Windows 7 fails to configure updates "reverting changes"

Anonymous
2010-10-02T15:48:06+00:00

Hi

I keep getting this message after Windows trys to install updates at startup....."failure configuring windows updates reverting changes"

  1. After I get this message I do boot correctly into Windows and my system runs ok.
  2. Windows 7 ...64 bit ....latest service packs installed.

3.This was an upgrade from Vista 64 bit ..but has been running fine since 8-2010 when I installed Win7

  1. I've run sfc/scannow and it reports everything is ok

Any ideas ?

Thanks in advance

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2010-10-03T09:02:41+00:00

Hi,

As a first step of troubleshooting, I would suggest you to check the updates history to see if there are any updates that have a failed status and let me know the description of those updates.

Step 1: Check the update history

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/See-which-Windows-updates-are-installed

Let me know if the description of the updates that have failed status.

Step 2: Manually try installing the updates from Microsoft Download Center

a.    Go to the Microsoft download website, type the "KB" number of the update into the download search box, and then click Go.

b.    In the list of search results, click the Knowledge Base (KB) article link to go to the download page. If there's more than one listing, look for a link that goes to the Microsoft Download Center.

c.    If there are multiple versions on the download page, find the appropriate one for your computer. Click the Download button, and save the update to your desktop.

d.    When prompted, click   Open to install the update.

Step 3: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Update-troubleshooter

Step 4: The update is not installed successfully, you receive a message, and the computer restarts when you try to install an update in Windows Vista and Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

Regards,

Gaurav Prakash - Microsoft Support

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Anonymous
2010-10-04T06:00:06+00:00

Thanks that worked for me although I did not need to go to the Microsoft download website.  I checked the update history and there were a few that had failed to update.  It said there that there were updates waited to be downloaded so I clicked on that and then selected the updates clicked down the bottom. I think it may have said next or download now.  It took me back to the update page where I selected to update.  That fixed the problem.  I did them one at a time incase there was a particular one that was causing problems but they all updated fine and my computer restarted normally

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62 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-06-28T18:57:52+00:00

    i can only run my windows in safe mode and in safe mode windows update will not open.  I keep clicking it and nothing pops, ive tried running as admin, right clicking and opening and nothing.  since this seems to be where the answer lies how do i fix it since i cannot open this windows update thing up.  Is it even safe mode thats not letting me?  I cant run it normally or i get a failure to configre updates error and it doesnt ever go away , literally ive tried leaving it on over night 

    I'm having the same issues with my laptop, apperantly just got finish updating the latest update and I am swimming in the error message of "Failure configuring Service Pack Reverting Changes please do not turn off your computer", nothing else. It was left over night and still in the same window.

    Since I cant get into my computer I can't do This:

    Step 1: Check the update history

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/See-which-Windows-updates-are-installed

    Let me know if the description of the updates that have failed status.

    Step 2: Manually try installing the updates from Microsoft Download Center

    a. Go to the Microsoft download website, type the "KB" number of the update into the download search box, and then click Go.

    b. In the list of search results, click the Knowledge Base (KB) article link to go to the download page. If there's more than one listing, look for a link that goes to the Microsoft Download Center.

    c. If there are multiple versions on the download page, find the appropriate one for your computer. Click the Download button, and save the update to your desktop.

    d. When prompted, click Open to install the update.

    Step 3: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Windows-Update-troubleshooter

    Step 4: The update is not installed successfully, you receive a message, and the computer restarts when you try to install an update in Windows Vista and Windows 7

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

    At the moment Im stuck so what do I do from here. I hope my friend Jason Howell is on to answer my question ;)

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-06T18:59:01+00:00

    Hi,

    I have just had to run a restore. The last restore I could run was 04/11 (I know, I know I will back up more often in future). However I now have about 72 updates to install. I have tried to do this 3 times now and each time I get "updates failed". I have done the fix it thing but still I cant install these? As I have so many  updates running each one indivdually will be a real pain. Can anyone help me please?

    Running windows 7

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-12T18:06:58+00:00

    In My Case, It Failed to update the Internet explorer 9's update and continues reverting back ..What a mess cause by Internet Explorer 9.. my solution is not to install any update related to Internet Explorer and after that never face such problem. Internet Explorer is the worst internet explorer i ever use!

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