Windows Update hell

Question

We have 3 computers stuck in a Windows Update for 48 hrs. since Friday. Hard reboots just lather, rinse, and repeat and get to the same stuck "Working on Updates - 100% complete - do not turn off your computer." (For variety, it would sometimes say 15% complete ... and get stuck.) Cannot get into Safe Start mode. 

Meanwhile, Microsoft is making it absolutely impossible to contact anyone about this Microsoft screw-up, with voice prompts that go nowhere, online help that redirect and ask you to link phone numbers and agree to receive MS spam, and even a fake phone number on one of your tech support pages. Really, is this the best you can do? Why does one of the world's biggest company shirk its responsibility like this?

Answer 1

Try resetting your BIOS defaults:

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/reset-pc-bios-...

If that does not work and you have a desktop computer...

Power down

Unplug it

Open the system unit

Remove the CMOS CR-2032 chip

Plug it in, start the machine, wait 10 seconds

Power down, unplug it, reinstall the CMOS CR-2032 chip

Plug it in again, power up

See if it boots into the recovery environment.

Click Troubleshoot

Click Advanced Options

Click System Restore, see if you can go back to an earlier time.

If not, boot into the recovery environment again, then try performing a startup repair.

If that does not work, boot into the recovery environment, then click 'Go back to previous version of Windows'

If that does not work.

Go to a working computer, download, create a bootable copy, then perform a clean install.

	Step 1: How to download official Windows 10 ISO files 

	[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/how-to-download-official-windows-10-iso-files/35cde7ec-5b6f-481c-a02d-dadf465df326)



	Step 2: How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10

	[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-10/aef0ae63-2117-41ee-a8ea-4a3181625b08)



If there are files on the drive you want to recover, see -  How to: Perform a Custom install of Windows 10

[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-to-do-a-custom-installation-of-windows/38adfa8c-32f8-4354-8c53-13b5f2cf7e44)

Answer 2

I'm Greg, a volunteer installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

If you want to report this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. But Microsoft will not even see it here because this is a tech forums where we are mostly volunteers trying to help solve your problems.

There is a new guided walk-through from Microsoft for repairing Windows Update that leads up to resetting components if necessary: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10164/...

If you cannot start Windows then follow these steps for recovering from Updates that cause no-start. These include everything possible so that there's no chance if the hardware is functioning that you will not get up and running, possibly with a better install than the one which choked:

I'm Greg, a volunteer installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

1. Try whichever method works here to get into Advanced Startup Options to run System Restore if this is a Windows Update, or Go Back to Old Version if this is a version update. https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc...

If you are able to access System Restore or Go Back and it fails, skip to step 3.

2. If necessary create bootable installation media to access the repair options if not accessible by any other method: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

Boot media by powering up the PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

You may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup to turn off Fast Boot if it won't allow the Boot Menu key to interrupt starting Windows: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

Choose UEFI version of media if offered, browse to second screen to Repair Your Computer link, then Advanced Troubleshoot options - to run System Restore to a point before the problem began.

3. If this fails try a Startup Repair, or go back to Troubleshoot Options on the previous screen to Reset your PC which will save your files while reinstalling Windows.
4. If that fails you can use the booted media to do the Clean Install which should get you past all difficulties as it has hundreds of thousands of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki... This link compiles the best possible install of Windows 10 that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.
5. You can also run the PC's Factory Recovery from it's hotkey at boot, following the procedure for that model found in it's Manual on it's Support Downloads webpage, or by asking Google how to Factory Recover the exact make and model.

Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I'll keep working with you until it's resolved.