New updates won't let me restart

VistaNeedsHelp

New Member
So I just installed the most recent updates (the ones marked Important and Recommended), and the computer went through its usual motions until it got to the Configuration Part (after it restarted). It says: Configuring Updates: Step 3 of 3 - 0%. It jumps quickly to 96% and then restarts and starts configuring over. I tried restarting in safe mode. I don't remember what updates I installed (there were 17 of them), but when I read them over they seemed legitimate. I don't get any error messages or anything, it just goes through a cycle of endless restarting... please help!
 

My Computer

Hi,

If you are not able to get into Safe mode, try using your MS install dvd - or if you don't have one, create a recovery disc and System restore to a point before you had the problem - see step 2 in the Safe Mode tutorial

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html

You may want to stop automatic updating and try the tutorial to reset / repair Windows updates, before installing them again

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/120695-windows-update-windows-automatic-updating.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/72491-windows-update.html

http://www.vistax64.com/software-tools/183498-windows-update-reset-repair-tools.html

Hope that helps

SIW2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
When I tried to do a system restore, it said that the disk had errors and it needed to check for errors before it could restore. Unfortunately, it only checks for errors on startup, which it won't do. Is there a way to bypass checking for errors and just restore right away?
 
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My Computer

Hi,

You might try running the SFC command after getting into Safe Mode using your MS install dvd.Then see if System restore will function.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

You could download Seagate Tools for DOS and burn it to a cd using Isorecorder. Then boot in from that disk and get it to check for and fix disk errors. This is very quick and easy to do .

Hopefully you will then be able to boot in from your MS install dvd and do the System restore.

Seagate Technology - SeaTools

Alternatively, if you don't have any valuable data on your pc and you might not mind doing a clean reinstall - that should get you back up and running.

If you do not format the partition - just click the partition to install on in step 10 - do not select Drive Options ( advanced ) - you get an option to save your files to Windows. old - not a "clean" install , but keeps your data.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html

Hope it helps

SIW2
 
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My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
I was not given an install DVD... the recovery disk is a partition of my hard drive, but the boot menu in Vista won't let me choose D:, it only says "boot from hard disk."

Can i download SeaTools for DOS on a computer not running Vista and still have it work on my laptop?

Or rather, can I burn an ISO file on a computer running XP and expect it to read on Vista?
 
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My Computer

Hi,

Yes that should be fine, isorecorder will burn the bootable iso to a cd ( but not dvd ) in XP.

Download the Vista version 32 or 64 bit isorecorder from here

ISO Recorder v3

Then you need to boot in from the seatools for DOS cd on your Vista machine. It will load and near the top left is an option for checking and repairing your hd. From memory, think you need to move the cursor with your arrow keys.

To boot from cd drive :

start machine - the first bit of white writing on black screen lists your graphics card, then something like

F2 for setup
F11 for boot menu ( you may have different F numbers)

Press F11 ( or whatever yours is) - you need to be quick

When pop up boot menu appears , arrow down to cdrom drive and press Enter.

It may ask again - "press any key to boot from cdrom" - press Enter again.

Hope it helps

SIW2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
I ended up taking it to a specialist (150 bucks :-/), and he fixed it. Apparently part of the hard drive was corrupted, but I am not sure exactly how he got by the looping restart to restore the drive.

Next time this happens (which I am certain it will, I have no confidence in Vista, this is already the second time in one month this has happened (the other was an update of iTunes)) I will most certainly try your method (I sent it off before you replied). Thank you very much for your help!
 

My Computer

Question for the future: should I ever install updates? I don't want to lose my computer again because of them.

Also, the shut down option on my computer has the symbol that says it will install updates on shut down... so I can't shut it down without it trying to update, and I don't want to risk it screwing up. Suggestions?
 

My Computer

Hi,

To stop those installing , got to Control Panel>Check for updates>View available updates, then right click on the each available update and select Hide.

How to hide an update :

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/72491-windows-update.html

Also in the Check for updates window, click Change Settings and dot never check for updates:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/120695-windows-update-windows-automatic-updating.html

Then follow the steps in this tutorial and ensure you have the latest version of WUA installed :

http://www.vistax64.com/software-tools/183498-windows-update-reset-repair-tools.html

Then you should be ok to go to Change settings again and start receiving updates.

Hope that helps

SIW2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
thank you so much for this it helped me alot
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion a6345.sc
    CPU
    AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 processor 6000+
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA® nForce™ 430 chip
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia geforce 8800gtx Alphadog edition
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio 7.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" hp w2007v
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 76 hz
    Hard Drives
    2x 500 GB SATA 3G harddisk (7200 o/m)
    PSU
    700 watt
    Case
    175 x 414 x 387 mm
    Cooling
    3 fans
    Mouse
    razor
    Internet Speed
    2 \mbit
Hi zuzu,

Glad it helped

SIW2:D
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Hi degrassirules,

What is the problem exactly - how far do you get with the startup process?

Do you get any error messages?

Are you able to boot into Safe Mode ?

Have you done anything or installed anything recently that might be the cause of the problem ( apart from windows updates )?

Thanks

SIW2
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Vista
    CPU
    Intel E8400
    Motherboard
    ASRock1333-GLAN R2.0
    Memory
    4gb DDR2 800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 9500GT 1gb
  • Operating System
    win7/vista
    CPU
    intel i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    ballistix 2x8gb 3200
Hi SIW2 - I've just managed to instal the installation CD and the CD for Windows Vista. I know it's extreme (losing my itunes, etc, files, et al) but I'm afraid the Windows Vista problem was causing me much frustration and regret that I got Windows Vista. But I appreciate your promptness and advice on how to disable Windows Vista updates, which I've done.

I have no confidence in Windows Vista.

Take care and best wishes.
 

My Computer

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