Why is Windows Vista so complicated ?

If you own a branded PC (like Dell or HP or Compaq, etc) it usually comes with a System Recovery CD which will restore your PC to factory condition. Be warned that if you use the Recovery CD, it would probably erase your hard drive and all its contents. At this point I think your best move is to seek a professional help specially if you do not want important files and info on your drive erased.

If you know how to boot to Safe Mode, and you can successfully do so, you can uninstall the Windows updates there that might be causing the constant rebooting. Go to your Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs and choose the latest updates that you installed.

If you have a Vista installation CD, you can do this:

1. Insert DVD and begin the Vista setup.
2. Select language and currency format etc.. then click next.
3. Select repair my computer (or something like that) on the bottom left of the screen.
4. Select your Vista installation click next.
5. Click command prompt from the list of options.
6. Type ‘ren c:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml pending.back’ press enter.
7. Type ‘ren c:\windows\winsxs\cleanup.xml cleanup.back’ press enter.
8. Type ‘exit’ press enter.
9. Click restart.

You will now get to your login screen. Then proceed to uninstall the updates.

That’s the solution. You do not need a restore point. I spoke with Microsoft and that file (pending.xml) needs to be deleted.

If you don’t have your Vista disk, borrow one or download a bootable ISO from the Net and burn it to a disk. Then select via F2 or F10 (boot menu) CD/DVD as the primary startup device. Run “Command Prompt” and type in the above text.

3 possible causes:

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (972260) Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package (KB973923) Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package (KB973924)

M$ has a page dedicated to this problem–it is too long to reprint here because it covers every contingency. Here is that page:

“Article ID: 949358 - The update is not installed successfully, you receive a message, and the computer restarts when you try to install an update in Windows Vista and Windows 7” http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

Basically it tells you many steps in order to get back onto your desktop, and from there to remove the update either through System Restore or other steps. Once the update is removed, it is VERY IMPORTANT to follow the last steps, to prevent the problem from happening again:

How to avoid this problem To avoid this problem, obtain and install update 937287 from the Microsoft Download Center separately from all other updates on the Windows Update site. Install the update that applies to your version of Windows Vista so that you can successfully install future updates.

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

go to the bottom of the following link and click and install the download for either Vista x86 or X64 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358