Help with a small Policeman - SV650.org

Bluepete · 02-10-11, 07:24 PM

Yes, that's right, a small PC - Mrs BP's laptop!

No, this isn't supposed to be in the comedy thread.

Our Dell laptop is stuck in phase 3 of windows update. It sits at 0% for a while then restarts. We've tried restarts, battery out, Ctrl-alt-delete, nothing happens.

If we start it in safe mode, it just does the same thing. We just can't get it out of the loop.

What do we do?

Reasonable answers for a man who isn't tech savvy. No "install such and such an operating system" please tell me howto get the thing working.

Cheers,

Pete

fizzwheel · 02-10-11, 07:25 PM

What Operating System ?

DJ123 · 02-10-11, 07:27 PM

on the restart can you enter the setup menu, sually by pressing F11 i think. On my Acer, by doing this i can reset the laptop to the last restored/back up point. I am sure Dell have a similar system

fizzwheel · 02-10-11, 07:32 PM

Pete, if its Windows 7

Boot it and hit F8 like you've been doing to get the menu up where it gives you the "Safe Mode" options, scroll a bit further down that menu and it'll say something like :

"Boot in last known good configuration"

Let it do that it should boot up. What you'll then need to do is either

Turn off Windows Updates completely and take the risk that you miss an update and it exposes you to the Pox or a Virus.

or

Turn Windows updates on and then download / install them one by one till you've worked out which one it is thats causing the problem.

I'd try that route first before I started reinstalling from scratch.

munkygunn182 · 02-10-11, 07:37 PM

+1 on what Fizzwheel is saying,

I had a similar occurance. Went through each update one by one and found the problematic one, re-downloaded it and it installed no problem, so maybe just a corrupted download?

andrewsmith · 02-10-11, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Pete, if its Windows 7

Boot it and hit F8 like you've been doing to get the menu up where it gives you the "Safe Mode" options, scroll a bit further down that menu and it'll say something like :

"Boot in last known good configuration"

Let it do that it should boot up. What you'll then need to do is either

Turn off Windows Updates completely and take the risk that you miss an update and it exposes you to the Pox or a Virus.

or

Turn Windows updates on and then download / install them one by one till you've worked out which one it is thats causing the problem.

I'd try that route first before I started reinstalling from scratch.

+1

Vista is the same process if it isn't on 7.
Has anyone worked out what causes these screw ups as I had a few on XP many moon ago

Bluepete · 02-10-11, 07:44 PM

Nope, that didn't work.

It's Vista, but it came right back with the update screen

Pete

maviczap · 02-10-11, 08:01 PM

Upgrade to Windows 7 ?

andrewsmith · 02-10-11, 08:02 PM

Downgrade to XP?

maviczap · 02-10-11, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewsmith

Downgrade to XP?

7 is supposed to be a variant of XP isn't it?

Both are good in my books

Buy a new laptop Pete, pretty cheap these days, although you'll want the data off the old one won't you?

02-10-11, 07:24 PM	#1
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	Help with a small Policeman Yes, that's right, a small PC - Mrs BP's laptop! No, this isn't supposed to be in the comedy thread. Our Dell laptop is stuck in phase 3 of windows update. It sits at 0% for a while then restarts. We've tried restarts, battery out, Ctrl-alt-delete, nothing happens. If we start it in safe mode, it just does the same thing. We just can't get it out of the loop. What do we do? Reasonable answers for a man who isn't tech savvy. No "install such and such an operating system" please tell me howto get the thing working. Cheers, Pete

02-10-11, 07:25 PM	#2
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	Re: Help with a small Policeman What Operating System ? __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

02-10-11, 07:27 PM	#3
DJ123 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somewhere over there Posts: 3,245	Re: Help with a small Policeman on the restart can you enter the setup menu, sually by pressing F11 i think. On my Acer, by doing this i can reset the laptop to the last restored/back up point. I am sure Dell have a similar system __________________ BMW F800ST

02-10-11, 07:32 PM	#4
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	Re: Help with a small Policeman Pete, if its Windows 7 Boot it and hit F8 like you've been doing to get the menu up where it gives you the "Safe Mode" options, scroll a bit further down that menu and it'll say something like : "Boot in last known good configuration" Let it do that it should boot up. What you'll then need to do is either Turn off Windows Updates completely and take the risk that you miss an update and it exposes you to the Pox or a Virus. or Turn Windows updates on and then download / install them one by one till you've worked out which one it is thats causing the problem. I'd try that route first before I started reinstalling from scratch. __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

02-10-11, 07:37 PM	#5
munkygunn182 Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Paisley Posts: 330	Re: Help with a small Policeman +1 on what Fizzwheel is saying, I had a similar occurance. Went through each update one by one and found the problematic one, re-downloaded it and it installed no problem, so maybe just a corrupted download? __________________ 2014 Triumph Explorer 1997 Honda VTR1000 - project bike - now working!

02-10-11, 07:44 PM	#7
Bluepete Member Mega Poster Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex motorcyclist Posts: 1,961	Re: Help with a small Policeman Nope, that didn't work. It's Vista, but it came right back with the update screen Pete

02-10-11, 08:01 PM	#8
maviczap Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,097	Re: Help with a small Policeman Upgrade to Windows 7 ? __________________ We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Make everyday count RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius

02-10-11, 08:02 PM	#9
andrewsmith Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Just south of salad dodging country Posts: 7,750	Re: Help with a small Policeman Downgrade to XP? __________________ RIP Reeder 20/07/1988 - 21/03/2012. Always missed squire!!! Every year we meet old friends, gain some new ones, lose old ones and you always remember them all. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mahatma Gandhi

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