Drop, charge, and lose the cords
Windows Vista: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle
- 10/23/09 3:18 PM
See The Note on WIndows Update with Office Installed
by lazenguy - 10/24/09 6:16 AM In reply to: RE: Which update was it? by sunstruckSee the post below on resolving problems with Windows update with endless looping when you have MS Office installed. Make sure the original installation folder is present. If not, uninstall and reinstall office.
Computer not working.
by hans0815 - 10/20/09 12:58 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Susanna.
Sorry I answered in German.
You should use SYSTEM RESTORE.
Click START on the left of the Monitor.
Then click ALL PROGRAMS.
In ALL PROGRAMS find ACCESORIES>
IN Accesories Click SYSTEM TOOL.
In SYSTEM TOOL Click SYSTEM RESTORE.
A Calendar will show up.
It shows the current date.
Go maybe 3 days back and click the date.
This sets your computer to a date it was still working.
(soetimes the Computer ask to use another date.)
Greetings from Montreal,Canada
Hans (de Montgazon)
Windows Update went bad
by afro2358 - 10/21/09 12:10 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Just do a PC Restore Susannah and that should solved your problem.
Add a second Hard Drive
by PhilMB - 10/23/09 5:09 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I too had an update that went horribly wrong, couldn't get into Windows no matter what I tried. I had used an Ubuntu LiveCD to verify all of the hardware was fully functional, and the data was all accessible on my 'C' drive. After fighting with it for two days, I told the tech I was working with to ship me a second HD; installed that as the 'C' drive and reloaded my XP and other necessary programs to it, then re-added the original drive as the 'D' drive to access all of the data. That $100 fix was the cheapest way to recover, and kept all of my data. Good luck.
Simply FORCE POWER off and RESTART your PC
by GLHamilton - 10/23/09 5:38 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
With Vista Service Patch 2, on the 5 separate computers I did this on, they ALL HUNG in an endless update cycle (where the update screen was constant and unchanging for up to several hours, or even overnight)...if the UPDATE does NOT finish in under an hour, it's HUNG!
On each computer, I just did a FORCE POWER OFF (by holding the poweron button, or unplugging the computer), and then RESTARTED the computer.
In each of the 5 cases, the computer RESTARTED, and then FINISHED the update with NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.
I know this is a SCARY thing to do, but turning off the computer and simply restarting SHOULD work in most cases!
GLH from New York City
Windows update problems
by rickken - 10/23/09 5:40 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't know if this will help you out because I'm working from a desktop. The (DSL) modem I previously had was always slow, when I changed to a router, my speed increased and the Windows updates that failed before (one update failed over thirty times)suddenly were solved. With my old modem I couldn't download Vista SP2, the router downloaded it with no problem. I had updates that never previously installed but now I don't have that problem. Can you connect your laptop into a router?
Good point
by qqqq88 - 10/23/09 5:53 PM In reply to: Windows update problems by rickkenriccken that's a good point you make about the speed of your connection. I have a friend that is still using dialup internet on an XP machine. Were there also a bunch of updates released for XP on 10/13, or was it just for Vista? I'm worried my friend will run into the "hanging update" problem if she tries to install them over dialup.
Vista Update Stuck in Endless Update Loop with MS Office
by lazenguy - 10/23/09 6:14 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you have MS Office installed, a number of Windows updates are not only for Vista but also for Office. This problem happened to me. During a routine "disk cleanup" I elected to clean up the original MS Office cabs folder, which is a valid choice during disk clean-up. No one or nothing tells you not to delete it, and I was just doing it to save space, though now there is document on it on the Microsoft help site.
Unfortunately, Windows (and Office) updates tries to reference this folder - which was deleted. When this folder is not found, it sends the updating cycle into an endless loop which is very difficult to stop. To further complicate matters, Java was also set to automatic update, and it was trying to update at the same time.
Luckily in my case, my office data files are on a separate "D:" drive so the answer for me was to uninstall MS Office from the "C:" drive and then reinstall it which recreates the "cabs" folder. Hence, I did not lose data. But I also had to uninstall and reinstall Java as well.
It was a long Saturday afternoon, but no harm done.
Windows update went bad!
by mlkgrant - 10/23/09 6:56 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I can tell you that one of te greatest features of Vista is the go back to another time went the computer didn't have problems. So this is what you do. 1.) Start Menu 2.) Control Panel 3.) System and Maintenance 4.) Backup and Restore Center; He there are two main items "Back up files" and "Restore file" You don't want either. What you want is below Restore Files, it says "Use System Restore to fix a problem and undo changes to Windows." them you pick a time a day or two before the problem started. It gives you an option to use a date it picks. I never go with that, it isn't far enough back. So check go back further an choose a date before the problem began. Good luck.
mlgrant
Classic issue of not enough room on System drive
by jv - 10/23/09 8:18 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
System drive needs 1Gb or more for some current SPs to install correctly.
I just fixed this on three PCs with last two update cycles (Sept., Oct)
Susannah - Here's Some Fascinating News ...
by i_made_this - 10/23/09 9:53 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
... or at least it was to me!
I had the precisely same problem, but it's not important you hassle with "we have that, too" on this issue. The proportion of Vista users who have encountered this very same problem is amazingly high, according to MSFT. I did the "phone routine" but employed a slick phone hack taught me by my daughter's husband.
His advice: "Dad, no sweat. What updates, please? All I need are the reference numbers. I'll hold." I looked and gave him the ref nos,, which he scanned and started barking out questions to me:
"OK Dad, did you ever install IE8 - BETA or etc?"
"No."
"Good. That's one down. W/Update doesn't like you because you refused to install IE8. Redmond is upset you're not playing by the rules. Hide that so-called update and let's move on."
"OK, next? It says .... and the REF NO is ..... ."
"Dad, have you installed a new printer / copier since the last one 'exploded' a couple months ago?"
"No, you two said you had one for me."
"Oops, well this weekend when we come over, I'll bring the copier and set you up. I'm sorry I forgot. Now, hide that so-called update and let's move on."
And on we went for about five W/Updates total. So I asked him: "Is it really this simple? Nowadays, Windows actually cries at you when you can't install an Update because the Update applies to some hardware or software that's not on your system?"
He responded: "Oh, yeah! Wait'll you see MSE - it replaces Windows Defender and adds a Microsoft Anti-Virus. Some people liked Defender, y'know? It was great at killing unwanted Start-Up programs. And the MSE A/Virus? We shall see... . Microsoft infers in future ad's that Seven's safe and solid as a rock because 'MSE's now built-in!' the implication being no more paying Symantec or Kaspersky Labs - Trust us in Redmond for free!"
All I could say was, "you must be kidding."
In the Continental USA, I called 1-800-MICROSOFT and was immediately connected over to the "VISTA / SEVEN" tech assistance line ( ! ). A certiified tech (their term - oh no..) in MSFT stuff, said "Do you mind if I take control of your system and have a look around?"
I told her "no problem, please snoop to your heart's content. I want to know how MSFT has messed things up this time - with the really important W/Updates program no less. The thing I love about the Windows o/s is that, when it screws it, it does it with style!"
She almost laughed. After study, she very much agreed and spent +/- 40 minutes inside the system. "Nice system!" I told her I was lucky to have a son-in-law who's a programmer who loves building systems as a hobby like this one, but he's away on business. And this darn W/Updates deal is hassling me in a major way.
The lady @ MSFT 800-777-xxxx said "no worries. Everything's where it belongs and has patched the system as required. No Crit/Imp W/Updates missing in action. As for the CPU and GPU, all drivers were 100% up to date. You are good to go!"
So I said to the lady, "You make this sound common: Windows Vista W/Update is wrong and its owner is right? Nah... Windows is always right, right?"
"Wrong! Many of the W/Updates beginning with Vista are wrong at worst or extra baggage at best and the user - you - is right. Isn't that too cool? I've got Seven Professional and W/Updates is messed up and funky for many including me ... the trend started with Vista. All Seven is, really, is a Vista update. And we just demo'ed how expert Windows is at fixing those Updates, right?"
The Conclusion, amazing as it maybe: W/Updateable Stuff was all perfectly current and healthy. But Windows has decided that it doesn't wish to read it correctly, amazing as that sounds.
That's one of the reasons I'm keeping Vista for at least another year. By Autumn 2010, hopefully we'll have the laptop / desktop Google Chrome and / or Ubuntu Linux widely pre-installed as the world's new operating system(s) that are the faves of Dell, HP,
Acer, Sony, Toshiba and Lenovo?? 
No system restore points? This will work then
by adkiller2k7 - 10/24/09 3:54 AM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've used this method before, it works great!
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_102-0.html?messageID=3152766#3152766
System Restore is very little help
by 76cars - 10/24/09 8:03 AM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In my experience, system restore is a totally inadequate program for what it has to do. I have a relatively small (main) hard drive, 80 gb used for programs with a 250gb secondary drive for data. There is always room (currently over 15gb) on the 80gb drive to maintain System Restore points, however there is usually only one restore point a day, some days there are none at all, even though the computer is in use every day from 9am to midnight or later. When installing programs, system restore often does not record this as it should.
For some time I have been using a program called ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT). This program makes a backhp of the registry at first startup every day, and can make further backups on demand. The program can be downloaded at http://www.snapfiles.com/get/erunt.html
I have lost count of the times this program has come to the rescue.
ENDLESS UPDATING
by pattiespups - 10/24/09 9:53 AM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i had this same problem, i turn it off and on many times, it took about 7 times of doing this and it took care of it. i would turn it off and let it set for a while, then i turned off my automatic updating. choose your updates every time, i pick only the important updates, never do automatic updates again. make your laptop ask you what you want to do next. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. reset your settings. that might help.
Question: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in end
by stahu - 10/24/09 1:30 PM In reply to: Windows update went bad, now my PC is stuck in endless updating cycle by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have the same problem with Windows XP. I get updates every day and it's a pain, but you don't dare stop them.
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