Windows 8.1 failure configure undoing updates

[griffo]

Hi All,
I am having problems with my updates on Windows 8.1.
For quite a while now whenever my computer tries to update it shows me the wording Failure configuring undoing updates do not turn off your computer.
I have tried a system restore but also fails.
I am not very good with computers so looking if anyone can help me with a very basic step by step explanation on what could be the problem and how I could possibly fix these problems.
Thank you in advance.

 

[axe0]

My guess is that your system restore is within the date that the problem started to occur.
Do you have a restore point from before the date?
Or can you boot into safe mode?

 

[griffo]

Yes I am able to boot into safemode.
What would I have to do in simple terms when I get into safemode?

 

[axe0]

First remove the updates that could cause the problem since it started.
Then return to normal mode and check if the problem still exists.

 

[griffo]

Please bear with me as Im not to good on computers.
When Im in safemode how do I get to the updates that have to be removed and also how do I know which updates to remove as this problem has been going on for months and months possibly 6 months?

 

[axe0]

I assume you couldn't install any updates since the problem?

Go to your control panel.
From there search for windows update.
When you're at the windows update, at the left side are a few options, one of them at the bottom is the option 'installed updates'. Click on it and you should see an overview of installed updates.
Right click on the update(s) you want to remove and click remove. It'll probably ask for reboot to complete the task, reboot and return to normal mode.

 

[griffo]

Im confused now as I have just had a look as you guided me and I see that I have 196 updates installed and a lot of them have been recently in May and June but I have been having this "Failure configuring undoing changes" alert for many months?

 

[axe0]

If you can't boot windows, I don't know how those updates could be installed and you'll probably need a disk of your operating system if removing updates doesn't work

I'd remove the updates I'm certainly sure are from the month when the problem started, hard to say for you but try it.

 

[griffo]

Do you have any answers as to why when I try to system restore it goes so far then tells me that it was unsuccesful?

 

[axe0]

Only if you can provide more information.
When your in safe mode, try to open an admin commant prompt and type sfc/scannow. Also type Dism /Online/ Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth when sfc/scannow is finished, once finished reboot into safe mode again.

Sfc/scannow will search for errors and try to repair them.
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth creates a file when it(dism command, not sfc command) can't replace the files with errors.