[SOLVED] Failed Windows Update Keeps asking for Restart every 5 minutes

Neeraj · May 7, 2016

Dear Sysnative Forum Experts,

In Feb-2016 I received notification from windows that my machine is scheduled for 29th Feb to upgrade from existing windows 7 to windows 10. However I was never interested in windows 10, and I choose option not to upgrade. However once I opened my machine on 1st Mar, few updates installed automatically and I thought these updates are regular windows update.

Unfortunately thereafter whenever I start my machine, it says that 'Restart your computer to install important updates'. I have restarted my laptop many times already but it seems it is stuck in a loop due to failed download for windows update.

I also tried clicking on 'Check Updates' for windows update and then message displays as 'Windows Update cannot currently check for updates, because you must first restart computer so that a previous installation can be completed'.

In search for answer I arrived to Sysnative Forum, and as per instruction I have performed SFC scan & copied CBS Logs.

I have attached both the reports and copied SFC scan text below as well.

SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-05-06 20:00:09.923
Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 - x86
Not using a script file.

AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.

Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-05-06 20:02:54.005
----------------------EOF-----------------------

Please guide me for further troubleshooting steps.

Thanks

Neeraj

BrianDrab · May 10, 2016

Hello and welcome

Due to the precise nature of your corruption, you will receive help from a user named LiquidTension. He's one of our senior trainees here who's in his final phrase of his studies and needs to gain some real world experience in specific areas of Windows Update. This means that he'll be assisting you, but that I will first need to double check and approve his fixes before he posts them to you. If anything this is a good thing for you because it means that you've got at least two of us watching over your thread, but it will unfortunately add a slight delay between each reply. I hope that you understand and can accept the need for us to train up new members in this way in order to carry on doing what we do here, however, if for any reason you object to this setup, I will happily take on your thread myself.

Thank you very much for your understanding. We'll be with you very shortly.

LiquidTension · May 10, 2016

Hello,

Please export the following registry key, and provide the file in your next reply.

Export Registry Key

Click the Windows Start

button. Type regedit in the search bar, right-click regedit and click

Run as administrator.
On the left side, navigate to and select the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate
Once selected, click File, followed by Export....
Name the file CBS and save to your Desktop.
Right-click CBS, click Send to, followed by Compressed (zipped) folder. Attach this file in your next reply.
Note: If the file is too large to attach, upload to a service such as Dropbox, One Drive or SendSpace and provide a direct download link in your next reply.

Neeraj · May 12, 2016

Thanks BrainDrab & LiquidTension for responding to my thread.

I'm ok with your current setup and will co-operate with LiquidTension in providing logs or files as required for troubleshooting.

LiquidTension,

As requested please find attached CBS Zipped Folder.

Though the original file is of only 7 KB

Thanks

Neeraj

LiquidTension · May 12, 2016

Hello,

Thank you for the file. Please execute the following SFCFix Script and reboot your computer afterwards. Let me know if there is any change in the behaviour of this issue.

SFCFix Script (.txt)

Warning: This fix is intended for use on this particular machine. Do not use this fix on any other machine; doing so may cause damage to your Operating System. If you are not the original poster and require assistance, please start your own topic.

Please download View attachment SFCScript.txt and save the file to your Desktop.
Close all open windows.
SFCFix.exe

and SFCScript.txt

should both be present on your Desktop.
Drag the file SFCScript.txt onto the file SFCFix.exe and release it.
SFCFix will now process the script. Upon completion, a file (SFCFix.txt) will be created on your Desktop.
Copy the contents of the file and paste in your next reply.

Neeraj · May 12, 2016

LiquidTension,

I followed your suggested steps. Please see below the content of SFCFix.txt

SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-05-12 20:45:47.885
Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 - x86
Using .txt script file at C:\Users\Neeraj Goyal\Desktop\SFCScript.txt [0]

RegistryScript::
Successfully took ownership and permissions for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.

WARNING: Failed to create backup for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.

Failed to import registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.

Successfully restored ownership and permissions for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.
RegistryScript:: directive failed to complete successfully.

Failed to process all directives successfully.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 1 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-05-12 20:45:48.524
Script hash: Avup11TqTZovuGoED/s9SIU4244DhPO4asPgFKtKdRc=
----------------------EOF-----------------------

LiquidTension · May 12, 2016

Hello,

Unfortunately, the script was unsuccessful - potentially due to interference.

Referring to the instructions below, please boot your computer into Safe Mode:
Starting your computer in safe mode - Windows Help

From here, please carry out my instructions in Post #5 once more:
https://www.sysnative.com/forums/wi...rt-every-5-minutes-post156348.html#post156348

Neeraj · May 13, 2016

Hi LiquidTension,

I tried running the same script in safe mode.

Unfortunately wifi doesn't work on my laptop when it is in safe mode. I don't know that it is as designed or some bug.

Therefore when I tried running the script I got following message.

Thanks

Neeraj

LiquidTension · May 13, 2016

Hello,

Please boot into Safe Mode with Networking (as opposed to just Safe Mode), and let me know if you are able to execute the script.

Regards,
Adam

Neeraj · May 14, 2016

Hi LiquidTension,

Following your instructions, I started my laptop in 'Safe Mode with Networking'

Thereafter followed the instruction of post#5

The results seems same as in post#6. Please see below:

SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro.
Start time: 2016-05-14 18:56:36.754
Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 - x86
Using .txt script file at C:\Users\Neeraj Goyal\Desktop\SFCScript.txt [1]

RegistryScript::
Successfully took ownership and permissions for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.

WARNING: Failed to create backup for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.

Failed to import registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.

Successfully restored ownership and permissions for registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update.
RegistryScript:: directive failed to complete successfully.

Failed to process all directives successfully.
SFCFix version 3.0.0.0 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 1 datablocks.
Finish time: 2016-05-14 18:56:36.973
Script hash: Avup11TqTZovuGoED/s9SIU4244DhPO4asPgFKtKdRc=
----------------------EOF-----------------------

I also noticed that in safe mode, my laptop didn't restarted and worked as normal.

Thanks

Neeraj

LiquidTension · May 15, 2016

Hello,

Given the difficulties we have had removing the two key values, we will need to adopt a different approach. Please let me know if you have any issues carrying out the instructions below.

SFCFix Script (.txt)

Warning: This fix is intended for use on this particular machine. Do not use this fix on any other machine; doing so may cause damage to your Operating System. If you are not the original poster and require assistance, please start your own topic.

Please download View attachment SFCScript.txt and save the file to your Desktop.
Close all open windows.
SFCFix.exe

and SFCScript.txt

should both be present on your Desktop.
Drag the file SFCScript.txt onto the file SFCFix.exe and release it.
SFCFix will now process the script. Upon completion, a file (SFCFix.txt) will be created on your Desktop.
Rename this file SFCFix1.txt.

Recovery Environment Command Prompt

After executing the script above, please enter the Recovery Environment and open the Command Prompt.
Instructions can be found here: How to use the Command Prompt in the Vista Windows Recovery Environment
Note: If necessary, here are alternative instructions to booting into the Recovery Environment.
- Restart your computer.
- As soon as the BIOS is loaded begin tapping the F8 key until the Advanced Boot Options appears.
- Use the arrow keys to select the Repair your computer menu item.
- Select your the keyboard language settings, Operating System and finally user account, clicking Next each time.
Once at the Command Prompt, type Regedit.exe and press Enter on your keyboard.
Regedit should open. Using the panel on the left, please navigate through the keys listed below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update
Once at the Auto Update key, look for the following values:

OSUpgradePendingReboot
OSUpgradeRebootScheduledTime
Right-click each value and click Delete. Accept any prompts.
Note: Ensure you only delete the values listed above.
Once you have deleted the two values, close Regedit and reboot your computer.
After the reboot, please execute the SFCFix Script below.

SFCFix Script (.txt)

Warning: This fix is intended for use on this particular machine. Do not use this fix on any other machine; doing so may cause damage to your Operating System. If you are not the original poster and require assistance, please start your own topic.

Please delete SFCScript.txt from earlier.
Please download View attachment SFCScript.txt and save the file to your Desktop.
Close all open windows.
SFCFix.exe

and SFCScript.txt

should both be present on your Desktop.
Drag the file SFCScript.txt onto the file SFCFix.exe and release it.
SFCFix will now process the script. Upon completion, a file (SFCFix.txt) will be created on your Desktop.
Rename this file SFCFix2.txt.
Please provide SFCFix1.txt and SFCFix2.txt in your next reply.

Neeraj · May 16, 2016

Hi LiquidTension,

I started with executing first SFCScript, which was successfully executed in SAFE MODE. Please find the result in attached report named - SFCFix1.txt

As per your second instruction, I successfully booted my laptop in 'Recovery Environment' by selecting 'Repair Your Computer' option in Advanced Boot Options screen.

After that I followed your suggested steps, until I reached 'CurrentVersion' folder. After CurrentVersion folder I was looking for subfolder named 'WindowsUpdate'.

However no WindowsUpdate folder was available, means I can not follow next steps & was not able to delete following files.

OSUpgradePendingReboot
OSUpgradeRebootScheduledTime

Please see snapshot below:

Thereafter I exited command prompt & booted my laptop in normal mode.

I tried executing your second SFCScript & fortunately it successfully gets executed. I have attached results in attached file named SFCFix2.txt

Please suggest the next steps.

Thanks

Neeraj

LiquidTension · May 17, 2016

Hi Neeraj,

Please go ahead and repeat my previous instructions from the start (SFCFix Script #1) - only this time boot into Safe Mode and delete the two values from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update key.

Please let me know how you get on.

Neeraj · May 18, 2016

Hi Adam,

I followed your instructions in SAFE MODE and successfully deleted below mentioned files:

OSUpgradePendingReboot
OSUpgradeRebootScheduledTime

After deleting I ran second script & have attached results with file name SFCFix2.txt

Though I didn't ran first script as the result would have remain same. The both SFCFix2.txt (old) & SFCFix2.txt (new) are attached with this thread.

Please suggest the next steps.

Thanks

Neeraj

Neeraj · May 18, 2016

Hi Adam,

Deleting following files done the trick.

OSUpgradePendingReboot
OSUpgradeRebootScheduledTime

Now my laptop doesn't asked for restart. I can also check for windows update.

Thanks to BrainDrab and you for helping me out.

Cheers.!!

Neeraj

LiquidTension · May 18, 2016

Hi Neeraj,

Excellent, thank you for the update! :dsmile: Now that you are able to check for updates, please be sure to let me know if you have any issues with installation of available updates.

Neeraj · May 18, 2016

Hi Adam,

I was able to successfully install all 36 updates.

You can mark this thread as 'SOLVED'.

Once again thanks for your help.

Cheers

Neeraj

LiquidTension · May 19, 2016

Very good. I've gone ahead and marked this topic as solved.

Take care.

[SOLVED] Failed Windows Update Keeps asking for Restart every 5 minutes

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