"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
    2011-04-04T05:56:11+00:00

    I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del (was going to reboot anyhow) and the Windows Logon Screen magically appeared.  Go Windows... maybe someday it will be finished.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-05-01T14:39:37+00:00

    This started on my laptop (Toshiba Tecra, with Windows 7 Pro) this past week. Every night, the message, "Downloading 3 updates." Every morning, "Configuring Windows Updates."  This goes on for a good 10 minutes. This is annoying. If it sets a new System Restore point every time it updates, why is it stuck in this loop?

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-05-02T20:53:24+00:00

    Hello everybody.

    I occasionally work in IT - tech support and have just arrived from performing some routine maintenance to a customers desktop computer.  Thank you for posting possible workarounds to this problem. I WILL TRY AS MANY AS I CAN given the chance to do so at this same PC.  If any works in a consistent fashion I'll make sure to post.

    Bear in mind that it might take a while until I get called back, tho'.

    In the mean time, trick question: could M$ be the brand for this "virus"...

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-05-11T16:00:18+00:00

    I am sure it's a problem in the update from Windows.

    I have super machine with 8 GB Ram, and it's taking a night! i'll wait more but that's bad!

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