Windows 10: Update 1803 failed - leaves laptop machine unusable

Anonymous

Hi,

Spent all day yesterday trying to recover from a failed update on a 64bit Lenovo laptop that was completely up to date before starting the upgrade to 1803 a couple of days ago. I left the upgrade working overnight. Here's the screen after I enter my login, password and wait some time for the system to load..

No icons from my applications, no wireless, cannot even access the 'Start' menu or Search! I have looked through many websites and pages but no-one else seems to have had this issue....

I started exploring my laptop... The only way I could get the laptop to reboot was to use 'Ctrl-Alt-Del' to bring up the Task Menu, then there is a 'Restart' button bottom right. No Windows services were running.

Upon restarting, I cannot access the recovery menu... nothing worked... tried all function buttons, Shift key and Windows key combinations etc. Can't recall exactly how I did it now - but trying to recover, I get to:-

then:

Tried them all but no change in the final outcome.... and keep coming back to:

None of the options work to install the windows update.

Thinking I might be able to get the wifi working to continue the update download, I use Task Manager to start lots of services, not really knowing what I am doing.. but I get the wifi icon in the task bar, but cannot find a way to see the accessible wifi networks or log onto them... After working all day on this, I leave the machine running overnight as I appear to have triggered an update - at least the message read's Getting my machine ready! In the morning, I see:

Click 'OK' and back where I started.

So more research... already a couple of unproductive days invested.... and came across a website and started to read .. and read...

Used Powershell to access diskpart and came up with this:

I did find that my files are located in Drive E:/[user]/my documents and that the version of Windows installed is 10.0.17134.1

Accessing c: (Volume 1) there is [EFI] and a recovery.text file with no content (0 bytes).

Arrived at a point where doing something with Diskpart might really mess the system up... if that is possible! Can anyone/someone help me out of this? I have downloaded a new Windows 10 ISO to a USB drive but don't want to clean install and lose my files or applications - lots of which I no longer have the CD's for!... and no backups.

I fell into the trap of having three computers, two of which updated ok and felt somewhat reassured to update the third... Hoping...

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54 answers

Anonymous

2018-05-22T20:23:39+00:00

I'm using the Microsoft Create System Image app, and it's currently running.

Don't use System Image Builder. Microsoft deprecated ("stopped developing") SIB with the Fall Creators Update (v.1709) and recommends that users instead use a third-party program.

Microsoft didn't say exactly why SIB was deprecated, but when you consider all the great image backup software that's available, from organizations that specialize in that type of software, my guess is that Microsoft said to themselves "why try to recreate the wheel?"

Plug this into your favorite search engine: windows 10 image backup software 2018

The search results will include reviews of the best image backup software, in the reviewer's opinion. Read the reviews from the pros, take advantage of the free trials, and choose a program that appeals to you.

My favorite is Macrium Reflect, but keep in mind that I'm a dog ;-)
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Anonymous

2018-05-22T17:34:05+00:00

In future, instead of spending all day to recover from a failed update, simply restore an image backup from the day before, which only takes a few minutes, and you'll be back to where you were before the update.

It's fast and easy to make image backups, once you learn how, and you can do it every day automatically, while you sleep.

Thanks for the encouragement, BulldogXX. I have a 5 TB external drive with lots of space available, so there's no excuse for not figuring out how to create an image. I'm using the Microsoft Create System Image app, and it's currently running.
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Anonymous

2018-05-22T17:05:51+00:00

In future, instead of spending all day to recover from a failed update, simply restore an image backup from the day before, which only takes a few minutes, and you'll be back to where you were before the update.

It's fast and easy to make image backups, once you learn how, and you can do it every day automatically, while you sleep.
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Anonymous

2018-05-22T16:58:31+00:00

Same problem on my Lenovo Z50-70 laptop. Had to reinstall Windows and all apps (still in progress... grrrr).

One forum suggested that the problem might be caused by the Conexant sound chip in my laptop. Does anyone else know if their computers have Conexant sound chips?

BTW, immediately after reinstalling Windows, it tried to do its update thing, and now 1803 is in the queue again! I am horrified to think that I might have to repeat this ordeal, so I am not rebooting my machine -- ever again. A T2 tech from Microsoft is supposed to call me tomorrow to continue resolving this problem.

Sorry to hear that so many others have been inconvenienced by this terrible update.

Craig
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Anonymous

2018-05-22T16:00:07+00:00

perform a roll back on your Windows to a previous built.

Read the thread. The people who have this problem (and I know of at least two others who aren't posting here) are totally unable to reach any of the normal system maintenance screens. The systems are too broken to roll themselves back. This advice really isn't helpful.
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