Constant update
I got a Toshiba laptop running Vista from my son. It was constantly running updates, but not completing any. It would stick at the first screen with the spinning circle that replaces the hour glass and repeat "updating your computer, please do not shut off".
I could get it to start again if I went through a non-standard startup, with the F8 key. I could never get it to open on the BIOS page though. Sometimes I could get it to run in Safe mode, but usually not.
Sometimes I could get it running again by removing the battery and all external power, then starting it again after a period of no power.
I re-loaded the Windows data and all the applications, thought I had it fixed. I also stopped the Windows automatic updates, leaving it to check first for new updates then ask.
I did a virus scan and it reported nothing there.
Each time I got it running again I gave it to my wife to use and every morning it had the same problem. The only diff is that she shuts the laptop down and I only log off.
But I would like to fix it properly, has anyone had this problem?