Latest Vista Update stuck in Stage 3/restart loop

Hi,

Use a Vista Repair Disk which you can make using the instructions

just above your reply. A Repair Disk can be made on any computer

using XP, Vista, or Windows 7 with a CD/DVD burner as it uses no

file from the host computer. A recovery disk is more limited in this

function than a repair disk.

====================================================

If the above does not help you can try this with a Vista Repair Disk

to try to restore a registry backup. Do not do this unless you have

exhausted the other methods.

There are backups in the C:\Windows\System32\Config\Regback folder.

Here is an article for XP and Vista is similar in scope. The config folder,

and its contents should be rebuilt though.

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

Check this thread - you can use the Command Prompt of a boot disk or Recovery.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistasetup/thread/55f98088-0fc3-4371-a005-d95a457d9de6

Hope this helps.

Hi Spirit X

I know i have posted this question in reply to MickyO, but i am new to forums and you really seem to know what you are talking about.

After doing method 4 i am in this position:

I have been battling for 3 days now, but to cut a long story short  i  booted with the recovery disc (vista home) to try access the Offline_Components through command regedit however the file cannot be accessed because it is being used by another process.

This happens no matter how i manage to get regedit to run.

How can i get this hive offline components - well offline i guess

Any suggestions.

PS i have no restore points and the system wwill not allow me to log on to start repair (does not recognise me for some reason or other).

I do however notice under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/COMPONENTS the "advancedInstallersNeedResolving (Reg_SZ) and PendingXmlIdentifier(Reg_Binary) are there (i guess online components)

ThanksTo add to this - under load hive in safe mode the options include: components.log1 and .log2; components_previous, components_previous.Log1 and .LOG2

Kevin

I have been battling for 3 days now, but to cut a long story short  i  booted with the recovery disc (vista home) to try access the Offline_Components however the file cannot be accessed because it is being used by another process.

This happens no matter how i manage to get regedit to run.

Any suggestions.

PS i have no restore points and the system wwill not allow me to log on to start repair (does not recognise me for some reason or other).

Thanks.

Hi DavidSwit,

This is a very old thread so you would get more uptodate information

by starting your own thread with the information we need to help us

help you.

How to ask a question

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

=====================================================

This troubleshooter is for both Vista and Windows 7 - use the methods relating to your

Windows version.

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 (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

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/Windows 7

x86 32 bit and Vista/Windows 7 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/Windows 7 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/Windows 7 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/Windows 7 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/Windows 7). 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

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

---

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

NeoSmart now charges $9.75 for their ISO images to make the disks.

How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc - Free methods

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html

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 - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.