I've found a FIX for the Windows update nightmare ... "failed to configure updates", the "reverting" endless loop

After a ton of research and trying many different things, I've been able to get out of the endless loop and function again on 2 different tablets running Windows 8.  I'm assuming it would work with Win 7 also.  It took many hours over several days to fix this.  I have to admit it's not that I'm brilliant, as I used a combination of ideas that I found on-line.  I wanted to share what I've learned as I realize how many people out there are tearing their hair out over this problem.  If I help someone from running around BALD, I'll be happy!

From the frustrating screen, the endless loop, follow these steps:

1. Re-start your computer and immediately start pressing the F8 key before you even see anything on the screen.  Press it quite fast, as there's a limited window of opportunity.  If it comes back up into the loop, try again, and again.  It WILL work.
2. You will finally see a Windows safe mode screen of some type (may vary with version of Windows).
3. You will probably be prompted to log in as administrator.  So make sure you are set up with Administrator account ahead of time.  I had to log in with my Microsoft password rather than the password for my tablet.
4. Get to the Command Prompt, which will be the Administrator Command Prompt.  You may have to look into Advanced Options or something to get to the prompt.  Instead of seeing your normal "c:" drive, it will probably indicate an "x:" drive.  (This confused me but it appears to be normal for the administrator prompt.)  EXAMPLE: 

x:\windows\system32> 5. If using Windows 8, enable the Windows 7 Safemode Boot.  This will make it easier for you in subsequent boots ... a feature they took away in Windows 8.  At the command prompt, type "bcdedit /set  {default}  bootmenupolicy  legacy" and press Enter.  (Note there are spaces in 3 places in this command.)  You should get a message that Operation completed successfully.  If you later want to disable the F8 key and return to the Windows 8 standard boot, open the Administrator Command Prompt and enter "bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard". 6. At the **command prompt, type "**sfc  /scannow" and press Enter.  (Note the space after sfc.)  If nothing happens, you may have to add the appropriate drive to scan after the command, i.e. "x:\windows\system32>sfc  /scannow  c:".  Or try replacing the "c" drive with a "d" drive in the command;  running a command prompt from outside Windows can change your c drive to a d drive.  This can take some time to run. 7. After the command in #6 has run, type in "chkdsk/f/r  c:" (or replace drive c with a d, if necessary).  This also can take some time to run. 8. Restart the computer. 9. At this point, one of my tablets came back in normal mode ... amazing!  But the other tablet didn't, so I let it run overnight in that dreaded screen saying the updates failed to configure, that it's trying to revert.  In the morning, I found it had re-booted into normal mode!!! 10. Immediately, go into the Control Panel and disable automatic Windows updates !  I set mine to look for updates and notify me.  I believe the reason for this major hangup loop is because automatic updates are trying to configure way too many updates at one time ... could be hundreds.  (In Windows 8, go to Control Panel, Windows Update, Change Settings; under Important updates, select "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".  Under Recommended updates, check the box to handle same as important updates.) 11. Then, set a Restore Point in the Control Panel, since you finally are functional.  I named this restore point "Before Windows Updates".  (In Windows 8, go to Control Panel, Recovery, Advanced Recovery Tools, Configure System Restore, and click on "Create".) 12. Disable your anti-virus software.  It may or may not interfere with doing Windows updates, but better safe than sorry.  Don't set it to enable after an amount of minutes; set it to re-boot at re-start ... or when you manually enable it if that's an option. 13. Now, we finally can install Windows updates manually, a few at a time.  I had 88 important updates and 20+ recommended updates to install on the (used) tablet I decided to keep.  I made sure not to download and install more than 40-50 MB at a time.  Many of them required a re-start, so it becomes time-consuming ... but certainly safer than letting them all go at once!  If a re-start is required, you may have to disable your anti-virus software after every re-boot before installing the next group of updates.  (In Windows 8, go to Control Panel, System & Security, Windows Update, Check for updates.)

I think I'm very stable now and this shouldn't happen again.  I'm leaving automatic updates disabled, and am leaving the Windows 7 Safemode Boot option enabled.  And, I've become a big believer in setting Restore Points before doing any updates or installation of software.  I used to think I only should do so before installing a large software program; but since installing Malware Bytes (the paid version), I'm finding out how much malware is out there ... even infecting nifty utility programs downloaded from supposedly "safe" places like CNet.com! 

Another comment.  One suggested "fix" I found was to run the "msconfig.exe" command;  it wasn't even recognized when my computer was in this endless loop.  But it worked for someone out there.  Here's the steps if you want to try it:

• Type Windows key + R (for me it didn't bring up a command prompt)
• Type in msconfig.exe and hit enter
• Select the Services tab on the top
• Check the box on the bottom that says Hide all Microsoft services
• Click Disable all
• Do an “Update and Restart” of the computer

I hope this lengthy dissertation helps some people.  I, myself, became almost bald while dealing with this problem!  But, being a positive-thinking and determined woman, I believe it will grow back!  I'd appreciate posts about how this works for you.  If I've made an error somewhere in these instructions, please feel free to comment, as I've reconstructed what I did as best I could.

I can't help but wonder why Microsoft hasn't come out with a "fix" for this, or a step-by-step procedure.  It's been going on for years!  Are you out there, Microsoft????