Windows 7 Updates Not Configuring

Shane St.

I let windows update install various updates. I turned on the computer and I get to the screen "Preparing to configure Windows. Do not turn off your computer." It has been on this screen for hours and nothing is happening. Surely something has gone wrong here. Any help?

drunkmonkey

Can you force shutdown (hold the power button) or take the battery in and out.

yoyo

Shane St. wrote: »

I let windows update install various updates. I turned on the computer and I get to the screen "Preparing to configure Windows. Do not turn off your computer." It has been on this screen for hours and nothing is happening. Surely something has gone wrong here. Any help?

Moved to Windows
If its crashed you have no choice but to push in and hold the power button for 10 seconds to power off the machine, hopefully after Windows will boot ok and you can finish off the updates

Nick

Shane St.

Nope even after powering off and trying again it still gets stuck

yoyo

Shane St. wrote: »

Nope even after powering off and trying again it still gets stuck

Can you boot into safe mode? If you can boot in and look in the C:\Windows folder for "SoftwareDistribution" folder, rename this to "SoftwareDistribution2" and make a new "SoftwareDistribution" folder in C:\Windows directory. This may get Windows to ignore the problem update and boot ok

Nick

Shane St.

yoyo wrote: »

Can you boot into safe mode? If you can boot in and look in the C:\Windows folder for "SoftwareDistribution" folder, rename this to "SoftwareDistribution2" and make a new "SoftwareDistribution" folder in C:\Windows directory. This may get Windows to ignore the problem update and boot ok

Nick

I can yes. I will try this

yoyo

Let us know how you get on

Nick

Shane St.

Hey Nick
So i renamed the folder which completely erased my update history which is fine. Went to check for updates again, it found some, installed them then had to restart computer.
I have retarted it and after a good 10minutes (which is too long) looks like the problem has not gone away as I'm still on the "Preparing to configure Windows Do not power off computer..." screen

Shane St.

A few people on this forum http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_update/preparing-to-configure-windows-please-do-not-turn/99a1e8f6-5939-43f4-b884-1b48f85555fa?page=1&tm=1334245419824

have said after 5-6 hours it has worked. I'm gonna leave it plugged in until this evening. Maybe it will work

yoyo

Shane St. wrote: »

A few people on this forum http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_update/preparing-to-configure-windows-please-do-not-turn/99a1e8f6-5939-43f4-b884-1b48f85555fa?page=1&tm=1334245419824

have said after 5-6 hours it has worked. I'm gonna leave it plugged in until this evening. Maybe it will work

Keep the fingers crossed

Nick

Shane St.

No Joy

Shane St.

Seems I'm not alone with this problem. But there doesn't seem to be a definitive solution. Shame on Microsoft for not addressing this

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/202712-win-7-update-problem-computer-will-not-start.html

Maura74

I found if you type MSCONFIG in your start up button and run it this should bring up system configuration box with tabs across it, look in all the tabs there and see if anything has been stoppe, if so you can enable it again.

Shane St.

At my wits end here. So i just rebooted in safe mode. used a system restore and have disabled windows update

Maura74

What make is your laptop I got a sony viao running window 7 professional and have some problems with it as well. Why not contact the maker and get advice from them.

Shane St.

It's a DELL. I was able to install a few of the updates manually. At least I can use it now. I'm just going to run it w/o using windows update for a while maybe a month or so. And perhaps if I try a month down the line the problem will be gone.

yoyo

Shane St. wrote: »

It's a DELL. I was able to install a few of the updates manually. At least I can use it now. I'm just going to run it w/o using windows update for a while maybe a month or so. And perhaps if I try a month down the line the problem will be gone.

Could you pinpoint which update is failing?

Nick

Shane St.

Hey Nick
Security Update for Windows 7 for x64 based systems (KB2653956)

yoyo

Shane St. wrote: »

Hey Nick
Security Update for Windows 7 for x64 based systems (KB2653956)

Try installing all the updates except that one, then try installing it again and see what happens. It could be something as simple as a previous update that one relys on is missing, Windows update can do quirky things now and again

Nick