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
    2012-12-26T18:06:35+00:00

    @soupsoup & anyone else with a similar problem: To avoid confusion & duplication of effort, please begin your own, new thread in the appropriate forum. State your current IE version and full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; WinXP 64-bit SP2; Vista 32-bit SP1; Vista 64-bit SP2; Win7 32-bit; Win7 32-bit SP1; Win7 64-bit; Win7 64-bit SP1) in your first post. Thank you.

    See...

        • HOW TO begin your own, new thread about your computer & your problem

           http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/Page/faq#faqGettingAnswers5

        • Suggestions for asking a question in help forums

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

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-26T13:34:53+00:00

    Hello all.

    So I am stuck in the loop and in this historic thread!

    Thanks for all the help so far, here is where I'm failing.

    1. I cannot rename pending.xml as pending.old as it says it cannot find the file

    I also tried looking for pending.xml in the location mentions using the registry editor, I don't know if that would work but anyway it's not there.

    1. When opening the folder C:\windows\system32\config\components I noticed there are two versions of Components in C:\windows\system32\config\ however I opened one anyway
    2. I delete the files but I'm stuck in the loop still. When I try it again the files I thought I deleted are still there..?

    Any help would be great

    Lewis

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-12-20T06:16:03+00:00

    could some one explan this in windows terms, like in doesnt know jack about dos. how do i get to dos from the System Recovery options ? i cant even find a system recovery options on my comp. why cant i get there from registry editor and delete those files? or change those files, i found both files in there.

    i can find dos from the start,all programs,administrtive tools, and put all the info in but it told me i do not have permision.and i am in as administrator.

    this realy sucks after 5 years microsoft still hasnt fixed this!

    someone help a old fart and windows me through this if possable.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-12-15T18:19:18+00:00

    Thank you for your suggestions. I did the rename of pending.xml to pending.old. I did a search for the AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving and couldn't find it. I did find the PendingXMLIdentifer and I deleted it. It worked when I restarted the computer. It showed the same screen that it was updating then it showed the users accounts and I was able to log in.

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