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
    2017-01-21T17:04:29+00:00

    This worked for me, can now continue to upgrade to Windows 7. Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-28T22:11:53+00:00

    These steps didn't work.

    It worked for me on a 32bit Vista Toshiba Satellite L517 laptop (almost giving up before finding this post). The key is to get hold of a repair disk. It just happens that I have a win 7 32bit repair disk at home (and I guess it does not really matter if it's 32 bit or 64 bit).

    You can use another win 7 PC to create a repair disk.

    Once you get into the DOS command mode, go to C drive, not X drive, and follow MickyO's post.

    Alternatively you can get a SATA to USB convertor ($5-$15 on eBay) and connect the HDD to another PC and delete all the pending.* files under /windows/winsxs/ . Once deleted, put back the hdd and start the pc in safe mode with command prompt. Then use regedit to detele 2 items specified in the 1st page of this thread.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-10T13:55:05+00:00

    The system never get back to the sign on screen, Keep showing Stage 3 of 3. Preparing to configure Windows. Do not turn off your computer. for the last 3 days. Ater day 2 I power off and turn on and the system back to the same and any combination of restart reboot F8 F12 keys takes back to the same loop. Why not Microsoft backout this fix if its causing issues.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-17T01:27:18+00:00

    These steps didn't work.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments