Vista - New updates won't let me restart

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!

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

System Restore - How to

Create a Recovery Disc

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

Windows Update - Windows Automatic Updating

Windows Update

http://www.vistax64.com/software-too...air-tools.html

Hope that helps

SIW2

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?

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.

System Files - SFC Command

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.

Clean Install with a Full Version of Vista

Hope it helps

SIW2

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?

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

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!

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?

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 :

Windows Update

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

Windows Update - Windows Automatic Updating

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

http://www.vistax64.com/software-too...air-tools.html

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

Hope that helps

SIW2

thank you so much for this it helped me alot