Failure configuring Windows updates. Reverting changes

So after turning on my parent's laptop this morning they recieved this message and the laptop has been stuck on it for about 4 hours. I know how to fix it but I can't do anything on the laptop because there is no way to go past this message. I don't have a recovery CD or access to another laptop with Windows 8 to make one.

Is there anything I can do to get past this message? I've tried getting into safe mode a couple of times but nothing seems to work.

Thanks in advance

If it was trying to update too may Updates, it was bound to fail and revert changes and take a long time to revert. Give it a bit more time. Do you recall how many there were?

Nuccii said:

If it was trying to update too may Updates, it was bound to fail and revert changes and take a long time to revert. Give it a bit more time. Do you recall how many there were?

Click to expand...

Unfortunately it was my mother that turned on the laptop and sadly doesn't pay attention to that kind of stuff. When I got to it it was already on the "Failure configuring Windows updates." part and when i restarted the laptop it goes straight to that message.

My current plan is to just leave the laptop on for the rest of the night and see if anything has changed in the morning.

It does take a long time to revert changes, I've seen it take up to ten hours. If comes back to normal, see how many updates there are.