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
    2009-11-23T09:00:49+00:00

    Use the methods above (including my original reply) to solve your real issue.

    Also run

    SFC /scannow

    Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-11-23T08:55:57+00:00

    no spirit, cant do that. cuz there are no restore points created. i just created one right now for in case i need it in future.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-11-23T08:40:11+00:00

    Forget the components.sav file it is not important - can you do a System Restore as suggested above?

    Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-11-23T08:36:01+00:00

    hmm.. ok

    so, what do i do if i have tampered a .SAV file? i suppose these files contain the original configurations right?

    as of now, i selected OFFLINE_COMPONENTS (in which i had loaded Components.SAV) and did UNLOAD HIVE. then i did HKLM->LOAD HIVE. there i opened the COMPONENTS file and did what MickyO had written in his post. Fortunately, it worked and my laptop could now boot properly. I have logged on to windows. :)

    But i am still worried about what i did with components.sav

    i hope it does not cause any trouble in future.

    anyway, thanks for your help spirit.

    and thanks Micky for your post as well.

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