Despite of the plethora of updates from Microsoft to resolve the Windows 8 stuck while updating problem, it persists and we see amassed number of complaints on daily basis. Windows 8 stuck while updating at 11%, 13% or you see a message “Please do not power off or unplug your machine.
Installing update x of x...”. We have found solution for it and in this article, we will tell you how you can get rid of the stalled Windows 8 during updating process. Basically, the catch is to get and install the updates manually because there is some kind of bug behind automatic updates which freezes the machine during the process.

windows 8 Update Stuck

There are basically two workarounds, the first is to restore your machine before the point of getting the automatic updates and then making a check for the manual updates. Cease during update may arise due to an application that is pre-installed on the computer, or sometimes because of incompatible service that is running in the background. Taking the system back to the point where no incompatible services were running and resumption of the installation process of the updates solves the problem.

The second solution is to grab an update manually which is most probably the fuss creator behind all this problem and then install the remaining updates manually. Let’s start with the first one.

Solution 1

First, you have to restore the OS to the earliest point. Follow the following steps to do this

  1. Log on to Windows 8( Make sure you have Administrator privileges).
  2. Go to the desktop screen.
  3. Click File Explorer icon from the taskbar.
  4. Right-click Computer from the left pane in the opened libraries window.
  5. Click Properties form the context menu.
  6. Click System protection from left pane.
  7. On the System Properties box, make sure that System Protection tab is selected.
  8. On the selected tab, click System Restore button under System Restore section.
  9. Select the restore radio button on the System Restore Box .
  10. Click Next to Confirm your restore point page and then Hit Finish.
  11. Click Yes on the confirmation box.

Windows 8 System Restore Screen

It’s time to initiate the windows update. Follow the steps below to do that.

  1. Reboot the machine.
  2. Open Control Panel and Click System and Security.
  3. On System and Security window, click Windows Update from the right pane.
  4. Click Check for updates from the left pane to download and install the updates.

Windows 8 Manual Update  After Restore

Updating your OS this way will be smooth, free from all the freezing and stalls.

Solution 2

Getting the update kb-2771431 manually and installing other updates will work because kb-2771431 is reported to have bugs when installed at system start-up. You can also select and install this update manually form the list of available updates, which is shown when you click “Check For Updates".

Windows 8 Manual Updates

Windows 8 Updates Menu Item Select

After installing kb-2771431 separately and getting all other available updates manually,  reboot the machine and things will work fine.

These were the two solutions for this teasing stall problem for Windows 8. Let us know in the comments which one works for you.