Windows 7: PC Tries & Fails To Configure Windows Updates On Every Start Up

My Acer Aspire desktop pc is trying to configure Windows updates every time I turn it on. It goes through the same procedure and always fails. This has been going on for a week or two.


Below is what it says on the first screen after switching on through various other screens before pc allows me to enter my password and use the pc as normal. Takes a few minutes.


"Preparing to configure Windows"


"Configuring Windows updates. xx% complete. Do not turn off your computer."


"Shutting down"


(PC then restarts)


"Starting Windows"


(Then the pc repeats all of the above stages)


"Failure configuring Windows updates. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer."


Then it lets me enter my password and use the pc as normal.


Any advice about what is going on and what to do would be appreciated. I'm not a computer expert. Many thanks.

Hi woodbine,

Some questions!

[1] Have you installed any new hardware, software or updates prior to this happening?
[2] Have you got any External HDD's attached at boot?
[3] Have you got any restore points prior to this happening that you could try?
[4] Have you tried running Startup Repair from the installation media [DVD/USB]?
[5] Have you tried running chkdsk - Check Disk?
[6] Have you tried running SFC - System File Checker?
[7] Download and run Malwarebytes [FREE] from here => Malwarebytes.

I hope this helps!

Start your Computer,
immediately begin pressing <F8> key on keyboard at approx 1 second intervals. Too fast or slow & it bypasses the screen you need. Why, because it does!



Bill

Hi Paul Black. Thanks for your reply.


1) No
2) No external hard drive.
3) to 7) Will have a look at these and report back.

Hi Snick. Thanks for your reply.


The step that you have highlighted in your image says 'Advanced' at the end in brackets. If I select this step, will there be complex/advanced settings/functions that I need to carry out? Or is it a basic process of letting it run?

Hi woodbine,

Once you click the advanced option it will re-boot with what the OS hopefully knows was the Last Good Known Configuration!

Excellent Video on Windows 7 Last Known Good Configuration ...
No it reverts to previous version before the update!
Bill

Thanks again for your replies. I'll try the F8 method next time I switch on and let you know how I get on.

I've tried both Snick's suggestion of F8/Last Known Good Configuration and restoring system back to 15th Nov, which was the earliest point I had. Unfortunately the problem is still the same. Maybe the restore point was just a little too late.

One thing I didn't mention before because I have only just noticed it is that every time I close down I get 'Installing 1 of 1 update' on the screen before pc turns off. I assume it manages to install this update properly. It's when I turn on that the computer it tries to configure, fails, then reverts. Not sure if this is relevant.

For now I will try a few of Paul Black's suggestions like Check disc or System File Checker. If anyone has any other suggestions or advice please let me know. Many thanks.

UPDATE>>>> Just tried System File Checker - no problems found. Check Disc scheduled for next start up.

No, it does not install properly, that is why it reverts.
Try Paul's suggestions, as you are seeing, that is not the problem.
You have issues from the botched install that those tools will not correct.

Bill