Windows 8.1 corrupted update files

In the screenshot in message #37, open the tab Settings and provide a screenshot.

Following fix does a scan only.
Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.
  1. Download the attachment fixlist.txt and save it to your desktop.
  2. Right-click on FRST64.exe and select "Run as administrator".
  3. Press the Fix button.
  4. The tool will now process fixlist.txt.
  5. If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
  6. When finished, a log called Fixlog.txt will appear in the same directory the tool is run from.
  7. Attach the logfile Fixlog.txt to your next reply.
 

Attachments

So, while everything is red, I can't get to settings. I poked it again though and, even though it is not running, I got in: 1670472139036.png1670472178726.png1670472196774.png1670472229981.png1670472253106.png
 
The screenshots look normal.
In the screenshot in message #37, open the tab Update and provide a screenshot.
 
When one runs it, does it do anything? I watched it in the task manager and it seems to be idle now.
 
Just leave it running for at least several hours. Dunno if there is any information presented to the user.
 
Defender still not working so good upon restart. But, good news, it did start when I asked it to the first time. Let me try restarting again... and it is back to not starting on the first try.
I'm happily continue banging my head against this if you are up for it.
Otherwise, should I just throw up my hands and try to install Win 10? Not sure what else to do here...don't want to lose applications, with a windows 8.1 reinstall.
 
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...don't want to lose applications, with a windows 8.1 reinstall.
Click to expand...
Follow the instructions given here to do a repair install for Window 8 or Windows 8.1.
Make sure to have a backup of all your important data first.

Report the result when done.
 
Okay, thank you. That will take me some time to set up. Interesting to see that there is an option.
I would also keep running things to find the corrupted files, not frustrated by that.
 
If I'm going to clomp through and install an entire operating system, I am wondering if I should just install 10 instead. Do you think that having some random files corruped would mess up that option?
 
If you do a complete new install of Windows 10, all files will be replaced.
 
Right, I was thinking the ‘normal’ 8.1 upgrade in place. I think you are implying that runs a risk of not working correctly due to unknown corrupted system files

Thank you for the warning about the clean install
 
So, I'm poking around in the registry because, as you likely noticed, I turned off the windows 10 update harassment a long time ago. I was just gooling where that should be. It should be here:
1670793906767.png
The thing is that I can't find the WindowsUpdate folder in Regedit:
1670793971285.png
1670793998092.png
Unless I have a special machine, does this not imply that somehow the registry has lost the windows update entry and maybe fixing that will make everything okay?
I'll keep poking around on my end.
 
The internet suggests I need to, like, duplicate viable files from someplace else to recreate the Windows update folder.
I am wondering if this folder is still in the registry, just somehow commented out or something?
I believe its absence is kept the 'update in place' to Windows 10 file from moving forward, but it could also be looking for, and not find, the Windows Update folder, like RegEdit.
 
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Right, I was thinking the ‘normal’ 8.1 upgrade in place.
...
I believe its absence is kept the 'update in place' to Windows 10
Click to expand...
I'm a bit confused now. What is your plan, re-installing Windows 8.1 or a fresh install of Windows 10 ?
 
Sorry to cause confusion.

If I have to install an entire operating system and support for Defender for 8.1 is going in January, I was thinking of doing an in-place replacement of 8.1 to 10.

It seems like Microsoft says I can do that without losing much (whereas a clean install would erase everything.)

When I tried starting that process, just to see how it would go, the Microsoft updater said it would not work.

I assumed this was because I had put a line blocking a windows 10 update in the registry years ago. However, when I went looking for where the line blocking that should have been, I noted that I no longer had its containing folder or the Windows Update folder containing the containing folder in the registry.

I assumed that this meant I might have identified a useful part of the problem: that the registry no longer lists the windows update folder. I was hoping the folder still exists on the machine and the text telling the registry those files existed could be edited back in — given that the problems seem to resolve themselves over and over when I use SFC, DISM, and the troubleshooter. I was hoping that everything is working correctly except the registry isn’t loading windows update in on startup.
 
When I tried starting that process, just to see how it would go, the Microsoft updater said it would not work.
Click to expand...
Provide a screenshot of that Microsoft message.

I assumed this was because I had put a line blocking a windows 10 update in the registry years ago.
Click to expand...
I removed earlier a registry policy about that. The missing "WindowsUpdate" folder in the Policies key should be no problem.
Maybe other settings regrading Windows Update are changed. Please do following.

1. Click the start button and type cmd in the search box.
2. Right-click on cmd that comes up in the search results and select Run as administrator. Answer Yes to the UAC prompt if it appears.
3. Copy/Paste the following into the command-prompt window and hit enter.
reg query HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /s > 1.txt && notepad 1.txt

4. Notepad will open showing the WU info. Copy and paste this into your next reply.
 
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