Windows 8.1 Pro stuck on Undoing Changes

So basically I let windows update download and install the updates and it asked me to restart my PC. I did and when I booted up it put me on the updating screen.. The progress got to 99% then it told me there was a problem and it couldn't install the updates so it had to "undo the changes".

Waited 2 hours on the "Undoing changes" screen before manually restarting the PC only to be put on the "Undoing changes" screen again... That was 7 hours ago.

Here is what I CAN'T do:

1) Can't restore system because it says my anti-virus won't let me
2) Can't disable anti-malware on start up from advance recovery because it puts me back on "Undoing changes"
3) Can't go into safe mode because it puts me back on the "Undoing changes" Screen
4) Can't do a system refresh with my Win 8.1 Pro boot USB because it says it is unable to do so

I've spent the majority of my day trying to fix this broken mess and short of reformatting the PC nothing seems to work. I'd prefer not to reformat the PC because I have files which I need on the PC (and although I have backups of those files else where, they are older backups)

Any ideas would be appreciated.

First order of business is to get the files (you need) off of that hard drive. If you have access to another computer and the hard drive can be easily removed, hook it up to that other computer and retrieve the files. if hard drive removal is not your choice, boot with a Linux Live CD (Ubuntu or Puppy Linux for example). Another option is to boot with Hiren's Boot CD.

Download Ubuntu Desktop | Download | Ubuntu

Download latest Puppy Linux release

Download Hiren?s BootCD 15.2 | HBCD Fan & Discussion Platform

Good luck,
Rich

rmonroe36 said:

First order of business is to get the files (you need) off of that hard drive. If you have access to another computer and the hard drive can be easily removed, hook it up to that other computer and retrieve the files. if hard drive removal is not your choice, boot with a Linux Live CD (Ubuntu or Puppy Linux for example). Another option is to boot with Hiren's Boot CD.

Download Ubuntu Desktop | Download | Ubuntu

Download latest Puppy Linux release

Download Hiren?s BootCD 15.2 | HBCD Fan & Discussion Platform

Good luck,
Rich

Click to expand...

I'm assuming after that I reformat?

If you have an optical drive you might try booting with an ISO downloaded from here:
Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help


Unless one of our gurus comes up with other suggestions, you may have no other alternative than to reformat and do a clean install.

Rich