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
    2015-12-31T01:20:00+00:00

    Guess what? I still get the Stage 3 of 3 infinite loop even when booting to safe mode with networking.

    Microsoft has effectively ruined my machine. Surely they tested this! Why wasn't this fixed? It's still out there with all these bugs after five years?! We must be insane to continue to buy Microsoft products.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-05T03:57:31+00:00

    DITTO - Windows Update (automatic) Sept 26th bricked my Toshiba laptop Vista. Previously, recovered 3x with help of IT professional but after a month I threw the laptop against a WINDOW....went to BestBuy for new All-in-One

    Whatever software update you pushed for Windows10 was not appropriate for EVERYONE IN THE POOL!

    still have issues porting old software to Windows10 that really sucks for a few holiday days off from work.

    thanks bill gates. improve the water quality in third world nations that we all paid for DUDE.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-11-21T12:53:08+00:00

    Hi Amrith,

    This did not work.

    I have a Acer Aspire 7720 laptop, having the issue with updates, just get a loop of configurating 3of 3-0%, can you help, I am not a wizz kid at fixing laptops.

    Thank you,

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-29T10:49:00+00:00

    Unfortunately the only true way to avoid this problem is to send microsoft the money a upgrade costs and ask to leep vista. You get a vista liscense that doesn't get problems like these.

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