Undoing changes

[Mufffie]

Installed the latest Win 10 updates and now my laptop loops with 'undoing changes....'     Have gone into safe mode and have tried every option available...  Any suggestions?

[WAWood]

@Mufffie 

Unfortunately, that error message nearly always means that a recent Windows Update failed and Microsoft then tried to recover from that, but that failed, so it's trying over and over again -- and will never succeed because Windows Update got corrupted in the process.

These problems were reported with KB4532693 back in February of 2020, and more recently, with KB4556799. Unfortunately, this is NOT a new issue with Win10 Windows Updates.

First thing you need to do is see if you can restart in Safe mode -- by doing these steps: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2304-boot-into-safe-mode-windows-10-a.html

If you don't know how to start using Advanced Startup Options, then read this: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-boot-advanced-startup-options-windows-10-a.html

Then, follow these steps to reset Windows Update: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/24742-reset-windows-update-windows-10-a.html

If these work, when you finally reboot, you should then be able to login to a working Windows desktop.

[Mufffie]

Thank you Mr. Expert 😉 ...  I'll give it a try and keep you posted !

Thanks again

[Mufffie]

Hey Mr Expert

Sorry I've taken so long to get back to you

Thank you again for all your help and referenced articles but nothing is working.  I have gone to Microsoft support forums, have tried everything I can find but nothing is working on this laptop.

It seems I will need to purchase a new Win 10 OS

Thanks again

Mufffie

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@Mufffie 

Did you do the Windows Update reset? Asking because that usually fixes this issue.

Since you are already running Windows 10, you do not have to BUY another copy.

Use this link to download and create Win10 install media: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Insert that into your PC (do NOT boot from it), find the folder containing the media, select the setup.exe file, right-click that and select Run as Administrator.  This will start an in-place Upgrade which could then take a couple of hours to complete.

If you are presented with a window asking for a product key, down near the bottom is a entry you can click to skip that. Do NOT enter a product key, as it will reuse your existing key and when you finish and get back online, Windows will automatically activate.

[Mufffie]

Hey Mr. Expert

I just now had a chance to download that install to a flash drive.   Put it into my HP laptop and right after starting, pressed ESC...  I had several menus and chose the option to start from USB which I chose.   Things were going nicely and I was getting excited.... got the Windows setup with two choices... Upgrade and Custom .   I chose upgrade and got the error "the upgrade option isn't available if  you start your computer using Windows installation media' .   Went back and started again and chose 'custom install windows only ' ...a window comes up and shows 4 partitions...  after attempting to chose any of them I get the error and that windows can't be install on Drive 0, partition 1-4  (I tired each 😉  )

Also, I did try the  troubleshoot / reset this PC / remove everything and just comes back to the options page.  Tried 'keep my files... same thing

It appears to me I may be SOL

Thoughts?

[WAWood]

@Mufffie 

I said clearly -- do NOT boot from it! That will force a Clean Install and remove everything.

[Mufffie]

@Expert

I have no other choice.   When I start the laptop to just starts looping at 'undoing changes'.  The only way I can get at the setup.exe is hitting ESC upon start up and choosing from the menu.   

[WAWood]

@Mufffie 

OK, understand.  

[Mufffie]

@Expert

thank you again for your time and efforts !!!