Windows won't start after newest update

[Yecob]

Hi guys,

For a little while now since the most recent Windows 10 update I haven't been able to start my computer. It will show the motherboard's screen, the blue Windows logo on a black screen and then it goes to a blue screen with a loading circle that never ends and no text. This didn't happen prior to the update and I managed to restore the files a few times to a point before it (which didn't matter because there is no choice to stop Windows 10 updates so it forced it upon me anyway, causing my PC to not boot again) but now when I attempt to restore that doesn't work either. I've tried to reset it and keep my files (getting rid of my files is not an option for me) and even that didn't work, although I am going to try it again. I did manage to start it in safe mode earlier but didn't have much of an idea of what to do from there and when I attempted to enter "updates and security" in settings the window would close and no new window would come up. So thank you guys, I really appreciate your help, I have no clue what to do.

EDIT: Just tried to reset and keep files again, second time it didn't work.

Specs:
GPU: AMD Sapphire Radeon HD7970
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX EXTREME 9
Processor: AMD FX 8-core Processor Black Edition
System HDD: HyperX Savage SSD

 

[Chicano]

If resetting doesn't work, you have to do a clean installation to be able to access and change the Windows update settings.
To keep your files, partition the Hard Drive and move your files to a new partition, then from the Windows installation media format the OS partition and follow with a clean installation.. when it's done, go to Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings > Choose how Windows installs updates > change the setting out of > Install updates automatically (recommended). In either of the remaining settings, you can choose which updates to install so, if you have identified the bad update you can avoid it... and if not, you may be able to ID it by date and time of installation.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-choose-how-updates-are-installed

 

[Yecob]

Hi Chicano, thanks for your help. How do I go about partitioning the hard drive without logging in?

Also, I have a Windows 8.1 disk which I upgraded from, not a Windows 10 disk.

 

[Chicano]

Use the Hiren's Boot CD/USB to partition the HDD with the included Partition Manager, and to recover the Windows product key use the included Keyfinder.. if it's the same code as that on the Windows 8.1 packaging this shouldn't be necessary... So, after the format start over and install Windows 8.1 to upgrade it to 10. If you can borrow or download a Windows 10 disk/iso you may be able to do an automatic startup repair... I'm not sure it can repair from a bad update but it would be worth a try. Also with a Win 10 disk you could install but then you'd have to activate or start over one more time.

Hiren's Boot CD/USB
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/

 

[Yecob]

Use the Hiren's Boot CD/USB to partition the HDD with the included Partition Manager, and to recover the Windows product key use the included Keyfinder.. if it's the same code as that on the Windows 8.1 packaging this shouldn't be necessary... So, after the format start over and install Windows 8.1 to upgrade it to 10. If you can borrow or download a Windows 10 disk/iso you may be able to do an automatic startup repair... I'm not sure it can repair from a bad update but it would be worth a try. Also with a Win 10 disk you could install but then you'd have to activate or start over one more time.

Hiren's Boot CD/USB
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/

Thanks a lot for all your help, really appreciated! Now I suppose it could be considered a different kind of problem?

I left the startup running for a while since one of my last posts and accidentally fell into a nap (turned out to be quite convenient!) and woke up to my computer at the login screen. It has only done this once before about a week ago when it seemed to turn itself on overnight and update then load while I was asleep until I woke up. I know this because once I turned it off and back on again, I had the same elongated problem of the loading circle. So while it is working now and working efficiently, I am worried because I think once I turn it off it will take a long time (hours) to boot again.

 

[Chicano]

Well, now is the time to configure Windows updates so they don't install automatically... and next try finding the problematic update to remove it.

See which updates are installed
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/which-windows-updates-installed#1TC=windows-7

You should see something like this
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ximg_55b49f045cb07.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.9PRFPs0NWe.png

Once identified, remove it from Control panel > Programs and features

How to Uninstall and Block Updates and Drivers on Windows 10
http://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninstall-and-block-updates-and-drivers-on-windows-10/

 

[Yecob]

If resetting doesn't work, you have to do a clean installation to be able to access and change the Windows update settings.
To keep your files, partition the Hard Drive and move your files to a new partition, then from the Windows installation media format the OS partition and follow with a clean installation.. when it's done, go to Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings > Choose how Windows installs updates > change the setting out of > Install updates automatically (recommended). In either of the remaining settings, you can choose which updates to install so, if you have identified the bad update you can avoid it... and if not, you may be able to ID it by date and time of installation.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/getstarted-choose-how-updates-are-installed

Also in my control panel there is no Windows Update, I'm running Home Edition, not sure if that makes a difference or not.

 

[Yecob]

Well, now is the time to configure Windows updates so they don't install automatically... and next try finding the problematic update to remove it.

See which updates are installed
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/which-windows-updates-installed#1TC=windows-7

You should see something like this
http://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ximg_55b49f045cb07.png.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.9PRFPs0NWe.png

Once identified, remove it from Control panel > Programs and features

How to Uninstall and Block Updates and Drivers on Windows 10
http://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninstall-and-block-updates-and-drivers-on-windows-10/

Alright, thank you! I will try to do this now and report back with results!

 

[Chicano]

Looks like Windows 10 Home Edition doesn't have the Control Panel access to Windows Update, to disable automatic updating. But you may be able to disable Automatic Updates by way of the Group Policy Editor, the Registry Editor, or stopping the Windows Update Service. One of these may help stop Windows Update, at least temporarily untill a way to stop automatic Updates is found to prevent the bad update from auto installing.

Windows 10 Home edition may force updates on you
http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-10-home-edition-may-force-updates/



How to configure automatic updates by using Group Policy or registry settings
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/328010
http://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-to-prevent-windows-10-from-automatically-downloading-updates/

Configure Group Policy Editor to disable Automatic Updates Start > Run or Search > type gpedit.msc > Administrative Templates > Windows comp;onents > Windows Update > On the right pane; double click Configure Automatic Updates >


How do I disable the Automatic Updates feature using Registry Editor
https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/disabling-automatic-updates-how-to.html


You can also disable the Windows Update Service; Start > search for Services.msc > double click Windows Update > Startup type: Disabled

And to uninstall a bad Update: Start > Control Panel > System and Security > System > Windows Update > Installed Updates > find the bad Update by date and time; right click it > Uninstall

 

[Chicano]

Seems that Microsoft changed the Windows 10 Windows Update location... see if this applies to Home Edition. If it helps, ignore all the info in the previous post.


Windows 10 Build 9926: Where's Windows Update?
http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/windows-10-build-9926-wheres-windows-update

 

[Yecob]

Hi Chicano, thanks for all the extra help, last time I tried to edit group policy I wasn't allowed even after installing gpedit.msc (which I believe doesn't initially come with Windows 10 Home Edition) but I'll give it another go today. I uninstalled 2 updates installed 4 days ago and there's one I'm attempting to uninstall that was installed yesterday (Security Update for Microsoft Windows KB3140768) that tells me every time "There was an error. All of the updates were not successfully uninstalled" or something along those lines (with no error identification). I assume this is most likely the culprit update, is there another way to remove it?

Also a while ago I was attempting to edit group policy so I had admin rights (even though I'm the only user on the computer) on my system drive and so I would be able to edit information and delete files and folders within the program file folders. Don't know if that info helps at all but I figured I should mention it.

And this problem has been happening for a while now, maybe a week or two I think, I've avoided it for until now via restoring as I said earlier or by just putting my computer in sleep mode instead of shutting down which I obviously would rather not have to do.

 

[Chicano]

Gpedit does the same as the Registry... when you configure something in it the registry gets edited, so intead of using Gpedit, do it in the registry... but first see if you can access Windows Update in: Start button > PC Settings > Updae and Security > Advanced > under How do you want to install updates; You may be able to do something there to stop Automatic Updates... and if not, check the info on how trick the system into stopping auto updates.

To remove updates; in the same window, open View your update history > find the bad updates > Select each one and click on Uninstall Updates. If this is what you tried before and could not remove them, try doing it in Safe Mode... (F8 right after the bios post beep > and select Safe Mode from the options screen)

How to stop automatic updates in Windows 10 Home
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/how-stop-automatic-updates-in-windows-10-home-windows-10-professional-3626701/