"Preparing To Configure Windows. Please Do Not Turn Off Your Computer"

Anonymous
2009-12-03T01:02:16+00:00

Hi. I just got my new laptop yesterday with Windows 7 Home Premium. When I left for school this morning, I shut down my computer and saw that it had 22 Windows Updates to download. When I turned it back on this afternoon, it was stuck at a screen that said "Preparing To Configure Windows. Please Do Not Turn Off Your Computer." I decided to wait but it stayed the same for as long as I waited. Finally, I powered it off by holding on the power button, and just normally booted the system. Will there be any damage done to my new laptop? Is there any way I can prevent this update glitch from happening again? Thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-04-23T05:50:01+00:00

Hi. I just got my new laptop yesterday with Windows 7 Home Premium. When I left for school this morning, I shut down my computer and saw that it had 22 Windows Updates to download. When I turned it back on this afternoon, it was stuck at a screen that said "Preparing To Configure Windows. Please Do Not Turn Off Your Computer." I decided to wait but it stayed the same for as long as I waited. Finally, I powered it off by holding on the power button, and just normally booted the system. Will there be any damage done to my new laptop? Is there any way I can prevent this update glitch from happening again? Thanks.

I just bought a Toshiba Laptop for a Client with windows 7 home,

As a favour for my clients I usually run windows update for them so they get it all working and are 100% confident that when they get it as up to date as possible,

I ran into the exact same problem as above, i read this thread and read all different reply's but none of them realy worked for me and i didnt have time to wait...

this is what worked for me:

  1. Hold down the power button and switch of your machine
  2. Restart your computer and just before windows boots hit the F8 button
  3. Boot into safe mode
  4. login (if nessecary)
  5. Make sure that any virus scanners at this point are disabled before continuing
  6. Click "Start" > "Accessories" > "System Restore"
  7. Click "Next"
  8. Pick an earlier restore point and then click next, (its best to pick the 1 just before you had problems)
  9. Click next and follow the prompts and it will start a system restore
  10. wait till your computer does this System Restore process
  11. Regardless of whether the system restore process fails or passes it should now get you out being stuck at "Preparing To Configure Windows. Please Do Not Turn Off Your Computer."

Now...

  1. login if required

13 Disable Virus Scanner before moving on

  1. Run windows update
  2. now it should run without any problems
  3. if you do have problems and run into a loop Call your Computer Manufacturer or the company that you purchased it off and see if they can help you,

Thanks

Michael

Was this answer helpful?

500+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

142 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-03T19:52:30+00:00

    Yesterday I was a proud recipient of a Dell Precision running Windows 7 Professional. We had held on to XP as long as we could, and since I needed a replacement computer, we opted to let me be the office guinea pig for Microsoft's new OS. I had no complaints. Windows 7 had different ways of doing things, but none that were a significant departure from XP. Today I installed applications we use beyond Microsoft's business suit and rebooted. Big mistake. The system informed me it was installing sixteen updates, but on restart it has put me into "Preparing to configure Windows" purgatory with no one to offer prayers for my speedy removal.

    This, suffice to say, is not good. Double plus ungood, if you like. But, things like this is why I get to be the guinea pig, where we can evaluate packages before adopting them through the workplace.

    As it stands now, I cannot recommend Windows 7 for our company.

    Let me say this again, on the off chance that someone in Microsoft is monitoring this board. I cannot recommend Windows 7 for our company. We cannot afford the downtime involved. We need something that works.

    I hate to say the "L" word, for some are quick to invoke Linux and Mac whenever there's mention of Windows problems. For what it's worth, I tinker with Ubuntu at home, and while Linux is less of a hassle than in years past, it has its own quirks. But so far Ubuntu hasn't wandered off to gaze at it's navel while I stare at "Preparing to configure Windows." Right now Ubuntu and WINE are looking mighty interesting, and I think it would be a good project to try on an older computer.

    Angry? No. I simply can't recommend an OS that leaves users twiddling their thumbs for hours on end.

    Pass this up the chain, Microsoft reader. Maybe someone higher up will pay attention. If not . . . well, it's not written in stone that a PC must run Windows, or any Microsoft product at all.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-02-01T17:18:19+00:00

    thanks JC NZ!  CTRL-ALT-DEL worked like a charm!

    =j=

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-27T22:41:43+00:00

    I had the same issue, and left it running for an hour or so.

    The FIX: Hit Ctrl + Alt + Delete as you normally would and you should be able to log on- problem solved.

    Cheers,

    JC NZ

    Was this answer helpful?

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-01-24T08:39:14+00:00

    I bought my laptop yesterday, and when I turned it off at about 22:00, i had 32 windows updates, and it also said, Preparing to configure Windows. Please do not turn off. Then when I woke up in the middle of the night, it said 30% Please do not turn off. Then when I woke up this morning, it had stayed the same all night. Still 30%. And now its 10:00 am. Really? More than 12 hours? And it's still on 30%.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments