Vista Won't Boot--Can't Configure Update #3

[jaums]

Power it up, it goes thru the usual splash & progress bar, then to the "Configuring Update 3 of 3, 0% Complete, do not turn off your computer" screen.  After a while, it apparently times out and reboots repeating the usual start up stuff to the 3 of 3 screen.  It continues that loop until I push and hold the power button to turn it off.

When I hit the power button to turn it on again I get the screen advising that it didn't close properly, giving the opportunity to open regular, safe, etc.
If I choose regular, it goes thru the same loop--unable to complete 3 of 3, so re-boots, etc.

If I choose Safe Mode, it loads files, says 'wait' then the screen goes dark, then THE POWER LIGHT GOES OFF momentarily and it tries to  boot in normal, non-safe mode into the same endless loop unable to configure 3 of 3.

The machine did not come with the Microsoft Vista discs & there is no back-up disc.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Jaums

[patio]

Try again with your protection apps disabled...

[jaums]

You mean with antivirus, etc.disabled? How do I disable them without Windows running?

[patio]

It has to be running...

[jaums]

Windows won't run.

[JJ 3000]

You need to get your hands on a VIsta DVD. Try to find someone that will let you borrow one.

Boot to the DVD and choose repair your computer. That will open the system recovery options.

More about the system recovery options here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html

From there, choose command prompt.

At the C prompt type:
cd Windows\WinSXS
and press enter.

Then type:
del pending.xml
and press enter.

Restart the computer and boot to the hard drive. Same problem?

[jaums]

Any ideas where I can borrow a Vista DVD?

[patio]

I think Mr. Reynolds across the street has one...

[jaums]

His phone # please?

[patio]

It's the Green house with the white pillars....watch out for the Doberman...his name is Sparky...

[jaums]

Sparky & I are buds--np.  But, sure, if I had a Vista disc, but who has Windows discs these days?  Computers no longer come with discs--the only way to get one is to go to the store and shell out a few hundred $$, right?

[Salmon Trout]

who has Windows discs these days?

People who are not pirates?

Computers no longer come with discs

They do if you pay for them.

the only way to get one is to go to the store and shell out a few hundred $$, right?

see above.

[Spoiler]

I talked to Mr. Reynolds. He said sparky wasn't doing good. He was wondering what you did to him. He also said to try this site for the disks.

http://www.restorediscsplanet-usa.com/Recovery-Discs.html

[JJ 3000]

jaums, you're having a hard time finding a windows DVD.That's fine. We can get rid of that file another way.

Download, a Linux live CD. I would suggest Linux Mint, because it's easy to use. You can download it here:

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=83

Choose one of the download mirrors that is close to you and save the iso file to your computer. You will then need to burn the file to a CD. Most operating systems require special software to burn an iso. If you don't have an iso burning program, get ImgBurn here:

http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

If you're not sure how to burn the CD, there is a guide here:

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/G/Burning+ISO+Images+with+ImgBurn

Okay, now that you've got your CD burned, you want to place it in the computer with the problem and boot to the CD.

If you're not sure how to boot to a CD see here:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000217.htm

When you start the CD you will have the option to try Linux Mint or install. DO NOT choose install. The CD will take a little while to start up, this is normal.

You should arrive a the Linux Mint live user desktop. From there you will want to click on Menu in the lower left corner of the screen. Then click on Computer, and you should see a window with your drives listed there. Choose your hard drive by double clicking. In that drive you want to find the folder called Windows. In Windows look for WinSXS. In that folder find pending.xml, right click it and delete it.

Now click on menu, quit, shut down. Take the CD out of the drive and restart the computer. Same problem?

If you can get back into windows now travel here:

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?DisplayLang=en&id=15287

That should prevent this problem from happening again.