Upgrading to Windows 10
I decided it was time to upgrade my Samsung Premium Ultrabook from Windows 8 to Windows 10. From what I understand, the Windows 10 upgrade may not be free forever and upgrading to the new operating system was something I could do while I working on other things.
The dead battery suggested that a lot of time had passed since I last used this machine. As it turns out, this was also warning sign that maybe things wouldn’t go as smoothly as I had originally planned.
When I loaded Internet Explorer, I was immediately greeted with a banner to Upgrade to Windows 10 through Microsoft’s website. After following the instructions to download the update, I attempted to run the installer.
A message appeared on the screen stating the software “tool” could not be installed due to error code 0x80072F8F. Error codes don’t bother me as much as they once did because they can easily be searched on the internet.
Internet to the Rescue
I used Google to search for “Error Code: 0X80072F8F” and discovered I wasn’t the only person who had this problem. The solution simply required me to ensure the date and time were current on my computer.
As my computer’s battery was completely drained, the date and time were set to a date in May of 2009. Changing the date and time to the current settings was the cure to resolving the error.
The answer and source for this solution appeared in a forum on Microsoft’s website at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/error-code-0x80072f8f/d5006dbe-5946-4d68-8f08-8620eeb65efd?auth=1.
Two methods to resolve the error code are presented. Method one (1) simply requires you to update the clock to reflect the current date and time. This method works on Windows 8.1 though it is not specifically mentioned in the context of the solution.
- Click Start, and then click Run.
- In the Open box, type Timedate.cpl, and then click OK.
- On the Date and Time tab, make sure that the computer’s date and time are correct. If the settings are incorrect, adjust them to the correct date and time.
- Click OK to close the Date and Time Properties dialog box.
- Try to install updates again.
Full credit goes to the author of the solution as it appeared on the website cited above.
How is this Lean?
Sometimes the solution for the problem you are trying to solve already exists. In this specific case, I would’ve had a very difficult time attempting to resolve the error code without having access to the internet.
Not all problems require exotic “in-house” solutions nor do they require the expertise of an IT staff member to resolve. The scope of the problem and it’s inherent solution should be understood to ensure the concern is addressed in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
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Until Next Time – STAY lean!
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