Windows update problem

Pickers · 25-02-2010, 07:50

It's official, I am jinxed! Last night I. Shut off the laptop and it came up with the installing updates screen. Almost 2 hours later it was still on 4 of 5, and apart from the windows 7 blue spining icon thing, no other signs of life. Relunctanlyi turned it off, and on again and it said 'resuming windows' and went back to telling me it was installing update 4 of 5. I'm gonna take it into school today and leave it for a few hours incase it really is still installing, but I'm notholding out much hope. I'm new to windows 7. What would be my next step? I really don't want to wipe hdd due to having school work on it. I'm seriously tempted to retire from technology at this rate!!!

Mark · 25-02-2010, 08:24

The laptop didn't shut down, it hibernated, which is why you've got the screen back.

Assuming you give up waiting, press and hold the power button until it turns off completely. That'll usually fail the hibernation. If by some bad luck it doesn't, yanking the power while the laptop is on certainly will (don't forget the battery!).

You now have two options. Power the laptop on and hope Windows Update recovers itself (it might), or do a system restore to just before the update and try again.

For the first option, just power the laptop on and leave it a while.

For the second option, read the instructions here - particularly 'What each recovery option does' and 'To open the System Recovery Options menu on your computer'. Next, power on the laptop and hold F8 as instructed. Once you get to the System Recovery menu, do a system restore. The most recent restore point should hopefully be when you started the update, so that one will be fine.

Pickers · 25-02-2010, 08:38

Ok, did a proper reboot and it went to windows, just **** it down and once again it's trying to install updates, and is taking it's time with number 4!!! Hmmm best just leave it and see I suppose?!

Pickers · 25-02-2010, 12:25

4 hours on and it's still installing the update. I guess I'll have to try and tell it to ignore the update..

Hmm how do I stop it trying to install it? I've unchecked boxes in windows installer, but the ball is already rolling on the installation?

25-02-2010, 07:50	#1
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	Windows update problem It's official, I am jinxed! Last night I. Shut off the laptop and it came up with the installing updates screen. Almost 2 hours later it was still on 4 of 5, and apart from the windows 7 blue spining icon thing, no other signs of life. Relunctanlyi turned it off, and on again and it said 'resuming windows' and went back to telling me it was installing update 4 of 5. I'm gonna take it into school today and leave it for a few hours incase it really is still installing, but I'm notholding out much hope. I'm new to windows 7. What would be my next step? I really don't want to wipe hdd due to having school work on it. I'm seriously tempted to retire from technology at this rate!!! __________________ Pictures

25-02-2010, 08:38	#3
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	Ok, did a proper reboot and it went to windows, just **** it down and once again it's trying to install updates, and is taking it's time with number 4!!! Hmmm best just leave it and see I suppose?! __________________ Pictures

25-02-2010, 12:25	#4
Pickers Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2,692	4 hours on and it's still installing the update. I guess I'll have to try and tell it to ignore the update.. Hmm how do I stop it trying to install it? I've unchecked boxes in windows installer, but the ball is already rolling on the installation? __________________ Pictures Last edited by Pickers; 25-02-2010 at 13:45.

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25-02-2010, 08:24	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	The laptop didn't shut down, it hibernated, which is why you've got the screen back. Assuming you give up waiting, press and hold the power button until it turns off completely. That'll usually fail the hibernation. If by some bad luck it doesn't, yanking the power while the laptop is on certainly will (don't forget the battery!). You now have two options. Power the laptop on and hope Windows Update recovers itself (it might), or do a system restore to just before the update and try again. For the first option, just power the laptop on and leave it a while. For the second option, read the instructions here - particularly 'What each recovery option does' and 'To open the System Recovery Options menu on your computer'. Next, power on the laptop and hold F8 as instructed. Once you get to the System Recovery menu, do a system restore. The most recent restore point should hopefully be when you started the update, so that one will be fine.