windows 8.1 windows update issues .... updates never finish ... keeps rolling back

so this old notebook running windows 8.1 got 119 updates to install

I triggered the install, but every time it failed

I tried to do it one by one , but it will do the whole lot anyway

now Microsoft got a windows update trouble shooter

https://support.microsoft.com/en-nz/help/10164/fix-windows-update-errors

run the windows update

Run the Windows Update troubleshooter

it fixed a few reg entries

it helped

it still fails if I do the whole lot

but I can do one update one by one, or 10 each time

sometimes ok, sometimes rolling back

I kept running the 

the Windows Update troubleshooter

now the updates to be installed down to 53

what a night