Failure Configuring Windows Updates - Reverting ...

Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit

Yesterday I did a clean OS install on my SSD. Then a list of "Important Updates" appears during shutdown. 151 updates. So I let the machine run them and went to bed for the night. Got up this morning and turned on the computer. Failure Configuring Windows Updates Reverting ... do not turn off machine. So I waited. Finally the desktop comes back on. Now 1 update remains to be installed.

I am early in enough on the OS install that I have no problem doing the OS install all over again. Does anyone think that extreme is necessary?

Also, this ordeal with "Windows Updates" - are the "Updates" that important to the successful running of the OS?

 

Greetings Dekade.

How is the machine running? If there are no obvious problems, then IMO I'd let it ride - I've often found that if you let the "Update Madness" settle down for a few days, Microsoft tends to sort through the myriad choices and pretty much offers what you need.

If, however, you sense that something's amiss then do start over - and this time, instead of the mass update installation be picky about what you load. Install an update or three, verify, then move to the next batch. Tedious, I know, but it is Windows we're talkin' about.

And yes, the updates are important - critical in some cases, especially security fixes.

 

I have done probably five OS clean re-installs. This will be my last because I will now implement cloning or imaging. I have done Full and Incremental backups for 10 years but have never done the cloning or imaging.

Anyway - this is the first time I ever had a situation with the automatic updates on a fresh install.

I'm still a little concerned about it occurring on this fresh new Win7Pro64SP1 OS install. Might decide to start over anyway. Since I have done the OS re-install before - with no hiccups - I kinda feel that an issue should not "now" be occurring.

 

Agree 100%: re-install away. There's always the chance that the hiccup was caused by a bad file download during the process.

Yeah, I'd do just about anything to get rid of that nagging feeling of impending doom, too. Good luck.

 

Quick question: is the problem machine the same one that's mentioned in this thread?

 

Yes it is. What I have done is decided to just go with my SSD with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit SP1. I'm not interested in Windows 10 anymore right now because it has file problems and does not have Windows Media Center (so I hear). Windows 7 is so smooth I don't really see how anything can be any better. So ... what I did the other day was install the OS onto the SSD. I planned to erase the HDD after the install onto the SSD. The install onto the SSD went without a hitch - PERFECT. It even ACTIVATED and the HDD also remained ACTIVATED.

Yes - Same OS install disc.

Then I installed Corel Paintshop Pro onto the SSD. The "DREADED" protexis license issue came to my mind (which I have had issues with before). I then decided I would switch from Corel to Adobe Elements - eventually. BUT - IN THE MEANTIME - I would do another fresh re-install of the OS onto the SSD. So that is what I proceeded to do. That created the Windows Update hiccup. The OS reinstall - I figured -is the only surefire way to get rid of the Corel Protexis licensing bad boy. This time I will not install the Corel software. I am done with Corel because their Protexis licensing does introduce a 'virus like' nature to the system.

So right now I am typing this reply on the current SSD install that experienced the hiccup of the Windows Update. It is working nicely. I just don't like the hiccup "potentially lying dormant".

So yes ... the two threads are about the same machine.

 

Any comment(s) on what I am doing per my explanation before this reply?

 

From the other thread you are already aware that you are infringing your Win 7 licence by installing the same OS with the same key twice on the same machine. Just because both installations are still showing as activated you should not assume that Microsoft will permanently accept this, as at some point you may well be informed that one of the two is illegal and if so it will immediately be deactivated. If that happens I hope you will not come here seeking help.

 

PLEASE READ THIS POST

I need the forum to totally understand that I realize what I am doing. I AM NOT TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL. THAT IS NOT - AND NEVER HAS BEEN - my ball game at anytime or any point in my life.

I have approached the forum for guidance strictly because of the following: I KNOW FULLY - AND HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN EVEN BEFORE APPROACHING THE FORUM - the issue of Microsoft licensing. I have full respect for anything of that nature in this world.

The only thing that I have been trying to do is get one drive set up and running BEFORE I delete/disable/deactivate the other. This was a protection I was trying to initiate for a few days so that I did not lose all of my email. My email cannot be stored on a separate partition (at least I don't know how to). I have 12 email accounts and it is murder to reinstall them one by one in OUTLOOK. All of my standard data is on separate partitions.

At one time I was trying to see if I could try to upgrade to Win 10 but have since took the forum advice of trying 10 on my laptop. Then I decided to not try 10 at all because of some negative info.

I tried various ways to get the forum to understand what I was trying to do and for what reasons.

My communication with my intents failed miserably. FOR THAT REASON THE FORUM MAY BE THINKING I'M TRYING TO BE A SHIFTY OPERATOR.

I HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF EVEN TRYING TO DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL. "MY" ASSUMPTION WAS THAT "IF" I TRIED TO RUN THE SAME COPY ON THE SAME MACHINE ON TWO DIFFERENT DRIVES THAT I WAS SAFE FOR 30 DAYS UNTIL I COULD GET EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING BEFORE FORMATTING THE OLD HDD. I guess even that approach is not commendable. I wish Microsoft would chill out a little bit or find a more acceptable way to trace dishonesty than to hit the people so hard that have spent so much money with them. Seems to me like MS are the ones that are leaning in the direction of being dishonest. Just my opinion. They're way to big for me to fight.

WOULD THE FORUM PLEASE TRY NOT TO ULTIMATELY CATEGORIZE ME - I HAVE MERELY TRIED TO GET HELP ON MY QUEST - HOWEVER - I HAVE JUMBLED IT UP ALONG THE WAY. I even made a $10.00 donation a few days back to the forum because of the respect I have for it. That is the first time I have ever donated to anything free on the internet. I will continue to donate to MG as I have money to do so. I know $10 isn't much - but it was a start at any rate.

IN CLOSING - THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION A WIN7 PRO 64BIT THAT I JUST PURCHASED FROM BHPHOTO. IT COST $134.00 AND SOME ODD CENTS.

Having received it then I got all worried about the OEM jargon on the package and have not even installed it either. That was another move by me to have two Win 7 OS on the same computer. That ended up a mess also. So - IN THE LAST TWO DAYS - I decided to just scrap all of my crap and put the OS that have onto my SSD and as soon as I got my email working then I would trash the HDD.

I hope that helps to prove my honesty. I am really sorry if I have led anyone to think badly of me. I was just trying to get through a mess in my mind by asking for the forums help. I still to this day don't know if it is okay for me to try to load the OS twice - JUST UNTIL I GET THE EMAIL UP AND GOING. I've heard everything that has been told to be on both posts - BUT - I have never got a straight answer on whether or not I was okay for up to 30 days for my particular reasons. I never had any intention to try to run the same copy forever and forever.

The purchase of a separate OS from BHPhoto AND my freaking out over the OEM terms ought to carry some weight towards my honesty and integrity. I am sending that OS install back to BHPHOTO next week. I can't afford some $290.00 for a retail copy of MS Win7.

AGAIN - I apologize to the forum. If anyone has anything to help me with on this whole ordeal please do so. Otherwise - I hope to remain in good and honest standing on this forum. The forum is very valuable for people trying to be honest. I just goofed in how I mumble jumbled my problem.

I wish I never would have asked the forum on this particular whole ordeal. It seems as though I led everyone in the wrong direction about me.

 

Can someone Please help me with this question?

Can I just take out the HDD out of the computer and reinstall the OS on the SSD?

The HDD is now showing that Win 7 is not activated.

So I guess there is now no way to now deactivate it. But the OS on the SSD "is activated". Nonetheless, I will once again be installing the OS fresh anyway onto the SSD.

OR-

Do I have to format the HDD and clean it all off before reinstalling the OS onto the SSD?

 

From a licensing point of view you have simply replaced your hard drive, which is completely legitimate. You don't have to do anything with the HDD but as you will probably want to use it for something else you might want to clean it. Or you could keep it as a spare, but it will become progressively more out of date of course.

I think Microsoft has answered your other question about using both for 30 days

 

Not absolutely certain about this but I don't think you can directly move your Outlook data file from one drive to another. If I'm not right about that then hopefully someone will butt in. But what you can do, and it's not difficult, is create a new data file on any drive you want and then drag and drop the contents of the old one to the new one. Don't know your Outlook version but in 2007 it's File > Data File Management > Add... > Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst) > OK and just navigate to the drive or folder you want it in. Once both data files are present in Outlook you can select your messages and drag and drop them.

 

EDIT - I think there's a better way than that, by copying your current .pst data file to where you would prefer it and than adding the copy to Outlook as a new data file. Then make the new data file your default. This would copy emails, contacts and calendar where the drag and drop method would only copy emails. Let us know if you want to do this and we can work it through.

 

I just finished a Windows 7 upgrade from Vista. I also ran into the same issue of update failure and reversion.

If you go to Start>Control Panel>Programs and Features>Installed updates you should be able to see how many have been installed. Despite the alleged failure, I have 191 installed currently on the machine and still checking.

Sometimes there are updates which cannot be installed without a prerequisite update.

Also, I've noticed that Windows 7 seems to be "confused" about the status of Internet Explorer 11. It can't seem to figure out if it's already been installed.

 

Earthling,

Thanks for your pointers and advice. I am familiar with the .pst situation. My Outlook 2007 comments stem from the inability to have any means to export/import the email account settings. Outlook 2007 doesn't do that - and - I guess there is no way to point the 'accounts' to another drive. Thus, I am left with the only option which is that of reinstalling the accounts once Outlook 2007 has been reinstalled. Of course though - a clone or image will solve all of that.

 

the mekanic,

Thanks for your input on updates and Win 7.

 

Well, here's where I am at. I have pulled the new SSD. It is on hold until I prepare everything and get all my ducks in a row. I am using the current old HDD with Windows 7 Pro 64 on it. I am going to do all of my backups, exports, etc.

Then I'm going to pull out the HDD - put the SSD back in and start all over. I already have contacted Samsung and received the details/instructions for a clean install on the SSD. Discovered from Samsung that formatting an SSD has a much different procedure and set of "cautions" than that of a HDD. Lots of potential to 'fry' the SSD. At least that's what I'm told by Samsung.

FINALLY, once all necessary software is reinstalled THEN I plunge into the world of cloning and imaging. I already am - 10 years in - familiar with and do practice the safety of backups both incremental and differential.

Then I wipe the HDD and bring myself back to a one boot environment - which has sufficed well for all these years anyway - plus - gain more drive storage.

Should have prepared myself this way to start with. Lesson learned - "slow down".

 

Does anyone have any experience reading the "Microsoft Genuine Advantage Diagnostics Tool" report screen? I would like to post it if anyone can read it.

As I prepare to start all over and reinstall it on the SSD I am just checking on the state of my OS and it's authenticity. I have been using the OS install disc for 3 years. According to the Microsoft authentication website page I should be receiving warnings on my screen IF the OS is not authentic. I should also not be able to activate windows. Neither of those situations has been true for three years. Updates have always worked.

Before I send back my OEM Win7 Pro 64 disk that I just purchased from BHPhoto I want to know if my OS is authentic.

Thanks for helping.

 

I prefer to stay on topic -

 

If you have had it for three years, and have reinstalled it a few times, and if it's still showing as activated then you can be sure your OS is genuine. What is less certain is how many times MS will allow you to reinstall. I did hit the limit back in early Win XP days but as best I can remember it got resolved with a phone call. Since then I've always used imaging and haven't ever needed to reinstall, so no recent experience. So why don't you image your system as it is and restore the image to the SSD? That way you will just carry on where you left off only on a rather faster system. That's how I moved up to SSD and no issues at all.

 

Hi Earthling,

Well ... many thanks ... you have rested my mind on the issue of a genuine OS. Now I can chill on that issue.

I can fully appreciate 'and respect' what you are suggesting. Nonetheless here is where I am coming from. On my current hard drive (WD - 750 HDD) I have had it installed as is for over a year and a half. I have done tons of loading and removing software. I even have spent a great deal of time inside the Registry deleting anything relative to a program that I removed from the HDD. I don't think the Registry is in the most desirable state. It has been messed around with so much.

My days of playing with the computer are pretty much over. I'm ready to settle down and just use it to turn out the work that needs to be turned out. As the old saying goes - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Well - "I have fixed it too many times". :-o rolleyes

So, I simply want to start all new on the SSD with a new install. I have tried to install it on the new SSD twice. The first time OS on the SSD was all okay and I should have left it alone. Dumb me - I screwed up my Outlook install big time. So - dumb me again - I just decided to reinstall the OS again. This time the OS would not update correctly. (henceforth the title of this thread) ... Kept giving me an update 'failure' notice. Would not make it through all of the "151" (then 134) updates.

So - for the third time I plan on installing the OS on the SSD a final time and see if it will install fully and correctly "and" with all updates. I think SSD's might be a little bit more contrary when it comes to fresh installs than what HDD's are. I'm not really sure on that.

THIS TIME - HOPEFULLY AS A RESULT OF A FULL AND COMPLETE INSTALL WITH UPDATES - I will toss in the towel / start imaging / and be over said and done with. BUT FIRST - I want a good install to start imaging from.

If you have any further advice for me - now is when I need it. I am going to hold tight for a few days until I see if you or anyone else has any more advice for me before I try the final time with the OS install onto the 256GB Samsung Pro850 SSD.

Thanks,

Dekade