Strange update and reboot error - thinking caps on for this one!

TheBigCheese · 6 Nov 2009 at 21:51

Hi guys, anyone fancy a challenge?

I was asked to fix a family members PC a few days back as they said it wasn't working.

I go round to find when it boots it says that is is configuring update 3/3, gets to 68% and reboots, and it does the same thing in safe mode.

OK I thought (somewhat smugly) I can fix this...boot from Windows disc (Vista Home Premium 64), return to a system restore from three days earlier...and it boots to the desktop, job done, where's me cake? (I've been playing Portal).

So I left them to it and went on my merry way...I got a call a couple of hours later "It's doing it again".

Curses and thinking caps later and I reckon it's done the same thing (at 68%) because auto updates are still on, so I system restore again, it boots to the desktop and I make sure auto updates are off!

I boot and reboot, it's all fine, runs well and all seems good with the world, I even playtest some games to make sure it's stable (you have to be thorough

)

Next day..."it's doing it again".

OK, this time I'm stumped...it keep chucking up an error message that it's geting stuck at configuring update 3/3 at 68% (when they haven't been downloaded) and refuses to boot Windows.

How on Earth do I fix the little swine? :confused:

siege2 · 6 Nov 2009 at 21:56

if its updating have you tried unplugging the internet.

also could you download the full service packs 1 & 2 etc

install them , then after reboots etc, plug internet back in to see how it goes

Blackbadger · 6 Nov 2009 at 22:10

Even if auto updates are turned off MS have been known push some patches without your consent.

As siege suggested manually install sp1/2.

Mattus · 6 Nov 2009 at 22:14

Does the machine have service packs installed? If not, as the others suggested, install them yourself.

TheBigCheese · 6 Nov 2009 at 22:19

Thanks for the quick posts guys!

Yes as far as I know the service packs would be installed, how would I check and / or manually install them?

Many thanks

millsy888 · 6 Nov 2009 at 22:24

Click start, right click Computer > Properties and it will tell you there what SP is installed.

Info on service packs http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791

TheBigCheese · 7 Nov 2009 at 16:17

OK, I can get the service packs downloaded in preperation for going round...if I get round there and find that SP2 is installed what should I do?

Should I try and install SP2 over it (I can almost hear the collective NOOOOO!!!) or is there something else that can be tried?

I am pretty sure that SP2 is already installed on the machine.

I ask now as I have to keep whizzing over to their house to fix the problem so a plan B is always a good idea!

Thanks