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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

166 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2009-10-22T06:18:04+00:00

    Thank you saved me of this stupid infinite update loop

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2009-10-20T01:12:23+00:00

    Hmm,

    I just recently had this problem with a few more problems also. Ex. "Your computer has found a critical error and needs to restart.". I also had this problem. Some how I guess I was lucky because when I went into my safe mode with networking it magicly went from 0% to 100%. It logged on normally and everything is fine. All I did was continue to restart and manually shut down my computer. I have no tutorial or anything thats just how mine worked.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2009-10-19T21:42:44+00:00

    What I can't seem to explain is how a Vista machine of mine that hasn't had an internet connection for the last 6 months also automatically did a windows update and caused it to freeze.  After force rebooting it I get a black screen and this string of text that appears to be rebuilding or scanning the registry key folder.  Now it boots up fine but how the heck could a computer without internet connection get a windows update?  Just a week ago I experienced the same thing on my laptop (which does have internet) and a couple days ago my in-laws came to visit and I saw it happen on their laptop as well.  What the heck is going on here?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2009-10-19T14:34:48+00:00

    Hi,

    Well the 13 updates on 13th October 2009 have certainly let this particular cat out of the bag, again! I'm not alone amongst my colleagues in finding that after the automatic update I'm in the 'stage 3 endless reboot cycle'. GRR!

    If only it were possible to boot into safe mode with this type of error (it is not!).

    I have (had?) a fully patched and updated Vista SP2 install (Dell Inspiron 1520) and after the automatic update last week this fault occurred.

    I suppose I'll have to try booting from a DVD and renaming the pending.xml file - what a pain, this type of error should never be allowed to happen - I wonder if Windows 7 will fall over as readily with such a serious (and often encountered) error?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments