December 2014 servicing stack update for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

Applies to: Windows Server 2012 R2 DatacenterWindows Server 2012 R2 StandardWindows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
This article describes a servicing stack update for Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2. The update fixes some issues and has a prerequisite.

Note We recommend that you install update 3021910 as it contains additional improvements that more comprehensively fixes the problem than this update.

About servicing stack

The servicing stack includes the files and resources that are required to service a Windows image. This includes the Package Manager executable, the required servicing libraries, and other resources. The servicing stack is included in all Windows installations.

Issues that are fixed in this update

Issue 1

After you install update 2966827, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 cannot be enabled.

Issue 2

After you uninstall update 3000850 (that is released on November 18, 2014) and restart the computer, the operating system freezes during the restart.

Note When this issue occurs, you have to go into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), run following command at command prompt:
dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions
Then, the removal of update 3000850 is complete, and the computer can start correctly.

How to obtain this update

Method 1: Windows Update

This update is available from Windows Update.

Method 2: Microsoft Download Center

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Operating systemUpdate
All supported x86-based versions of Windows 8.1Download Download the package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows 8.1Download Download the package now.
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2012 R2Download Download the package now.
Note The .msu files must be installed to an offline image by using the DISM.exe /Add-Package option. For more information, see Operating System Package Servicing Command-Line Options.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Update information

Prerequisites

To install this update, you must first install update 2919355 in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2.

Registry information

To apply this update, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update replaces a previously released update 2989647.

Removal information

After you install this servicing stack update, you cannot uninstall it to revert to an earlier version of servicing stack update.

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

References

See the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.