FIX: Failure Configuring Updates

This error appears after Windows has failed to configure updates on your system (sounds quite right doesn’t it?) but can be a very nasty error to fix. Hopefully you can solve the problems without to much work by following this guide.

[symple_box color=”yellow” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””] This guide has been written for Windows 8.1 users. however the steps are the same for Windows 8. This method also works on Windows 7 and Vista however the steps are not the same, the command prompt commands however are the same.
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Troubleshooting the Problem

Boot into Windows Recovery Environment

The first thing you need to do is to reach the Windows Recovery Environment, you can read how to do that here: Boot into Windows RE

You’ ll then need to start an Elevated Command Prompt:

1. Click on Troubleshoot
2. Click on Advanced Options
3. Click on Command Prompt
4. Choose your operating system
5. Choose your account

[symple_box color=”blue” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””] If you do not have a Windows 8 installation medium then you can use the Windows 8 Enterprise ISO to execute these steps, be aware that you can only use Command Prompt. Refresh or Reset with this disc is not possible (unless your running enterprise). You can download that ISO here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-8-1-enterprise.
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Entering the command prompt commands

[alert-announce]The commands below are very sensitive, make sure you enter the right spaces in the correct places. [/alert-announce]

We have now reached Command Prompt, in this Windows we going to enter three commands that will hopefully solve your problems.

1. Type: “DISM /image:C\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions“
2. Then type: “move C:\Windows\WinSxS\pending.xml C:\Windows\WinSxS\pending.old“

Restart your system and see if it now boots again.

[symple_box color=”red” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””] In some cases the Windows drive will be labelled X. If using C: gives you troubles then try X first.
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