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
    2015-08-26T19:17:17+00:00

    I was given a case number from Microsoft last week but no return call has been made despite numerous phone calls I have made trying to chase this up.

    What's your case (SRX) number?

    Is it a Vista computer or...?

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-25T14:13:16+00:00
    • My lap top is stuck in the "Configuruing updates stage 3 of 3" loop. Your solutions appear to require entering the system recovery/start option but since the only screens available are the one I mentioned and boot menu this is impossible to do. I was given a case number from Microsoft last week but no return call has been made despite numerous phone calls I have made trying to chase this up. As there are many logs of this problem dating back to 2009 I would have thought that solving the problem would, by now, be simple to resolve.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-30T09:44:59+00:00

    Hey Buddy_

    Method #1.

    You just click Alt+Ctrl+Del and login with credential, and then go to control panel Windows update=off

    Delete all Temp file.

    Restart PC.

    Method #2

    Insert Windows Installation CD and try to repair.

    Command : sfc /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=c:\ /OFFWINDIR=c:\windows

    Regards,

    Soumen Mishra

    IT Department

    +91-9776855838

    Larsen & Toubro Limited

    Orissa, India

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-07-20T01:32:54+00:00

    all F8 options leave me in same position, it doesn't work.

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