Windows 8.1 stuck in restart loop. Configuring updates...

bigonroad

New Member
Messages
4
So, since yesterday, Windows 8.1 tries to boot, then gets halfway through, shows a sad face for a second, and then restarts. It does this again and again. Just get the message "Failure configuring Windows updates. Undoing changes. Don't turn off your computer" then "Configuring Windows updates, 30% complete. Don't turn off your computer".


Then it boots, does the same thing again.


I've tried booting from the install media, but Refresh doesn't work, nor restarting in safe mode. Weirdly, pressing F2 to load BIOS, which always used to work, no longer does, it just continues trying to load Windows.


I've got an oldish PC, around 4/5 years old, with Windows 8 installed. Its got a fairly decent processor (at the time), a Q9550. Intel DP43TF motherboard.


Any ideas?
C
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64/ Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Made
    CPU
    Intel i5 2500K @ 3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Z68 V Pro
    Memory
    16GB DDR 3
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS 6870 ICEq edition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 22" Display
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    WD 1 TB
    Seagate 2 TB
    WD 320 GB
    PSU
    coolermaster 750 W
    Case
    Coolermaster HAF 912
    Keyboard
    TVS Gold
    Mouse
    Samsumg
    Internet Speed
    4 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG 2013 IS
Nice to know you got it working
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 x64/ Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Made
    CPU
    Intel i5 2500K @ 3.3GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Z68 V Pro
    Memory
    16GB DDR 3
    Graphics Card(s)
    HIS 6870 ICEq edition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 22" Display
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    WD 1 TB
    Seagate 2 TB
    WD 320 GB
    PSU
    coolermaster 750 W
    Case
    Coolermaster HAF 912
    Keyboard
    TVS Gold
    Mouse
    Samsumg
    Internet Speed
    4 Mbps
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG 2013 IS
My problem is just a bit different -- I click "update" and restart -- then it says something like "installing 1 of 15 updates, leave your computer on" -- with that continuous loop -- I've even left it on overnight and it doesn't change -- so I turn my computer off then restart. I have repaired "Windows update" several times but this keeps happening. This all started with Windows 8.1 -- my computer was doing fine with Windows 8 -- never had this problem. Anyone got some way to fix this?

I haven't gotten any sad faces or automatic reboots -- just stuck with that continuous loop and no change in the update numbers -- the only thing I can do is force quit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    intel core i7-3770 3.40ghz
    Motherboard
    dell inc 0nw73c ..cn722002a900az. a00
    Memory
    16 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia geforce gt 620
    Browser
    internet explorer
    Antivirus
    kapersky
My problem is just a bit different -- I click "update" and restart -- then it says something like "installing 1 of 15 updates, leave your computer on" -- with that continuous loop -- I've even left it on overnight and it doesn't change -- so I turn my computer off then restart. I have repaired "Windows update" several times but this keeps happening. This all started with Windows 8.1 -- my computer was doing fine with Windows 8 -- never had this problem. Anyone got some way to fix this?

I haven't gotten any sad faces or automatic reboots -- just stuck with that continuous loop and no change in the update numbers -- the only thing I can do is force quit.

Hi,
go to:
Control Panel\System and Security\Administrative Tools
open "disk clean up" as administrator and check all boxes, especially "Windows update clean up".
then confirm to start clean up.
in some cases it's possible this could take up to 1 hour. if so don't interrupt the process until done (the window will disappear on it's own when done). do not update windows while this process is running.
then try to update windows again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise
it may be a hardware vs driver conflict.
unplug every USB device except mouse. And definately unplug webcams they are notorious for causing hangups when installing drivers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 & Windows 7 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP G60
    CPU
    AMD Turion RM-70 Dual Core 2.0 GHZ
    Memory
    3 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 8200M G
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Mouse
    MS Intellipoint 5 button (love it!)
    Browser
    Chrome and Chromium
    Antivirus
    Avast Free & Malwarebytes
My problem is just a bit different -- I click "update" and restart -- then it says something like "installing 1 of 15 updates, leave your computer on" -- with that continuous loop -- I've even left it on overnight and it doesn't change -- so I turn my computer off then restart. I have repaired "Windows update" several times but this keeps happening. This all started with Windows 8.1 -- my computer was doing fine with Windows 8 -- never had this problem. Anyone got some way to fix this?

I haven't gotten any sad faces or automatic reboots -- just stuck with that continuous loop and no change in the update numbers -- the only thing I can do is force quit.

Hi,
go to:
Control Panel\System and Security\Administrative Tools
open "disk clean up" as administrator and check all boxes, especially "Windows update clean up".
then confirm to start clean up.
in some cases it's possible this could take up to 1 hour. if so don't interrupt the process until done (the window will disappear on it's own when done). do not update windows while this process is running.
then try to update windows again.

Hello.
I've got the same problem too and I'd like to try out your suggestion, but there is no way to get out of the loop. I've tried everything but I always end up back in the loop. Help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I see no solution but to insert installation media and try startup repair or restore your PC to older date.
If you do not have installation media get one from technet.microsoft.com.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise
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