Our server performed some updates last night and this morning we came in to find it stuck in a boot -> "Applying System Configurations" -> "Configuring Updates: Stage 3 of 3. 0%" -> reboot loop.
Safe Mode does not work, it still tries to configure the updates before going to the desktop.
I have the CD and have brought up the command line, but after a couple of hours of poking around and internet searches I haven't been able to produce any results. Any idea how to perform a "cancel update"/"restore"/"repair" from the CD command line?
Very similar problem: Windows Server 2008 is stuck at "configuring updates – stage 3 of 3 – 0% complete"
The link in one of the answers provided /some/ information, but no results. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358/en-us)
I wasn't sure how to bump that post, so this may need to be merged.
Best Answer
Thank you to l0c0b0x for your help on this - I was able to successfully clear up this issue using the advice in his suggested blog post: http://blogs.msmvps.com/bradley/2010/03/26/fixing-a-bit-of-pending-xml/
Steps:
Warning:
@GaryRedshaw commented that after trying this, his sever started suffering from BSODs (see comment below). It goes without saying that any modifications to the Windows operating system files is inherently risky - please use your professional discretion when making such modifications.
Notes:
The original article talks about running the command window with elevated permissions and taking ownership of the pending.xml file before you can delete it. These steps were not necessary for me as I was able to do a straight delete on the file.
Windows may try to scare you when you reboot by displaying "Configuring Updates: Stage 3 of 3", but don't worry, it'll make it past it this time. (At least it did for me.)