looping message

[madamesilverspurs]

My usual computer is having a tantrum of sorts today. It was fine last night. When I turned it on this morning, it went through the usual startup routine, then went to a screen with the message
"configuring updates, stage 3 of 3 - 0% complete, do not turn off your computer". It's been showing that for almost five hours; it will go to black, then show the MS icon, then go to the startup screen, then that message; it just keeps looping.

Any suggestions for getting it to behave?

Toshiba Satellite L305-S5894
Vista

Thanks in advance!!

[Pharaoh]

1. try

turning off auto updates, reboot, if that doesn't work try a system restore to an earlier date. i have no clue but that's what i would try

[madamesilverspurs]

2. Can't.

That would be what I'd try, but I don't know how to do that without having access through the start button, and that isn't available. Frustrating!

[Pharaoh]

3. vista sucks

i had it on an old laptop. try asking Google

[Galileo126]

4. Happened to me at work on a Dell laptop

Same thing - Stage 3 of 3, 0% complete, etc.

I unplugged the power, and pulled out the battery. Waited 20 seconds, reconnected the battery and AC power, then rebooted.

It seemed to clear the holding pattern. Then, I turned off Auto-updates.

Hope it helps!

-g

[madamesilverspurs]

5. Thanks for reminding me of that trick!

Unfortunately, it didn't work. Still looping.

Hoping someone call tell me how to access "system restore" in the middle of this mess!

[steve2470]

6. ok do this

Reboot the computer. Tap the F8 key to get to Safe Mode. See if you can use System Restore while in Safe Mode. Report back to this thread, please.

[madamesilverspurs]

8. Okay...

Rebooted, looping continued.

Rebooted, black screen with white letters, clicked on 'open in safe mode' --- got more black screen with scrolling program names, it went away, back to looping

Rebooted, clicked F2 and got setup utility, don't know where to go from here............

[steve2470]

9. hmmmm

do you have your Windows DVD handy ? The one you installed Vista with ? Or did Vista come pre-installed ?

[madamesilverspurs]

10. It came pre-installed.

Got the computer in 2008 via Voc Rehab. I'll check my records, don't recall if there was a disc or not.

[steve2470]

11. ok this should definitely work

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum?tab=Threads

Go to that address. Register with an outlook.com email account. Post the precise problem using the Participate link up at the top of the forum. One of the Microsoft staff engineers can help you, I'm sure. Good luck. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[madamesilverspurs]

12. Will do, and will let you know how it turns out.

Thank you!

[steve2470]

13. This link is even better, let me know how it turns out, good luck!

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista?tab=Threads

[madamesilverspurs]

14. Got a response:

If safe-mode is available (usually tapping the F8 key on pc start),enter safe-mode,run with
cmd,enter vista as thee administrator.At cmd,type: CHKDSK C: /F agree to restart,type: EXIT
restart pc

My reply:

Thanks for your reply. Attempted your suggestions, but no screen came up that allowed me to enter anything. "Safe Mode" brought up a screen with arrow directions, none of which allowed me to follow your instructions. Exiting that screen brought up the repeating update loop.

Starting to panic, there's stuff I absolutely have to be able to access. Yikes.

[steve2470]

15. do a new op there, demand in subject line an engineer nt

[steve2470]

16. your other faster option is to call MS customer support and pay for support....

https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/schedulecallback/4/?osmcsignin=true&ws=support&wa=wsignin1.0

Not sure how much they charge, it used to be a flat fee of $35. It's probably gone up. Good luck.

also online chat here: https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/chat/4/?osmcsignin=true&ws=support&wa=wsignin1.0

[steve2470]

17. any luck ? nt

[madamesilverspurs]

18. Not yet.

Got sidetracked with keeping some doctors gainfully employed, and one of the meds makes me a bit too fuzzy to deal with tech stuff. I'm hoping to try again this afternoon during the brief window of clarity. I'll let you know, and thanks for asking!

[madamesilverspurs]

19. Hi, I'm still waiting for a response.

I told them I can get to this setup page, asked if I can somehow access the start menu from there, maybe try a system restore. What do you think?

[steve2470]

20. hm, if I were you, I would use one of my links I gave you in this thread...

to contact Microsoft chat support or have them call you. It might cost you a few bucks but I don't want to goof up your computer. Good luck!

[gvstn]

7. Steve definitely has the next thing to try.

I just want to be sure the looping continues even after a reboot. (You did more than a reboot by removing A/C and battery and then restarting but just want to be sure the update configuration problems are persistent after a reboot).