I have what appears to be significant problems with my Server Essentials 2012 system. It began last month, when I was unable to install KB2769034. I also noticed that I was not receiving notices of dozens of other patch Tuesday updates. KB2769034 was consistently failing the install with Code 8007054F. Searching for solutions led to very little help. I eventually renamed the SoftwareDistribution folder and restarted the system in an attempt to reset Windows Update. This did not work, but I was able to eventually get a subsequent minor update to install. I tried again today to install the new Update Rollup 1 for Essentials 2012, but consistently get Code 80070BC9. After each failed update, I restart the system and wait for numerous "failure configuring Windows Updates - reverting changes" to complete. The system eventually restarts and works OK without the updates.
This is a bone-stock Server Essentials 2012 system running on generic HP desktop hardware, meeting all hardware requirements. The only non-Microsoft software installed is APC Powerchute for my UPS. The system is working without problems other than WU. The system worked and installed updates normally for several months. I have read "do not do" notes about running utilities like sfc.exe to repair Windows system files on Server 2012, so have avoided that to-date. Are there any recommendations for how to reset Windows Update on this server and get updates installed?