Solved August Updates - help!

[wallypedal]

Like many on this forum, I have problems all associated with the August updates. I was happily working away Aug. 12, when the little pop-up said it needed to restart after installing updates. All this has worked fine for me for months after doing the clean install method on this forum. Not this time. After waiting an hour for the reboot, reconfigure, whatever windows to finish, I shut it down.

Now, I get the desktop to open, and all the icons waiting, but nothing works. Restore points are gone. Safe mode doesn't let me go to the internet. I have a nice-looking, non-functional desktop. Repairs from disk do nothing. Chkdsk does nothing. I'm dead in the water.

I have the carbonite backup, but it won't open. It shows the backup directory, but it won't open. I'm ready to do another install from scratch if I absolutely have to, but am needing this computer!
Thanks

 

[marsmimar]

Hello wally. Just for clarification, I realize you said safe mode doesn't let you get to the internet. But can you access just plain ol' safe mode? If yes, try uninstalling any August updates that might have gotten installed. Then try running System File Checker scan to see if you might not have some damaged or corrupt system files. If SFC finds any problems run it at least 3 more times as per the note in Option Two, Step 4, in this tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Please let us know if this helps or not.

 

[wallypedal]

will do. I am on another home computer now, downloading MS update process fixes and the .bat update registry fixes, just in case. Yes, I can go into safe mode, and will do the scandisk as you instructed. Thanks!

 

[wallypedal]

mars, the standard updates will uninstall, but not the ones for NET framework....I will try that again before SFC...

 

[marsmimar]

OK, that's good you can get into safe mode. As far as .NET Framework updates are concerned, hopefully they aren't the issue. If I remember correctly Windows 7 installs .NET Framework as part of the OS (it's considered a Windows feature) and you can't uninstall it, per se. Best you can do is turn it on or off.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5023-windows-features-turn-off.html

 

[wallypedal]

This time when it booted, it wanted to run chkdsk, so I let it. Found nothing. That chkdsk screen is still up..do I power down and up again?
Wally

 

[marsmimar]

If that's the only way to get rid of the chkdsk screen, go ahead and manually power down with the power button. Wait at least 30 seconds before powering back up to make sure your hard drive has completely stopped spinning. Then go to safe mode and see if you can run the SFC.

 

[wallypedal]

I couldn't get safe mode to come up now, so used my Win 7 disk and went to command prompt. When running C:\ sfc /scannow it told me there was a repair pending and I needed to reboot (into my Windows, vs. the disk). So I rebooted normally into Windows. When I thought it was done, I clicked on the "start" button, and that menu came up. When I clicked on "shut down" it would not. There is an additonal square icon on top of the Start Menu box - when I move the cursor there I get the endless spinning blue circle...
Wally

 

[marsmimar]

Sounds like things aren't going too well.

With all the difficulties you're experiencing it might be better to jump right to the "last resort" option before a full reformat/reinstall. What kind of Windows 7 disk do you have? Is it a full install, an OEM, recovery disks, or an upgrade disk? You might be able to use it to do a Repair Install while preserving your user accounts, data, programs, system drivers, etc. See the Warning box to determine if you can use your particular disk.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[wallypedal]

Mars,
It's an HP Upgrade disk, which I used to do the whole clean install thing. I'll check on what you said..
Thanks for your patience and advice!
Wally

 

[marsmimar]

Ahh... just remembered. You can't do a repair install from safe mode or at boot. You can only do it from within Windows. I'm sorry I forgot that.

 

[wallypedal]

Marsmimar,
Well, I've got sp1 from an update. So I can't use my disk until it's removed. Can't remove it because wusa.exe is gone. If I'm going to do a total clean install over my last clean install, do I just use the tutorial?? Other ideas?
Thanks again, Wally

 

[marsmimar]

Wally, I know it's a hassle and a half, but considering all the issues plaguing your computer, I think a clean install is the best way to go. Even if you could somehow get into Windows and do a Repair Install, there's no guarantee that something won't be left behind that could corrupt things again.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

A couple of other suggestions ... and I offer them as someone who's been there, done that, and got the T-shirt. After you get your 7 reinstalled and it's time to get the Windows Updates, I'd install SP1 first. That will incorporate a bunch of pre-SP1 patches, hotfixes, etc. I'd get SP1 from the Microsoft Download Center and not rely on Windows Updates.

After SP1 installs use Windows Updates for the remaining 2,561 patches, hotfixes, etc. (It will seem like that many if you follow my suggestion.) Install just a few at a time - maybe 5 or so. After each group is installed, play around with the computer for a bit to make sure there are no problems. Then install the next 5. If you do discover a problem you've narrowed it down to one of 5 updates.

After you have everything set up again, I would strongly urge you to make a system image on an external hard drive. Yeah, it's gonna cost some $$$ but once you have a system image, if you ever experience a major computer meltdown again, you can be up and running in 30 minutes or less. Update the image every week or so (or when you make a major system change create two images - a before and after) and you'll never have to go through this hassle again.

I'm really sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[wallypedal]

Really, you have been a big help. Yes, I dodged the image thing for a long time, and I'll do as you say. The tutorial exception then is to not let it look for or do updates until I get sp1 installed first. I like the 5 at a time, and manual control idea as well.
I'll let you know how it goes!
Regards,
Wallypedal

 

[wallypedal]

Did another install, and it all went OK. Thanks again, M. Now onto getting that image finally.:huh:

 

[marsmimar]

Did another install, and it all went OK. Thanks again, M. Now onto getting that image finally.:huh:

That's great news! Glad the reinstall went OK.

If you haven't imaged before you have a couple of options. I've used the built in Windows 7 imaging tool with great success. Made many images and have restored my computer from those images. All went without a hitch. But it's a very basic tool and doesn't have a lot of flexibility compared to say, Macrium free or Paragon free.

My suggestion, FWIW is to try the 7 imaging tool and see how you like it. It's pretty straight forward and it will image the entire hard drive including the reserve partition, main C: drive, and any other partitions you might have. And it will return your machine to that exact condition with no problems. You can make your primary (go to) image using 7 and then play around with the others so if something gets messed up you know you can get everything back in about 30 minutes or less. But don't forget to make the companion System Repair Disc just in case. If you have any questions or run into problems you can always PM me and I'll do my best to help.

How to Create a System Image in Windows 7

How To Restore Windows 7 from a System Image

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

Free Backup Software: Paragon Backup & Recovery Free Edition - Overview

 

[speedhunt3r]

I just reformatted my PC it was hopeless

I had the same issue after the August updates. I could not go into safe mode either, blue screen all the way. Restore options would only prompt for start up repair, which did not work.

Anyway, after doing a google search, I read that Microsoft pulled these updates. Is this true?

Because, I just reinstalled windows 7 SP1 64 bit and I have put the updates on hold. Can anyone verify if the updates are working fine now?

 

[NoelDP]

MS pulled 4 updates this month - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2982791 for details.
They will not be offered until they've been fixed