Help! Last night I ran a reg defrag program on my vista pc and turned off, as usually the process is completed on re-start. Today when windows loads it shows 'configuring updates, stage 3 out of 3, 0% complete'. It stays on this for 20 seconds then shuts down and re-starts.

It has been caught in this loop for a number of times, never getting past 0%. I have tried safe mode, and 'last know good configuration', but the same thing happens. I suspect the start has got corrupted with the reg defrag and updates conflicting, and only option is a re-instal. Before I do this, has anyone any other ideas, or would a repair instal be worth trying (this is something I have never used before so would appreciate your comments). Thanks, John

It sounds like some M$ updates are trying to take place (without any success)

Have you tried a "System Restore"?
Just go back to a time before you ran the defrag etc.

oldfogy, it shuts down and restarts before getting to the login screen. Sometimes it shows the user logon screen for a split second, but still just shuts down and restarts. I would love a way in to do system restore, but cannot get past this even in safe mode. I think I am obviously on for a re-instal, but repair instal? Thanks for coming bac

Now sorted by using installation disc to access system restore. I didn't appreciate before today that you could do that, I had only bothered using disc for clean instal. Cheers, and thanks again to oldfogy for coming back so quick.

No, thank you, for letting us know and reminding us to use the CD to access System Restore in cases like this.
To be honest I had totally forgotten about it.

Glad it's all sorted for you now.

I'd love to be able to say I discovered this by being adventurous and experimenting for myself, but some kind person pointed me at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

Looks like updates has caused this problem before!