Vista - Stage 3 of 3 0% Complete - One Solution
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When trying to install updates for Windows Vista, some users are getting stuck in a reboot loop that some are comparing to hell. 
But I did find one possible solution that may just work on one the forums I visited. The suggestion is:
Depending on your version place any 32 or 64 bit VISTA dvd in your computer and reboot it.
Boot from the DVD ROM
Select restore from a previous restore point
The first two restore points available to me failed. i had to go back 3 days before i found one that worked for me.
After that, manually attempt to download and install the update that was giving you issue. i simply disabled automatic updates until I can find out more about why this even happened.
Also of note. If you didn’t have Restore activated, than this obviously will not work.Comments welcome.
I hope this helps.
[tags]windows, vista, sp1, reboot, loop, solution, [/tags]
7 Comments
Alan
February 16th, 2008
at 10:26am
Like many others, I tried a repair and Vista says I don’t have any restore points, so my laptop is completely useless until someone finds a solution. I’m MORE THAN HAPPY at this point to boot into Linux to access the filesystem to delete whatever is causing the problem. But so far, Microsoft won’t say what to do.
Looks like Microsoft is being inundated with calls about this problem, but are currently only helping people with restore points. How helpful!
I hope you find a solution. I’ll check back.
Thanks.
the oracle
February 16th, 2008
at 10:55am
Obviously, Microsoft cannot be held responsible for every odd configuration not working quite right, but I have been hearing stories from people with mainline Dell/H-P/Lenovo computers, as delivered from the factory having this problem. This is poor planning on their part, as the ‘vanilla’ machines should simply work without incident - if not, it isn’t time for release, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
Ron Schenone
February 16th, 2008
at 4:04pm
Thanks for the comments.
Alan
February 18th, 2008
at 7:47am
I found that I can get to the file system by pressing on boot-up, then selecting “Repair Computer”, then choosing to launch a command prompt. Even RegEdit, NotePad, etc. works from here!
Now, someone just has to figure out what to edit/delete.
I’ve already renamed the Windows\SoftwareDistribution and Windows\System32\Catroot2 folders, as some others have suggested, but that still doesn’t get rid of the rebooting.
Who’s gonna come up with the solution first: the user community working together or Microsoft? I’m betting on users!
Alan
February 18th, 2008
at 7:49am
My last message should have said I pressed F8 upon boot-up. (I used less than and greater than signs around it and so it was completely removed.)
Troy Lokitz
February 18th, 2008
at 8:35am
I have a macbook and installed sp1 under vmware. I had the reboot issue occur when installing one of the prerequisite patches. I tried rebooting a few times and it just wouldn’t boot. I tried last known configuration, then command line safe mode, then just safe mode. Eventually, for whatever reason it booted successfully after the 5th or 6th time. It successfully finished the sp1 installation and has been working flawlessly since. Can’t explain it, but you may want to try rebooting a few times and specifying some of the boot options randomly…
-t
Paul
June 10th, 2008
at 7:48pm
I helped a friend by a used HP with Vista. We didn’t get the DVD disks with it since it was used. I think she is hosed on this. We tried the F8 key, select Safe Mode and it then goes into the Stage 3 of 3 hell. Microsoft’s website, as usual, is no help and want $59 to email you within 24 hours.