Computer stuck on "Windows Configuring" message for 8 hours.

Question

Installed 2 windows updates.  Shut down laptop (running window 7) and got message "Windows is configuring your computer.  Do not shut of your computer.  This has been going on for 8 hours.  I tried to power down and reboot, but get same message.  I cannot access my pc at all.

Answer 1

Hi EMS511,

·        Do you know if there were multiple updates?

Check to see if the following helps.

**Method 1:**Disconnect any non-essential external devices and restart the computer. Check to see if it boots fine.

Method 2:

**Step 1:**Check if you can  boot the computer in safe mode.

**Step 2:**If you are able to boot then perform a system restore to the time when you installed the updates. If this helps you boot fine normally then install one update at a time in case of multiple updates.

**Method 3:**If you are unable to boot then try renaming “pending.xml” file from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRe).

a.       Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press the F8 key when the Boot Menu appears.

b.      Use the arrow keys to choose Repair your Computer in the Windows Advanced Boot Menu Options and then press ENTER.

c.       Select Command Prompt from the System Recovery Options.

d.      Type “cd C:\windows\winsxs”, and then press ENTER.

e.       Type “ren pending.xml pending.old”, and then press ENTER.

f.        Restart the computer.

Check to see if it boots fine.

Regards,

Syed N – Microsoft Support

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