Resolving issue: Please wait while we install system updates.

Updated by the following author

Linda 

Last updated on April 28, 2024

Have you ever encountered an error where your computer gets stuck on the Windows Update screen, displaying the message "Installing system update, do not turn off your computer"? Typically, this occurs when your operating system, software, or firmware is being updated to fix bugs, improve performance, or enhance security. It can be frustrating when your computer fails to boot up properly during this process.

Fortunately, the utility provides nine effective solutions to help you fix the issue and finish the Windows update.

How to Fix 'Installing System Update, Do Not Turn Off Your Computer' - 9 Ways

In this section, you'll find 9 solutions to fix the System Update error on your PC. External devices like USB, external hard drive, printer, keyboard, and mouse can interfere with Windows Update. So, you need to shut down your computer and disconnect all peripherals connected to it.

If none of the above works for you, try the tips below, and share any solutions that work for you with other users:

Solution 1: Wait Patience for the Windows Update to Finish

The update process may take longer than expected under the following circumstances:

• This is an important update.
• Your PC is connected to the Internet at a slow speed.
• There was a system issue when Windows Update performed a compatibility check.

It's important not to interrupt the process, as this can prevent updates from installing or damage system files. Allow your system ample time to complete the installation process before attempting any troubleshooting steps. You can let it run overnight to see if the Windows Update installation completes.

Solution 2: Force restart your computer

If the “Please wait while we install Windows system updates” message persists after a long time, you can try force-restarting your Windows computer.

Important: A forced restart should only be considered as a last resort if the update seems stuck and unresponsive. Interrupting the update process carries a risk of causing system corruption or an incomplete installation.

Step 1: After the computer has started, press and hold the power button for 5 seconds when you see the Lenovo logo.

Step 2: Repeat until you get a blue screen.

Step 3. Go to the Boot Settings and press the key indicated to get to the Safe Mode screen.

Step 4: In Safe Mode, click Start > Power Options.

Step 5: Hold down the Shift key, then choose "Restart."

Fix 3: Run Professional Boot Repair

If your computer shows "Getting Windows ready, Don't turn off your computer" when installing system updates, the Windows Update might be stuck at 0%, 20%, or 100%. Partition Master Professional can help you access your computer and fix boot issues caused by various reasons. This user-friendly tool allows beginners to easily create bootable media for system recovery or OS installation.

Follow the step-by-step guide:

Step 1: After connecting the external hard drive/USB to the computer, launch tools Partition Master, choose “Bootable Media”, and then click on “Create Bootable Media”.

Create Bootable Disk Wizard

Step 2: Choose a USB drive or CD/DVD that you have available, then click "Create." You can also burn the Windows ISO file to your media.

Step 3. Connect the bootable drive to the new computer and press F2 or Del to enter BIOS. Set the WinPE bootable drive as the first boot device, then press F10 to exit.

Step 4. Restart your computer and boot into the WinPE environment. Launch the "Partition Master" tool, and click on "Boot Repair" under "Toolbox".

Step 5: Select the system you want to fix, then click Repair.

Next up, we only need the translation in American English for the sentence: ""

Step 6: Wait a moment, you'll get a notification that the system has been successfully repaired. Click "OK" to finish the startup repair process.

"Outstanding Features of the Partition Master Tool"

• Windows 10 update taking forever
• Windows 11 Update Assistant stuck at 99%
• Fix Windows 11 update stuck at 100%
• Windows fails to start after update

This tool will help novices tackle annoying startup issues and disk optimization tasks. Try it out now!

Fix 4: Use the Reset Hole on your Lenovo laptop

If your Lenovo computer is stuck on the "Please wait, we're installing system updates" screen and a forced restart doesn't help, you can try using the reset hole on your device to resolve the issue. The reset hole is typically located on the side or back of a laptop and is used for a forced shutdown and reboot. Here's how to use the reset hole to fix the problem: 1. First, make sure your computer is completely turned off and disconnected from any peripherals like the power adapter or USB devices. 2. Locate the reset hole on your computer. It might be a small circular hole without any markings, but sometimes it's labeled as "Reset" or "RST." 3. Prepare a thin, non-conductive object, such as the tip of a paperclip or the end of a pen. 4. Gently insert this object into the reset hole and press down for a few seconds. This will trigger a hardware reset on your computer, forcing it to shut down. 5. Keep the object pressed in for a few seconds, then release. This allows the computer to restart safely. 6. After the restart, your computer may enter recovery mode or boot up normally. If it enters recovery mode, follow the on-screen instructions to see if that resolves the issue. Please note that using the reset hole is a last resort and could result in data loss. If the problem persists, it's recommended to contact Lenovo customer support for further assistance.

1. Locate the reset hole on your Lenovo laptop. It's usually a small pinhole with an icon of a power button next to it.

Step 2. Insert a paper clip or small pointed object into the reset hole and press the internal button for about 10-15 seconds. This will force the computer to shut down.

Step 3: Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn on your Lenovo computer.

Step 4. Boot up your computer and see if the update process resumes, or if you can access the desktop.

Step 5: If the issue persists, you may need to perform additional troubleshooting steps such as running system diagnostics, performing a system restore, or contacting Lenovo Support for further assistance.

Step 5: Run Automatic Repair If your Windows system encounters issues, Automatic Repair can be a useful solution. Here's how to perform this process: 1. Insert the Windows installation media (DVD or USB drive) and restart your computer. 2. When prompted with "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...", press any key to start from the disc or USB. 3. Select your language and keyboard layout, then click "Next." 4. Click on the "Repair your computer" option. 5. In the "Recovery Options" window, choose "Advanced options." 6. From the advanced options menu, select "Troubleshoot." 7. Next, choose "Advanced options" again. 8. Here, you will see the "Automatic Repair" option. Click on it. 9. Follow the on-screen instructions, allowing Windows to scan and fix any errors that might be causing startup problems. 10. After completion, restart your computer to check if the issue has been resolved. Please note that this process may take some time, depending on your system and the complexity of the problem. If Automatic Repair doesn't solve the issue, you might need to consider other troubleshooting steps, such as System Restore or reinstalling Windows.

Another solution is to use the “Automatic Repair” feature in Windows. Here's how to fix a PC stuck on the “Just a moment, we're setting up some updates” screen:

Step 1: Boot from the Windows installation CD and press any key to continue.

2. In the “Repair your computer” menu, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Automatic Repair.

Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the stuck Windows Update error.

Fix 6: Use the Windows Troubleshooter Tool

The "Windows Troubleshooter" is a built-in diagnostic tool in the Windows operating system that helps users identify and resolve common system issues. Hence, you can run the Windows Troubleshooter to address the "Just a moment, we're installing system updates" error:

Step 1: In WinRE, click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > press F4 to start in Safe Mode.

Step 2. Press the Windows key and X at the same time to open the Start menu, then click the Gear icon to open Settings.

Step 3. Under "Update & Security," select "Troubleshoot" > "Additional troubleshooters."

Click on Additional troubleshooters

Step 4: A list of troubleshooters will appear. Click on the relevant one, then choose Run troubleshooter.

Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Solution 7: Check the system disk for bad sectors.

In addition to fixing boot issues, Partition Master Professional also allows users to check for potential hard drive problems and fix them seamlessly.

The quick steps are as follows:

< strong > Step 1. < /strong> Launch Partition Master. Right-click the drive you want to check and click "Surface Test".

Step 2: The operation will be performed immediately, and all bad sectors will be highlighted in red.

This is an embedded code for a YouTube video that displays a video titled "YouTube video player" with a width of 700 pixels and a height of 410 pixels. On an actual webpage, this code would render a full-screen capable video player with various media features enabled, such as accelerometer, autoplay, clipboard-write, encrypted media, gyroscope, and picture-in-picture.

You can also try using the CHKDSK command or perform a quick disk check without starting Windows.

How to Check Hard Drive for Errors - 3 Simple Ways

Follow this article to learn how to check for hard drive errors in Windows.

Fix 8: Update Windows in Safe Mode

System updates can sometimes be interrupted by third-party programs. In this case, you can update Windows in Safe Mode. Refer to this guide to install Windows updates in Safe Mode:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly while it's booting to open the “Advanced Boot Options” menu.

Step 2: Use the arrow keys to highlight "Safe Mode with Networking," then press Enter. This will start your computer in Safe Mode with network capabilities.

Step 3. Once in Safe Mode, open the Start menu, search for “Windows Update,” and select “Windows Update settings” from the search results.

Step 4. In the Windows Update settings, click “Check for updates” to see if there are any available for your system.

Step 5: If updates are available, click on "Download" and then "Install" to update your system. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the updating process.

After the update installs, restart your computer to exit Safe Mode and boot normally.

Fix 9: Recover BIOS

If your BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) becomes corrupted from a failed update or malware, you might see the "Your PC didn't start correctly" error. To ensure that Windows updates work properly, you can use a key combination to reset your BIOS:

Note: Before you try these, visit the manufacturer's website to find the exact key combination that works with your computer.

Step 1: Turn off the computer.

Step 2: Press the key combination for BIOS recovery.

Step 3: Hold the key combination, and then turn on your computer.

Step 4. Wait for the BIOS to restore itself. Follow any on-screen instructions that appear. When it's done, your computer should boot up normally.

Remember, patience and persistence are key when dealing with system update issues. If all else fails, you might need to reach out to Microsoft Support for assistance.

Conclusions

In summary, it's frustrating when your computer gets stuck on the "Please wait while we install system updates" screen. Don't worry; there are steps you can take to try and address this issue. From restarting your device to running system diagnostics and utilizing recovery options, various troubleshooting methods can help you overcome this obstacle. However, it's crucial to approach these solutions carefully and seek professional assistance to avoid potential damage to your computer.

When dealing with Windows update issues, AOMEI Partition Assistant will be your right-hand tool. Easily download and fix the "Just a moment, we're installing system updates" error:

"Frequently Asked Questions about 'Please wait for the system update installation'"

If you want to learn more about the "Please wait while we install system updates" error, follow the steps in this section:

**1. Why does the Windows Update get stuck at 20% during installation?**

There are several reasons why Windows Update might get stuck during installation.

• Software conflict
• Inadequate installation space
• Damaged system files
• Network issues
• Malware
• Unplanned hardware changes
• Interference from third-party programs

2. How long will the upgrade take?

This depends on your internet connection, and the speed of your computer (disk, RAM, CPU) will determine how long this takes. While it can take over an hour, the installation usually takes between 45 minutes to an hour. Will Windows 7 be supported in 2020?

3. How can I tell if a Windows update is stuck?

On a Windows 10 update screen, a spinning circle indicating that the system is loading appears. If it stops spinning, the system freezes.