"you need to invest some time in learning keyboard shortcuts and that"
Does this mean I'd have problems using my 1994 Viglen AT keyboard with it because it doesn't have a Windows key?
No, no breakthrough. Not sure why I phrased it like that.
Also, hello!
Yes. You should probably think about getting a new keyboard.
If you want cured get a ticket and come stay with me. It's hard to have anxiety when you are carrying a 9!
Actually, this Windows 8 update issue is becoming an absolute pig. I haven't been hit by a software problem as irritating and intractable in years. I'm finding it infuriating with none of the fixes working. I'm almost inclined to turn off all updates and see if a service pack comes out in a few months.
Microsoft very quiet on the subject - or if they are commenting it's very low key.
Have you tried removing any 3rd party drivers and anti-virus software (especially if the anti-virus software isn't designed for Windows 8) while you install the update?
Yes and I only have the antivirus that comes with Windows 8.
Incidentally, when you say update, part of the problem is that there are a great many updates and Windows 8 does seem to be very flaky in the way that its update processes function. For instance, at various times it has reported that I have never updated Windows and have no history, that I have 5 important updates downloaded and waiting to install, that I have 13 important updates waiting, that 5 and sometimes 8 are installed successfully. I have disabled all updates in order to try installing a few key ones manually (or what the internet tells me are key ones) only to find that on restart Windows has taken the decision to queue a mass of other updates I never selected - which then fail to configure and prompt the same depressing unstoppable 35 minute roll back.
It's annoyingly familiar that the only proactive support is coming from the user community - as far as I know there's not even a web-page from MS.
I've also discovered some things I like less about 8 during the attempted troubleshooting. For instance, while I was trying to uninstall the Realtek drivers, the uninstall hung (of course). So I fired up task manager to see if I could kill it, only to discover that task manager no longer lists tasks. The most basic view is processes - which is fine if you know what processes are being used. Oddly perverse decision. I really can't see anybody with limited PC knowledge standing a chance.