Stuck on Windows Update

one man clappin

Hi
I have been working on an Acer laptop since yesterday and it keeps getting stuck at installing windows update.
I have tried doing a system restore to a date last month (as far back as i can go) and it just hangs.
Also have tried installing a few programs but it keeps saying that another program is being installed (.msi)
Any help would be appreciated.

yoyo

Moved from Comp & Tech

Fysh

If it's sticking during the startup sequence, either boot into it in safe mode or mount the drive on another machine, then clear out the SoftwareDistribution folder (this should work on Vista, 7, 8 or 8.1).

If you're in safe mode, you need to stop the Windows Installer service if it's running (net stop "Windows Installer" at an elevated command prompt, or using services.msc), the Windows Update service (net stop wuauserv at an elevated command prompt, or using services.msc) and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (net stop BITS at an elevated command prompt, or using services.msc), then go to C:\Windows and rename SoftwareDistribution to something like SoftwareDistribution.old. Once this is done, restart the services (net start BITS & net start wuauserv at an elevated command prompt, or using services.msc), re-run Windows Update and it will start downloading updates.

If you've mounted the drive in another machine you shouldn't have to stop the services, though you may need to edit permissions on the Windows directory for the drive.

one man clappin

Thanks very much Fysh, that seems to have done the trick.
It now seems to be stuck installing an update for OneNote 2010 but will leave it for another while.

one man clappin

Came in this morning, and it is still trying to install that update for onenote.

Torqay

KB number?

one man clappin

2 numbers not sure which one is causing the problem.
KB2760600 32 bit
KB2810072 32 bit
I have hidden all updates for Microsoft office 2010 so hopefully that will cause no further problems

Torqay

Try this.