"Failure configuring updates" message - advice please!

[BruceUK]

Hi everyone,

I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium on an HP laptop and I have automatic Windows updates activated. Earlier today when I finished a session, 6 updates were installed. I've just switched the computer on again and got the message "Configuring Windows updates" as often happens following these updates.

However, on this occasion, it remained on 0% complete for several minutes and then eventually displayed the message "Failure configuring updates - reverting changes". Following that, the boot-up sequence went OK.

Does anyone have any ideas about why the configuration process might have failed and what the implications are? I'm wondering whether Windows might attempt to re-apply the updates when I end this session, with the same outcome. In fact, I can see that there are currently updates to be done, so I suspect they are the same ones. If so, I suppose I might need to disable the automatic Windows updates facility, although I would be reluctant to do so.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Your advice and help as always will be greatly appreciated.

Edit: I've just checked the Windows Update log. Only one update is listed as having been done today - that is shown as:

Update for Microsoft Windows (KB2506928)

So does that mean that the other 5 updates failed for some reason? I wasn't attending the computer while the updating was happening, so I don't know whether any messsages might have been displayed at the time.

 

[Hiker Guy]

Bruce, this may be relevant.

I noticed today that I had 4 updates to be installed. So, I clicked to install, and after rebooting, received the same error message. Tried it again, same message.

So, I got to the list of updates, unclicked the first one (KB982018), and was able to install the rest of them. Computer rebooted and completed the install. Now I only had 1 update left, KB982018.

I was able to click on it, get it installed, and now all is well again.

Computer must have had indigestion the first few times, but doing it separately, it worked. Not sure if my "reverse order" method was necessary, but it didn't hurt anything.

Good luck.

 

[cwatson71]

Thanks Hiker Guy . I was having the same problem but your advice worked perfectly. Reputation added.

 

[EvilOzzmess]

Just had the same problem! KB982018 is also on the 4 Updates ready to be installed on mine. I've turned off Automatic Updates for fear of this problem reoccurring and not 'reverting changes' but resulting in a continuous 'death loop' (God forbid, I do NOT want to have to factory restore again this year ugh). I am going to try installing the other three (KB2492386, KB2515325 & KB2522422) and see what happens...

What is funny (or not so funny) is that I had already turned off Automatic Updates! Guess it turns itself back on sporadically now??? :sarc:

EDIT 1: KB2492386, KB2515325 & KB2522422 Installed Successfully. Now for KB982018...

EDIT 2: KB982018 Installed Successfully.


Thanks Hiker Guy!

 

[JMH]

Bruce what has happened to you is not unique.
Retry one at a time.

Re your update settings -
* I suggest you change them to notify you but let you choose to download.
* Do a few at a time only. {Tedious, but allows you to monitor for any problems.}

* Always make sure you have a current system restore point prior to downloading anything.

* Below a few links FYI -
Windows Seven Forums Tutorial on resetting Windows Update.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html

* MS Support Article on resetting Windows Update components. The Windows Update service must be started and running as well as the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS).

How do I reset Windows Update components?

 

[BruceUK]

Thanks for all the replies! When I powered down after my second session yesterday, it did 4 updates and there was no problem when I switched on this morning. So for the moment, things seem to be back to normal.

I might take your advice and monitor updates one at a time in future though.

Thanks again.

 

[iolar]

I am having this problem also. How exactly do I install only 3 components? Im not hugely knowlegable about computers.

 

[Hiker Guy]

Iolar,

Here is one way to get to it. In Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Windows Updates. It will probably notify you that you have 4 critical updates.

Instead of hitting "Install now", there should be a line that says something like "See information regarding these updates" or "for more information".

Click that, and you will be able to individually select the updates you wish. One at a time seems to work.

The idea of doing them one at a time is to identify a particular updating issue with one of the updates. This would aid in troubleshooting an issue with one update.

In this case, the Windows Updates were installed fine when done independently. They just had a problem when trying to do them all at once.

Good luck.