The eternal “Configuring updates…”

Well, I have been setting up the Vista box from a clean install so that I can get it ready for testing and/or development work. All seemed well, Vista installed fine, updated like it was supposed to from our WSUS server. After a couple of days, I decided it was time to go ahead and install Office 2007 on it. Did that. Some updates installed, that was fine.

Then, it needed ONE MORE UPDATE. Wouldn’t you know it, that is the one that killed it.

Well, I don’t think killed is the correct word, maybe beat it senseless… or knocked it into a coma… or, well you get the picture.

So, I have googled the Vista Ultimate “Configuring updates” and getting a number of responses, even responses from Microsoft’s Forums dating back 8 months. However, there doesn’t seem to be anything on the support pages at Microsoft.

Wait a minute… holy crap! It’s alive! It’s alive!

After 3 hours of sitting on that “Configuring updates… Do not turn off your computer” screen, it is now “Installing Service Pack: Stage 1 of 3 – % complete.” So, just sitting here, getting ready to post this blog, and pull out the DVD install disc and follow the various fixes to try and get it to work, has scared it back to life.

Just a side note, I find it interesting some of the fixes people have used…

1. delete the c:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml file
   
2. rename c:\windows\softwaredistribution to c:\windows\softwaredistribution.old
   
3. disable their SATA controller in BIOS until after the issue goes away and re-enable it again
   
4. remove 2gb of 4gb installed RAM until installing a Vista x64 patch
   

you get the idea.

So, can someone tell me how this is supposed to be better than XP? I know, many people are out there saying it is a driver problem with third party products, or a hardware issue, or just about any other excuse to remove Microsoft from being to blame. Well, screw that. If the computer worked before, and a MS update makes it stop working, then the problem is with MS, not the hardware that has been working.

Well, it seems that the computer finally finished and is now restarting, we shall see how this goes.

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