e5ddd1a233a09dd79d91067de7b826f85.msu). Turn Wi-Fi off and install it.

Restart your computer

After restarting download kb3172614 (http://download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/software/updt/2016/07/windows8.1-kb3172614-arm\_3d918d6c809bf6f57c8fcefa5db5c739e1754426.msu). Turn Wi-Fi off and install it. Restart your computer.

Turn Wi-Fi on and search for updates. It will find several updates and everything will work fine.

Let me know if this system works for you as well. I guess that using and configuring Microsoft office was a key step to fix the issue since, probably, the computer started to search for updates for Office and also downloaded Windows updates.

I hope it helps.

Best,

Pierq

Answer 3

Hi, 

I reset a Surface RT and I've tried multiple times to install Update KB3173424 but every time I get an error saying that "The update is not applicable to your computer". Did you come across this and if so, what did you do?

Thanks!

Answer 4

Hi,

I had the same issue with all the other updates. KB3173424 was the only one working for me. I tried several times to format the tablet and KB3173424 has always worked. Are you following exactly the steps suggested in the guides (turning wi-fi off etc)?

Also, did you try to install any of the updates that I posted? Are they giving you the same problem? 

Try to restore again the tablet and start the procedure again, it may help. Unfortunately, as I wrote before, I think I have been lucky with my tablet but keep trying, it will work at some point!!!

Microsoft really abandoned us from the beginning, It is a shame how surface RT users have been treated. After my experience with Surface I never bought another Microsoft device!

Good luck!!!

Pier

Answer 5

OMG! That worked! Installing KB3173424 and launching Word and Excel somehow made Windows to search for the updates properly!

Thanks you a lot for the instructions!