"Reverting Changes" after large batch of Windows Updates
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Friday, January 11, 2013 3:24 PM
I am in the process of setting up a batch of new laptops. They are Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E530 models with Win 7 Pro 64. Once I get the machines joined to the domain and install all the necessary software for daily production (nothing fancy...Office 2010, Chrome, Cisco VPN, and TightVNC) I allow the machine to install Windows updates. If I simply try to allow all of the updates to install, I get the "Reverting Changes" message upon reboot. However, if I manually check the boxes to install 5 or 10 at a time, all of the updates seem to install correctly. I've read through some similar threads here but have a couple of issues:
1) Most of the threads I've read both here and other sites deal with Vista and/or are at least 3 years old. My machines are right out of the box and have never had Vista installed.
2) Most of the threads suggest doing a system repair or restore using the original Windows 7 CD. Unfortunately, Lenovo is stupid and does not provide a standard OS disc, so I don't have a "stock" Win7 disc to use.
On the same note, I have used the factory restore discs created by Lenovo to restore the systems to the factory defaults and run in to the same problem.
And finally, I just have neither the time nor the inclination to set up every machine twice (the initial setup followed by a restore) or sit beside a machine and babysit Windows Updates by selecting a fraction of the available updates to install in one sitting.
Surely someone has discovered a solution to this issue....I can't be the only one who has experienced it.
Thanks in advance for any help...and I apologize if my tone is a little coarse. I've been fighting this issue every day for a week and am just burnt out.
All Replies
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Monday, January 14, 2013 3:48 PM
I've had a similar problem, seemingly random, on Lenovo machines. Due to time constraints I usually just have to babysit and manually install batches of updates. 2 units bought at the same time, one exhibited the problem, the other didn't.
Haven't found a resolution yet, but I have a suspicion that it might be Windows updates rather than Lenovo, as I vaguely remember having issues, or various OS, with updates exhibiting this issue recently.
If I find a fix, I'll try to remember to reply here.
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013 3:55 AMModerator
Hi,
Based on my research, please try the following:
Rename the Windows Update Softwaredistribution folder==========================================
This problem may occur if the Windows Update, Software distribution folder has been corrupted. We can refer to the following steps to rename this folder. Please note that the folder will be re-created the next time we visit the Windows Update site.
1. Close all the open windows.
2. Click the Start Pearl, click "All programs", and click "Accessories".
3. Right-click "Command Prompt" and click "Run as administrator".
4. In "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type in "net stop WuAuServ" (without the quotes) and press Enter.
Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was successfully stopped before we try to rename the folder. However, if it failed, please let me know before performing any further steps and include any error messages you may have received when it failed.
5. Click the Start Pearl, in the "Start Search" box, type in "%windir%" (without the quotes) and press Enter.
6. In the opened folder, look for the folder named "SoftwareDistribution".
7. Right-click on the folder, select Rename and type "SDold" (without the quotes) to rename this folder.
8. Still in "Administrator: Command Prompt" window, type the command "net start WuAuServ" (without the quotes) in the opened window to restart the Windows Updates service.
Note: Please look at the cmd window and make sure it says that it was successfully started. However, if it failed, please let me know before performing any further steps and include any error messages you may have received when it failed.
Also, boot into Clean Boot Mode and run Windows Update again.
If the issue persists, run System Update Readiness Tool to check the result.
Hope this helps.
Vincent Wang
TechNet Community Support
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013 10:08 AM
Renaming SoftwareDis folder didn't work, but the clean boot mode seemed to work on one particular Lenovo unit, presumably a particular startup item or Service is causing the problem, although testing to try and work out the cause will be problematic, and time consuming, as I'd need to uninstall the updates, or have multiple units with the same problem, and just try to install the updates with several different startup items or services disabled.
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013 1:16 PM
Vincent,
Thanks for your reply. Upon reading it, I had a feeling that the clean boot would be a pretty good solution. Now, I'm wondering if there is an easy way to remove anything and everything non-OS-related....or, in other words, remove every piece of software that's not part of Windows.
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Wednesday, January 16, 2013 10:48 AM
As an answer to removing the other pieces of software, you could probably run an install of Windows using OEM media, if available, and download the device drivers. Otherwise, you'll need to go through and remove them through add remove/programs and features.
As a possible resolution to the problem, I think I have discovered the cause. I had chance to experiment with disabling startup items and services and determined it was one or several of 6 different services. List:
Lenovo Camera Mute, Lenovo Keyboard Noise Reduction, Nalperion License Service (NLS), NitroPDFDriverCreatorReadSpool2, and 2 Nvidia services.
I had already disabled all lenovo services, which didn't resolve the problem, and assumed the Nvidia services were unlikely to be the cause, so I searched for Nalperion License service and found a link, but I can't post it, so Google for "failure configuring windows updates lenovo nitro" and you should get "Failure configuring Windows Updates - Windows 8 - Lenovo Community" as first result.
Granted it's for Windows 8, but I think it's pretty definite that it happens on 7 also. I Googled for "nalpeiron licensing service nitro pdf" and a few pages confirms that NLS is part of Nitro PDF. So can safely remove or try and find the above update for your version of Windows.
Hope that helps.
- Proposed As Answer by Workshop Wednesday, January 16, 2013 10:48 AM
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Saturday, January 19, 2013 10:26 PM
This problem drove me nuts. The Windows Update database is not corrupt in this case and renaming the SoftwareDistribution folder and starting a new one won't amount to a hill of beans with this problem. Reading through this thread, I am amazed at the agony this issue is causing.
The whole thing is a messed up patch from August 2012 that doesn't behave properly. It was wrong when it came out and Microsoft apparently never did fix it correctly. Quality control at the world's biggest software company.
Here is the workaround.
Of that large batch of patches, first pick out KB2647753. Put that patch in first. Restart the computer, let it run through its update process, then do the rest. Your Windows Updates should work fine after that. That's it. That's the whole cure.
Our friends at Lenovo are officially less than helpful on this problem, but a nice lady on the support line unofficially pointed me to this workaround last month. But she would or could not tell me why. The official Lenovo answer is, "that question is beyond the scope of our support and you need to call Microsoft", which of course goes nowhere fast.
Do a google search for "KB2647753" and you'll see lots of history about this patch. It has apparently caused lots of grief for lots of admins over the past several months and for the life of me, I don't understand why Microsoft won't fix it.
Well, at least if anyone else goes looking for the Lenovo Windows Updates that revert, maybe they'll come across this workaround and save some grief.
Check out these links:
and
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/r27424108-Solved-KB2647753-Problems-installing-it
and
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/246552-kb2647753.html
- Greg Scott
Greg Scott
- Proposed As Answer by Greg Scott Saturday, January 19, 2013 10:26 PM
- Marked As Answer by justchico Wednesday, January 23, 2013 5:56 PM
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013 5:58 PMThanks Greg. It's always nice when you get a support agent willing to go off the reservation for a minute just to give you a helpful answer LOL
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Thursday, January 24, 2013 9:14 AM
Just out of curiosity, did you try my suggested solution? Removing Nitro PDF and the associated License service? If it is applicable.
I did find that Lenovo were offering an update for the Nitro software, which claimed to resolve the problem, but I settled on removing it and the service.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:21 AM
We have the same problem on the Lenovo PC's we supply.
All we did was install them individually 5 at a time.
James.
- Edited by James Dyke Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:22 AM
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Thursday, May 16, 2013 12:22 PM
James,
I've found that Greg Scott's solution above (I marked it as the answer) of installing KB2647753 resolves my issue. The only hiccup I've seen is that after I install the update and reboot, the machine hangs on the screen that says "Configuring Windows Step 3 of 3. Do not turn off your computer." All I do is wait until the status hits 100% and it stops on "3 of 3" then I do exactly what the screen is telling me not to...I hold the power button until the unit powers off. Upon boot, everything runs fine and I'm able to finish installing the remaining updates.
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Friday, May 17, 2013 12:26 AMGreg, thank you so much!
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