"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

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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

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-01-05T23:58:51+00:00

    It is not required to create a System Restore point manually, before Windows Update.

    Windows Update automatically creates a System Restore point, each time its starts installing a batch of updates.

    VSingh - MSFT

    ------- this information is provided as-is without any warranties, implicit or explicit.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-06T03:03:58+00:00

    Hey Monkeydodo3,

    What model Toshiba laptop do you have and was it purchased directly from Toshiba or through a reseller/retailer?

    Thanks,

    Keith

    Keith Combs - Microsoft Senior PM - http://blogs.technet.com/keithcombs

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-01-07T05:25:58+00:00

    We are having the same problem. We bought two brand new laptops this afternoon, identical, and one of them had 34 updates to install when we shut it down the first time. When we turned it back on, it wouldn't go past the "Preparing to configure windows" screen. We've been waiting for 2 hours, and have tried shutting it down, removing the battery, etc. but as soon as we try to reboot, it does it again. What can we do??

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-01-07T19:49:01+00:00

    It's the same over here. Im my first attempt to solve the problem, i tried to make a recovery disk (since i couldnt boot it in safe-mode as well). You can find a disk over here: http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-repair-disc/ or make one yourself. All well, i thought. Just a couple of hours later windows asked me again to install some updates, 15 this time. With the same ending as written above. Im just waiting now for a couple of hours, i dont know if it makes any sense... Let me know if one of you has fixed it properly like Davidinnz, otherwise i just keep waiting for this train that might even not arrive! i'll update here if anything happens over here.

    Tia, pbrekel

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