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Get Vista Out of the Infinite Reboot Loop "Configuring Updates Stage 3 of 3 0%"

  • 22-06-2010 8:06pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 465 ✭✭


    My laptop is stuck in Stage 3 of 3 0% complete configuring updates.
    It is stuck in an endless rebot. Any suggestions welcome in how to overcome this. I am running Vista as my OS


Comments

  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 10,999 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    What Service Pack you are on?

    IIRC the majority of the Endless Loop issues came about with SP1, and the solution was tedious but solved the problem - boot from install media, go to Repair My Computer, go to Recovery Console, log on with Administrator account, and delete various files as advised by Microsoft connected to the updates.

    That being said, the only KB article I can find easily about it is this one, which just says use Startup Repair or System Restore.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,718 ✭✭✭✭JonathanAnon


    Seen this one a few times this year.. There is an error with one of the Windows Updates.... I usually delete a file called pending.xml, and then turn off automatic updates until I find the source of the problem.

    http://www.thefakegeek.com/2008/07/fix-infinite-%E2%80%9Cconfiguring-updates-3-of-3-0-complete%E2%80%9D/

    It's explained as The Second Method on the link above.. I've deleted the pending.xml file on every PC that I had this issue with and it works every time.. But you must be conscious that unless you turn off the updates it is likely to happen again. This will get the PC booted up again.. Then you can tackle what the issue is with the particular update that is causing the issue.


  • Registered Users Posts: 465 ✭✭greened


    Thanks lads. I did not have the boot media as it was not my laptop.

    Found this on http://www.anguas.com/?p=47
    • STEP 1. As your computer restarts erratically over and over and reaches the point where you see the “(c) Microsoft” and the moving lines, hold the Power button down until it shuts off your computer completely.
    • STEP 2. Turn on computer. Now your computer is going to start in the “Windows Startup Repair” diagnostic mode. Press ENTER so that the “Startup Repair” may commence. I let it ran until the search was done and I got the message “Windows cannot repair this computer automatically”
    • STEP 3 Look down for the “View advanced option for system recovery and support” and CLICK on. You’ll be prompted to “System Recovery Option”; select your keyboard language (US) and click NEXT button.
    • STEP 4 Now you are in the “Administrator Account”. In the “User name” pop up, change “Administrator” to “user” (which is you). Than enter your usual “log in” password (if you have one on your computer) and press NEXT.
    • STEP 5 .You are now in the “Choose a recovery tool”. Go down to “Command Prompt” and CLICK on. You are prompted in to the MS DOS/ text mode.
    • STEP 6. In here simply apply Pieter magic text (as per his post @ 21):
    type: prompt winsxs (press enter)
    type: move C:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml text.xml (press enter)
    type: exit and restart computer

    Worked first time. On the laptop I was trying to repair SP1 was installed. It wont allow SP2 to be installed but will take all other auto updates.

    Working well now on SP1 so think I will leave alone.

    Thanks


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 10,999 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    Glad to hear you got it working again :)

    It's still a good idea to put SP2 on it, but I have to admit I've mostly installed it using the offline media after one or two balls-ups when using Automatic Updates so it may be better to advise whoever owns the laptop to do it that way.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,426 ✭✭✭ressem


    Encountered this a few days ago also.

    The patch causing issues in the case I encountered was kb974470 Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 on Windows Vista Service Pack 2.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 465 ✭✭greened


    Tried to install SP 2 and it failed.Decided to take all available updates and set for auto updates. However updates keep failings and at stage 3 of configerating the updates the laptop reverses the changes. I suspect this is were it originaly got stuck in the reboot loop as the owner (children) propbally turned of the laptop.
    Anyway I have checked the update logs and the laptop has failed on most security updates since 09/09/2009!
    Any ideas how to overcome this update problem.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 10,999 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    What's the make and model of the laptop?


  • Registered Users Posts: 465 ✭✭greened


    Acer
    Aspire 5920

    Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
    2.0 Ghz, 667 Mhz FSB 2 MB L2 Cache
    3 GB DDR2
    160 GB HDD


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,426 ✭✭✭ressem


    If you manually run windows windows update, is there an error number reported? Or is there an associated error in the event log?

    E.g. A common enough bug (error 80070002) that stops updates from working over an extended period is a bad windows update download. To clear, you delete the offending file from the temporary DataStore.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Update-error-80070002


  • Registered Users Posts: 465 ✭✭greened


    ressem wrote: »
    If you manually run windows windows update, is there an error number reported? Or is there an associated error in the event log?

    E.g. A common enough bug (error 80070002) that stops updates from working over an extended period is a bad windows update download. To clear, you delete the offending file from the temporary DataStore.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Windows-Update-error-80070002

    Thanks the error code is 800B0100 and refers to a signiture not been available (from my memory as I have not got laptop with me). Patch were available thu microsoft help, but pnly for 64 and 84bit versions of vista. The laptop was running a 32 bit version. I down loaded the 64 and the laptop rejected it but took the 84. I managed to get all available updates except one after the download. I keep getting the above error code. I also still can not get the laptop to accept SP2. I will just revert changes after updating.

    any suggestions?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,426 ✭✭✭ressem


    Not specifically, haven't encountered that particular code.

    Have you tried the Microsoft Update System Readiness Tool?

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=B4D90B06-C27D-4483-BC1F-04D43FA7B293&displaylang=en

    which is meant to clear out various conditions that can block updates.


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