Previous updates disabled my CPU and I want to disable future updates

[fluoric]

Until about 3 weeks ago, my Dell laptop was set to download and install Windows updates automatically. It did so, periodically. But I noticed that about 3 weeks ago, around January 20, 2014, updates were downloading and installing daily. At least three days in a row.

One such update completely destroyed my PC's ability to boot. I had to bring it to a tech and have him do his voodoo. Cost: $80. Thank you, Microsoft.

I have since turned off automatic updates. Unfortunately, about a dozen updates have downloaded but not installed. I do not want them to. But now, if I go and shut down the PC, those updates start installing.

I need to find out a way to abort this process. As it is now, I hit the pwer button which causes an improper shutdown, and I know that's not desirable. Upon reboot, the PC goes to the "Start Windows normally" screen.

Is there a way to PREVENT updates WHICH HAVE ALREADY DOWNLOADED but not installed from installing? Will I ever be able to shut down this PC?



Many thanks to anyone who can offer a solution!

 

[Computer0304]

That kind of errors from updates do not happen often. You should take the risk and update unless you never use the Internet since there are many helpful security updates.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

It may or may not have been an update that caused your problem (I personally doubt it but, who knows?) but, if you keep M$ updates disabled, it won't be long before you will be up to your neck in viruses and other nasties.

If the tech did his job properly, your original problem should have been fixed. To avoid it in the future, set your updates to notify you when there are updates but let you choose when to download and install them. I never download and install mine until the Saturday after they come out. That way, there is plenty of time for me to find out if an update is wonky or not and I can avoid that specific one, if necessary, until M$ fixes it. Usually, by the time Saturday rolls around, M$ has either fixed the problem or pulled the update. For that reason, I manually check again for updates before I actually download and run them.

I would go ahead and let the updates you have now install themselves, then change your update settings as I suggested above and wait a few days before downloading and installing them (be sure to manually check before doing so). Also, don't try to download and install them all at once. Do them in batches of no more than ten. If any were unchecked to begin with, save those for last. You can check here at Seven Forums to see if anyone has had any problems before you download and install.

Trying to stop them now that they are on your computer, especially by hitting the power button to shut it down, is likely to wonk things up even worse. If, right after installing the updates, your computer goes south again, take it back to the tech and "ask" him to fix it correctly this time.

Once you have everything working smoothly for a couple of months, come back and ask us how to make images you can use to restore your computer to an earlier, working state should you ever run into this problem, or any other, again.

 

[whs]

I have never heard of an update destroying the boot. There must have been something else going on. If you stop the updates, you run a big risk of being infected by malware because most of the updates are security updates.

 

[fluoric]

OK, here I go....

I'll report the results in about 20 minutes....

 

[Layback Bear]

If Windows 7 Updates from Microsoft stopped systems from booting their would be million of post all over the web stating so.
This Forum would have notices posted if their was such a problem.
Because you have had your computer to the shop I recommend starting with two things.

One is to make sure the computer is set to the proper time and date and time zone.

Two is run and post results of this Tutorial.
We have experts that can look at the log and give advice.


By Brink:
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...ne-activation-issue-posting-instructions.html

 

[derekimo]

Is there a way to PREVENT updates WHICH HAVE ALREADY DOWNLOADED but not installed from installing? Will I ever be able to shut down this PC?

While you are working out what the overall problem is, you can disable updates from installing when shutting down,

Option one, Number two of this tutorial is the easiest,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...enable-disable-install-updates-shut-down.html

 

[fluoric]

OK, it worked! I feel so....up to date!

 

[fluoric]

I've disabled "automatic" and I'll manually accept installation in the future. Many thanks, forum members!

 

[Layback Bear]

What worked and what did you do to get it to work?

edit.
I see we posted at the same time. Glad you got it fixed.

 

[fluoric]

I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you. The answer would be "allow updates to update", I guess. The sequence was:
1: get working laptop back from the shop roughly Jan 20-23rd, I recall it was over MLK holiday weekend.
2: Use normally
3: Observe (today) upon shutdown that 12 updates had been downloaded and not to turn off, they needed to install.
4: Freak out, shut computer off manually, improperly.
5: Power up computer, select "restart WDOs normally", then shut down normally.
Uh-oh...there they are again, wanting to update.
6: Power down manually, again.
6: Register to post on this forum <<<<<-------------------------------from another computer
7: ask my question
8: turn on again, shut down normally, allow updates
9: Now operating normally.

I really did nothing other than to accept the updates and now it appears to be working properly.

 

[Computer0304]

I hope you did not damage any hardware in the process. Just in case, run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html and http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html SFC /SCANNOW will check for damaged system files and Disk Check will check for damage on the hard drive itself.

 

[Layback Bear]

It's hard to tell exactly what you are doing but I do have some thoughts.
When you install updates manually (as I do) install 2 or 3 at a time.
I start at the top and work my way down. If a update is big I will do it all by itself. I will reboot whether requested or not. Then wait until every thing is done before going back to the updates and pick some more updates. {Watch the light on the computer and wait until it's done blinking like crazy.} Sometimes it will boot to your desktop but the light is still blinking a lot. Just wait.
I stay with the computer when doing all of this but I don't do anything else on the computer when updating.{nothing}

Most people that have problems with Windows Updates have problems with their system before the updates ever start which causes problems with Windows Updates.