Continious Update loop & no way out 2

[xit]

This HP laptop has Vista Home Premium it is a DV6500 series, problem is this:

computer is stuck in "Configuring Updates: Stage 3 of 3 0%", then reboots over and over to the same screen.

I have tried every method suggested online & from Microsoft, only option left is a complete recovery where important data will be lost.

If anyone has overcome this problem I would appreciate any input.

thanks
xit

 

[linney]

You don't say what things you have tried, but have you tried System Restore from the Startup Repair options?

Try running it (System Restore) out of the Windows environment. If you have an install DVD that you can boot to (or a Startup Repair option via the F8 Safe Mode screen), try launching the System Restore option first and if that doesn't work try the Command Prompt from the options provided when you go down the Startup Repair path.


Try running Chkdsk C: /r from within the Command Prompt.

How to use the Command Prompt in the Vista Windows Recovery Environment

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial147.html

Using System Restore from the Vista Windows Recovery Environment

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html

How to use System Restore to log on to Windows Vista when you lose access to an account

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940765/

Will the machine boot into Safe Mode?

 

[xit]

Thanks Linney, I have tried system restore, startup repair,, system restore out of Windows environment, with a recovery disk & deleting pending.xml. I have tried all options in safe mode + many others but I have not tried Chkdsk from a prompt, which I will try now

thanks
xit

 

[firewolfrl]

here is some info

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

or

1) Boot from the Vista install disc (I understand the following works
as an alternative if you haven't got a
Vista disc 'Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart
Files'
(

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/)

)

2) Choose your language, time etc and select the "Repair your computer"
option.

3) Start a command prompt and delete/move the following file.
C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml

4) Restart the PC, you'll get the same 'configuring updates' screen but
after a while it will carry onto the desktop!!!

5) create a restore point.



or read these

http://www.vistaforums.com/Forum/Topic13557-9-1.aspx

good luck

 

[firewolfrl]

this is an alt ...I forgot about cleanup
Rename the following files:



C:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml C:\windows\winsxs\pending.old.xml

C:\windows\winsxs\cleanup.xml -> C:\windows\winsxs\cleanup.old.xml

 

[xit]

Well as luck would have it I was checking the HP System Recovery Program and after progressing a couple of steps it gave the option to create a backup giving several areas to check the boxes, so now I am backing all the important files to a usb drive, should that work out I will do a System Recovery then restore the backed up files. I have not noticed this option in the past,very useful if it works.

Thank you all for your input

xit

 

[firewolfrl]

I would do the restore options I noted first
maybe then you don't have to do the reload recovery

 

[xit]

firewolfrl thanks,

The problem was I could get to system restore and there were very many restore dates & I tried them all but Windows reported they all failed. Buy the way, I eventually got everything backed up & did a system recovery.
Yes, this was the long way around to recover from what seemed a small problem initially. Sometimes it is not the money but the challenge & what I learn that makes this all worth while.

Thanks again all

xit