Slight problem chaps. Switched on the desk top and had 12 updates to load for Windows Vista. Dowloaded and carried on as normal until it got to Stage 3 of 3 at Nil percent and that's as far as it goes, it just goes in a loop and restarts without getting any further. I tried the following:-
Stopped computer with off switch (executive reboot) and tried to do a Safe Restart but my keyboard is locked out and can't do a Safe Restart.
Ordinary Restart just takes me back to the same Stage 3 of 3.
Rebooted, F2 to BIOS and changed the Boot Order and loaded Vista Disk but it looks like my CD drives are locked out as well, although the lights flash they won't read the disk.
Went back to Default boot sequence and tried CD again but still locked out. I've run out of ideas. Is there anyone out there who's come across this before and sorted it? Much obliged.

Still plugging away, tried disabling the HDD and starting with CD, still no joy. Wondering if the jumpers on the CD's are ok, put them in myself and think they're ok but if anybody can confirm the jumper setting for master/slave I will check that out. I hate computers.

I'm not sure what a safe restart even is?

Regardless, what happens when you just plug in as usual and boot the machine? Does it go through the update stage 1/2/3 and get stuck at 0% on 3?

Yep that's exactly what it does
The safe restart is an option that Windows give you to restart if the computer stops unexpectedly, e.g. power cut. Only snag is that it needs the keyboard to scroll through the choices and it isn't powered up at that stage of the procedings.

All above my head Bandy, read elsewhere someone with same problem, this was his fix.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

Cheers bert, will have a decko. I'm trying all sorts here, used to be able to reformat the hard drive in the old DOS and start all over again but I'm bug....d now, too technical for me. Tried to do the logical stuff but that didn't work. Just have to keep at it and accept any assistance I can get. Have a good one.

Later: tried them already bert but my keyboard is inoperative at that stage to do a Safe Restart and can't get my cd reader to work at the mo. Hunting around for the jumper settings on the cd readers in case I have got them wrong. Oh well!

Wondering if I could piggy back it with my laptop and an ethernet cable, to link up and sort it. Anybody out there done this before?

Still no joy, here's what I've tried this morning.
Took out my second CDRW and made the other one the master via the jumper setting i.e. put the jumper on the M.
Went into BIOS and changed the boot order to boot from CD. Also went into boot setup to change the default to CD temporarily. The computer doesn't seem to be able to set up the CD reader or the keyboard as it still locks at Stage 3 of 3 0%. No numerals lock on keyboard so that's dead. Looks at the CD reader power but that's all. Does anyone know if I will be able to access my desk top via an ethernet cable to my laptop, don't want to try it if it is dodgy as at least I've got the laptop at the moment. The desktop is where do all my domestic stuff, photos etc.

Got to the stage where it shows the 3 of 3 etc, shows the busy disc (that little blue disc which shows the HD is working) runs that for a while then shuts down and starts the whole cycle again. Going to have another look on MS see if there's any clues, couldn't find any yesterday.

First things first, leave jumpers alone. There's never (read as: since like the late 90's) any need to move them. You'll end up stuck in a deeper hole than you started. Put them back on default and you can use the bios to choose which boot drive you use, rather than trying to do it via the hardware.



This is not possible. The only way you could possibly do this would be to remove the hard drive completely and buy a usb based hard drive device and attach it via usb as a storage device on the laptop. You couldn't run it as the primary drive though, you'd only be accessing it basically as an external hard drive.

Getting back to the problem, do your disk drives work? If so, do you have a win7 installation disk? The easiest solution would be to boot to that and upgrade to win7. You'd keep your data and programs and you'd bypass the vista updates.

Thanks a lot for that, all informative even if disappointing. Will keep trying until my grey hair goes black again and I get fed up and get it up to the Dr. It's probably something simple to a proper geek but a pain in the arris to me. Haven't got W7 yet but no doubt it will not be for long. Will keep info'd if I sort it out so that others can benefit. Tks again.

All is not lost sir, there's a couple more things that can be tried.

When you say the keyboard doesn't work, is this a plug in keyboard or wireless?

Does it work AT ALL or can you just not get to a point where you can do anything with it?

When the computer is starting up (from the point you hit the start button) if you spam the F8 key does it bring up a list of DOS options? If so we can always just go into safe mode and restore to an earlier date and then you can disable updates and solve the problem that way.

Edit: Wait, if the keyboard doesn't work how are you getting into the bios?

ex0, the keyboard doesn't work when I get it to the reboot options bit i.e. arrow up to get safe restart underway. It's a plug in. I stop the computer during the reboot so that I can get to the manual bit where F2 gives me the BIOS etc. the keyboard works fine then but once I try to finish the updates it goes tits up. Can't read my CDRW at all. I'll have a go at the F8 bit and see how I get on there. Just hope I can remember how DOS works. It's interesting if nothing else. Cheers.

I've given up. I took it right down to just one hard drive, unshackled everything else, rebooted hoping it would sort itself out, reconnected the CDRW, then had another go, then reconnected the keyboard then had another go, still no joy. Can't even be bothered putting the casing back together, I'm having a blow because I've run out of ideas. Been on MS site as well, nothing there. The Dr calls methinks. Thanks ex0 and bert.

Have another go Bandy

http://www.ehow.com/how_6865889_fix-stuck-windows-vista-update.html

If not, grey bin, don't want you getting in trouble with the council.

That's the problem, he doesn't have a windows disk.

I have the Windows disk ex0 but the drive won't read anything. I'll try bert's thing tomorrow. I've tried all the usual stuff, including stripping the computer down and putting it back together but no joy so it must be something to do with Windows Update in conflict with something I've got on there, just don't know what. The F8 spam didn't work either, the thing seems to pack in before getting to that stage. I've only got limited knowledge and at the moment I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel. Like I said, it's interesting anyway but frustrating. Cheers

Got to leave it until tomorrow now, getting ready to go and call the bingo.

Not sure what significance this has, it says put disc in first then start computer, a dipstick like me would probably turn on and then install disc, educating myself now, I'm thinking it must take precedence and read disc before doing anything else, anyone enlighten me, cheers.

Tt depends on the boot order in the BIOS. Usually A first, then your C: drive and then your CD reader, but you can alter this order to suit. This is what I have been doing over the last couple of days. The computer then reads the devices in the order you've put them, except mine of course because it's goosed.
Had a look at that site bert and it's a good one but I've tried everything it said. It's a good one for future reference.
Looks like I'll have to and see the doctor but at least I've had a good go at it myself.
The reason I've had no joy is that the computer is not seeing the CD reader although it does flash through on switching on Cheers for your input anyway fellahs. Have a nice day.

Bit of an unusal one this. Would have to wonder if the problem isn't some part of the hardware itself failing, a huuuge proportion of problems can be fixed by booting to a disk. If not fixed, removed via formatting. For the disk not to load and your board to be locked out and the f8spam to not work that's really strange, something I've never personally come across before.

Be interested to see what the doc says. Good going trying to fix it yourself first.

Went the Doc's and his staff good, the DVD worked in the shop and she performed a routine to stop the updates going in which returned it to its previous state. got to try and get my cd and dvd drives working again but that seems a piece of cake to what I've been through. Must've been a conflict, will only pull down updates piecemeal from now on. Cheers yourself and bert for at least giving me a shoulder to cry on. It's got me a bit interested in computing again now, realised how much I've forgotten through not doing anything. Have a good day y'all.

Yippee, finally sorted it. Don't ask how, I went in so many circles and I was disappearing up my own disc drive. Eventually changed two readers, DVD and CD, left on jumpers on cable select and they didn't work so put one on slave and one on master, they then worked. Did all kinds of on line fixes and scans through Microsoft Fix It, changed the keyboard for another one. Rebooted with and without the Installation disc. It was a good job I had double glazing or it was going to go out the windee. Anyway, somewhere along the line it all came together and it all works. Remember the original problem started with "Update" as far as I can remember so be careful out there. Thanks for all the suggestions. It looks like perseverance won through, along with a bit of basic stubborness, Gawd knows. Cheers.