14 DAY TRIAL // A number of users who are trying to install Windows 8.1 Update are still experiencing issues, even though Microsoft has tried to address them with several patches and fixes until now.
Posts on Microsoft’s Community forums reveal that error code 80073712 is still being experienced by some users and the recent workarounds that have reached the web are failing to make any difference.
Microsoft rolled out a new KB2919355 update yesterday in order to address installation problems for these users, while the Windows Update Troubleshooter received new options to help users diagnose the issues and manage to successfully deploy Windows 8.1 Update.
Despite all of these, users still struggle to deploy Windows 8.1 Update, no matter if they’re trying to do it manually or via Windows Update.
Here’s what one of the users said in a post this morning, after trying the latest fixes provided by Microsoft:
“On several occasions the update KB2919355 has failed to install with error code 80073712 on my computer. I have an HP envy with touch support, which came with Windows 8 64-bit preinstalled. Latest updates (including 8.1) have been applied. The machine has issues with the fingerprint reader not working on occasion as well as blurry text in some windows despite a 1920x1080 display, but I don't see how that is related.”
The biggest dilemma for Windows 8.1 users who can’t upgrade to Windows 8.1 Update is the approaching May 13 deadline that will require them to install the new OS version in order to receive other patches and fixes.
As you might have heard, Microsoft made the Windows 8.1 Update mandatory for everyone running Windows 8.1, so in case you decide not to install it, your computer will no longer receive other patches and fixes as part of the Patch Tuesday rollouts.
Microsoft claims that this is a necessary measure because all future Window updates will be based on this OS version, so unless you install it, you can’t benefit from all new improvements. Business users, on the other hand, have until mid-August to deploy the new Windows 8.1 Update.
“All future security and non-security updates will be built on these latest product updates, so existing Windows 8.1 customers (as well as Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry customers) will need to be running these latest product updates in order to continue to receive future product improvements and security updates,” Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc explained in a blog post yesterday.