Windows Update Malfunction

[camdozer]

My computer automatically downloaded a Windows Update today, and began the installation process it goes through when you shut the computer down. When I turned it back on a little bit later, it began to finish configuring the update. On step 3 of 3, it got to 83%, then automatically started shutting itself down. Rather than shutting down, though, it restarted. Again it loaded to a point where it was on step 3 of configuration, got to 83% and went into another restart cycle. I thought it might be normal at first, because many updates require system restarts, but this kept doing the same thing over and over again. 83%, restart, 83% restart, ad infinitum. After about an hour of that I just turned the computer off manually before it started loading windows from the HDD, hopefully to avoid any major damage (as if enough hadn't clearly already been done!).

I really dread doing a complete system format, because I have a lot of files that will be gone forever, lest I spend the days and hours I already have retrieving them. I also worry that if I restore the system to brand-spanking new, the same update that crashed my machine will be downloaded again, and cause yet another major system malfunction.

I am running Vista Business on a Toshiba Satellite L305D.

Has anybody had a similar issue to this? Was a system re-install the only solution? If so, did it just end up happening again at the same Windows update?

[MANEMAN]

Hi there, and Welcome.

Try doing a "System Restore" back to an earlier date.

You can also go into "Safe Mode" and using Add/Remove Programs, - remove the offending update.

I have a lot of files that will be gone forever

Back them up now.

External hard Drives are as cheap as chips at the moment. In future have a backup strategy in place from the computer to the external drive with something like ** Second Copy **

Try to use Disk Imaging as a future plan also. Acronis being the first choice. Or Macrium free edition if you are strapped for cash.

John.

[MANEMAN]

Well ?

How did that go then ?

Any answer is better than none. :)

John.