Before yesterday’s alarming “test update” came through Windows Update, I encountered another Windows Update issue on Windows 8.1. I was being prompted to install seven updates that would never succeed. Trying them one at a time, each of them failed with error code 80070643 “Windows Update ran into a problem.”
The seven updates varied in size and description but all were released in late August.
- KB3080457 – August 2015 Communications Apps update for WSUS for Windows 8.1
- KB3081397 – August 2015 Bing Finance app update for WSUS for Windows 8.1
- KB3081399 – August 2015 Bing Sports app update for WSUS for Windows 8.1
- KB3081401 – August 2015 Bing News app update for WSUS for Windows 8.1
- KB3081402 – August 2015 Bing Maps app update for WSUS for Windows 8.1
- KB3081403 – August 2015 Bing Health & Fitness app update for WSUS for Windows 8.1
- KB3081405 – August 2015 Bing Weather app update for WSUS for Windows 8.1
Understanding the updates, the error makes a bit more sense. The updates are for the default Modern apps included with Windows 8.1. They are intended as “offline” updates to the apps for accounts or computers that are not allowed to access the Windows Store.
My computers are receiving the error because I removed all of the default apps when customizing the OS for deployment. Unable to find the app, Windows Update errors out. I think Microsoft should first test to see if the update is needed to more gracefully avoid a hard error with little troubleshooting information.
You may right-click and choose to ‘Hide’ the updates if this matches your situation. Alternatively with WSUS, you may decline the updates to avoid the problem across your organization.