Latest Vista Update stuck in Stage 3/restart loop

Anonymous
2009-07-26T19:43:12+00:00

I have Vista Business system on a Toshiba notebook, latest Service Pack and with all updates.  It was fully functional when i last shut it down.  I just booted it up to find the Stage 3 page of a Windows update.  0% progress shown, then it restarts, and opens at the same page again.  Stuck in this loop.  Have tried using F8 to get last good installation, and to stop auto restart, without success, it just keeps returning to the Stage 3 page and reboots.  Tried Systems Repair which offered a System Restore, but that wouldn't start.  System Repair now just keeps showing progress (for 3/4 hour) without any HD activity.  I shut it down and it still restarts at same Stage 3 page.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2009-07-29T01:37:10+00:00

Configuring updates stage 3 of 3. 0% complete

Road Map:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

Use the System Recovery options 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.

Click Restart.

Kindly reply to me if the steps worked.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-01-22T00:18:35+00:00

    Hello,

    I have Vista with SP 2 & have had no problems with it since I first installed it in 2008. A few days ago I experienced this "...update 3 of 3" restart loop & after trying everything I knew, was resolved to buying a new HD & re-installing Windows. I stumbled across your fix & it worked beautifully.

    Thank you,

    Dennis Wolcott

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-19T04:31:07+00:00

    Alright ppl ... i had this problem for the last 24 hours,, and yes i have managed to fix it... HERE WE GO!!!

    Step one get yourself a Vista Repair disc.. guess what doesnt matter if its compatable or not ! w00t!

    Next what ur gonna wanna do is throw your disc in HOLD f8 on startup select Safemode with Cmd Prompt!!

    Your vista repair will show up asking language click next,,, next it will show a partition drive, wich in my case would not work via the wrong disc!! click repair anyways ,, click load drivers ,, then find your c:\ Drive right click it and select the go through the tabs till you find Disc Repair,, click that then schedual on next start up close the windows a new one will pop up giveing you the option to run cmd promt it will be running of x:/boot drive,, you need to change this type c:

    followed by  c:\windows\winsxs\del pending.xml

    reboot your pc the screen will go back to the update screen and your gonna go WTF OMG RAAAHHFHGJSDGjdgjdj and punch your computer but settle down and wait,, you'll hear the windows start up song Tuhhhhdahhhhhh,, then gentely tap your power button do NOT hold,, next you will see the WELCOME sign,, and just like that your back in windows KKAAAACHOW!!..   p.s.//  when using driver fixers and registry cleaners,,, make sure to have back up discs, sure it would speed up the process... !! your welcome!

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-05T00:46:34+00:00

    Thanks! Worked like a charm although not all the mentioned keys were present in the registry hive you mentioned, I deleted those that were present  and it worked. 

    After reboot it said it was installing updates again but this time it went right past it.

    Thanks again I rarely find any help in the forums that is helpful for more than pointing me in the right direction, this one was pretty much right on.

    As to the second tip it is pretty much worthless since safe mode will not work at all.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-03T06:35:05+00:00

    Hello,

    This worked for me after I had been trying many different things for over 3 weeks.  Even bought a fixit disc online, nothing worked. I could not start in safe mode, had no system restore point.  This worked for me the first time.  Thanks so much!!!!

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