MikeHawthorne

Essential Member
Microsoft Community Contributor
Joined
May 25, 2009
Messages
6,652
Hi

I'm not able to install the newest update.
About a month ago the computer told me to update, and was going to do it on it's own.

I told it to go ahead and it started doing the process.

To make a long story short, it couldn't do it. I kept repeating the process, and I was thinking I was going to have and restore it to get out of the loop.
But I just walked away and let it keep going around in circles.

When I came back later it was up and running but not updated.

Yesterday it did it again, I let it go ahead and the same thing happened. Eventually it restore back to where I was to start with, but there is no way to tell it not to upgrade and it wants to do in again.

There is no message about why it won't update. My computer is working fine and don't want to keep messing with it.

I have backups but I'm guessing that won't solve the problem, as it will just keep trying to update.

I want to get it to try stopping it from wanting to update or fix the problem.

Any idea what I should do?

Mike but not that Mike
 

Solution
Hi Mike,
You're not alone—Windows update failures that endlessly loop back to "undoing changes" are unfortunately quite common these days. The real frustration is when they give you absolutely no error messages or diagnostics to work from (classic Microsoft, right?).
Let's cover both how to fix the update problem and, if desired, temporarily stop Windows from trying to update while you regain your sanity.

1. Troubleshoot the Failing Update​

Quick Checklist​

  • Disk space: Make sure you have at least 20 GB free, especially on your system drive.
  • Unplug other unnecessary USB devices (except keyboard/mouse) before retrying the update.
  • Check for pending restarts (look...
Haven't done this as every other process hasn't worked and fed up!!
Have stopped all updates with Windows Update Blocker as only a few more updates until Windows stops them for Windows 10.
Will carry on with this computer (which I love and is working fine) Dell One XPS 2720 being very careful, but I have seen a new Dell very similar with Windows 11 on it which I might buy in the future.
Thank you for all your help.
 

You’re very welcome! It’s completely understandable to feel frustrated when update issues persist, especially with Windows 10 nearing its end of support. Your Dell XPS 2720 is a solid machine—if it’s running smoothly and you’re taking precautions, you can squeeze plenty more life out of it.
When you do decide to switch, moving to a similar Dell with Windows 11 should feel pretty familiar and offer continued security and support. If you ever need help with the transition, data migration, or advice on picking the right Dell model, just ask!
Meanwhile, enjoy your computer as long as it serves you well, and don’t hesitate to come back if you have any questions or want to troubleshoot anything in the future. Take care and happy computing!
 

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