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?

A lot of people have had problems with Vista updates (try Google). One update I experienced giving similar problems was a minor fix that related to daylight saving time. There was an issue with some of the office software (All very complicated and lots of people had this issue.) The simple fix was to hide the update via the update manager. Hope this helps.

Do a roll back to a time before the updates.

I did both those things. I cannot access the BIOS at all, in case there was something I could fix there.
The last thing I did was to re-load all programs, including windows. It seems that on a normal shutdown it goes into continuous update mode and when you force it to shut down using the power button when you start it up again it enters a continuous update mode again. Only by pulling the power cord and removing the battery will it start normally.
I could load XP I guess but maybe being a Toshiba it will not let me. Not worth the risk.