Latest Vista Update stuck in Stage 3/restart loop

Hi MNGyler,

You can use the solutions in this KB - 4 methods and I listed a little help for them below

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

Method 1: Start Windows Vista/Windows 7 with the Windows installation media, and then

use the Repair feature

How to Do a Startup Repair in Vista and Windows 7

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

You can also do a Startup Repair from Safe Mode accessing the Recovery Options if you

have them available or use the DVD as above.

This tells you how to access the System Recovery Options - Vista

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/326b756b-1601-435e-99d0-1585439470351033.mspx

This tells you how to access the System Recovery Options - Windows 7

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Startup-Repair-frequently-asked-questions

Try StartUp Repair from Recovery Options

How to do a Startup Repair (Vista)

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

Method 2: Start the system in safe mode, and then use the System Restore feature

How to Do a System Restore in Vista

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

How to Do a System Restore in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

You can also do a System Restore by booting up with a Vista or Windows 7 disk.

Method 3: Use the Downloads at the end of this article - note versions for Vista x86 32 bit

and Vista x64 64 bit.

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

Method 4:

At the Command Prompt or Recovery Options or a Vista disk boot

Type or copy and paste these in one at a time (not the press ENTER)

c:windows\winsxs\ in the commandprompt      

press ENTER

DIR pending.*

press ENTER  and you should see the pending.xml

ren pending.xml pending.old

press ENTER.

---

This is the older complete Method 4

Use the System Recovery options or Vista Boot Disk to rename the Pending.xml file and

edit the registry:

On the System Recovery Options page, click Command Prompt.

Type cd C:\windows\winsxs, and then press ENTER.

Type ren pending.xml pending.old, and then press ENTER.

Type regedit, and then press ENTER.

Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

On the File menu, click Load Hive.

Locate the following folder:

C:\windows\system32\config\components

When you are prompted for a name, type Offline_Components.

In Registry Editor, locate and then delete the following registry

subkey:

HLKM\Offline Components\AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving

HKLM\Offline Components\PendingXmlIdentifier

Exit Registry Editor:

At the command prompt, type exit to exit Registry Editor.

Press ENTER.

Restart System

---

Once you are in Windows again I would run the Reset here as a precaution.

How do I reset Windows Update components?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

---

If you can't get into Windows you need a Vista disk - if you do not have one you can

borrow a friends as the are not copy protected and the system maker will usually sell

you the physical disk cheap (you are only paying for the DVD as you already own Vista).

Or you can make a Repair Disk.

This tells you how to access the System Recovery Options and/or from a Vista DVD

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/326b756b-1601-435e-99d0-1585439470351033.mspx

If you need to make repair disks - these help repair Windows not re-install.

How to Make a Bootable Disk in Vista

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/7050.aspx

Download: Windows Vista 32 bit (x86) Recovery Disc and Windows 7

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

Download: Windows Vista x64 Recovery Disc and Windows 7

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

How to Make a Windows Vista Repair Disk If You Don’t Have One

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-make-a-windows-vista-repair-disk-if-you-dont-have-one/

---

If needed you can get free incident reports however the above should take care of it for you.

For Windows Updates - Free Incident Report

Go Here and Click -> Windows Update fails while scanning for, downloading, or installing updates

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport#tab3

For Security Updates you can get a Free Support Incident Report

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/resources/support.aspx

Hope this helps sort it out for you.

---

Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

thanks man!!!! method 4 worked for me.....you save my day!!! when u login better install fixit file from microsoft..

c:windows\winsxs\ in the commandprompt       

press ENTER

DIR pending.*

press ENTER  and you should see the pending.xml

ren pending.xml pending.old

press ENTER.

 make sure your in drive c: NOT X.....to change the directory use "cd.."

@ Vistafrustrated:

I know it's been over a month, but your error message tells me that you aren't in the right directory...you should be in "C:".

Once in this the right directory the steps from MickyO up top are all correct and worked for me!

Good Luck if you haven't gotten an answer yet....

Reboot to Safe Mode and try, repeatedly tap F8 as you boot. And you can try the other methods.

Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

@ Spiritx MS MVP:

When I get to the prompt in which I enter Offline_Components, I receive an error message - "Cannot Load X:\Windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

Now what do I do?