# Windows 8 problem **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489 "2017-01-06T23:05:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489/1 "2017-01-06T23:05:08Z")
I inherited my dad’s computer, which runs on windows 8. It apparently attempted to update today and wasn’t able to finish them, and now I get an endless screen of “We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer.” How do I fix this? (Note: I want actual serious answers, not “funny” crap like "throw is out and get an Apple product. Thankyouverymuch.) ---
**Author:** ![quimper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7c8e57/32.png) [@quimper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quimper)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489/2 "2017-01-06T23:17:17Z")
Try to boot to safe mode. You only have 0.2 seconds to hit F8 nowadays so it may take a few tries (thanks microsoft?) Once you’re in safe mode you can run [Win 8 Auto Repair](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/http-wwwbleepingcomputercom-tutorials-automatically-repair-windows-8-with-automatic-repair-/) (link also has some info on getting into safe mode) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489/3 "2017-01-06T23:19:34Z")
At which point do I hit F8? Or do I hold it down continuously? Do I press it simultaneously with the power button? When the Samsung logo comes up? When the “Please wait” comes up? Some other time? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489/4 "2017-01-06T23:23:38Z")
Once the logo comes up, I’d start clicking the button like a telegraph key. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489/5 "2017-01-06T23:25:54Z")
Or if that doesn’t work reinstall over. Or if there’s nothing needed to preserve, reformat and reinstall. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489/6 "2017-01-07T00:59:26Z")
Too bad it wasn’t upgraded to W10 when it was free to do so. You still might want to consider that option. I’ve found W10 very stable on my PC and laptop. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-8-problem/776489/7 "2017-01-07T02:34:48Z")
Right… I want Microsoft spying on me and selling my info to the highest bidder. I want some piece of crap wannabe AI trying to second-guess my every search, or interrupting me when I’m doing something like that annoying crappy paperclip. You know, this all started with an automatic update from Windows, AFTER I had shut off that “feature”. Or at least I thought I had. Then it went and tried to update anyway. Gee, MAYBE if it hadn’t done that I could have had it update when it was convenient _for me_ and I could make sure nothing interrupted it, with it plugged into a wall instead of with a low battery. But no…! Microsoft knows best, right? Anyhow - I’ll let the early adopters find out what’s wrong with Windows 10. Worst case for this computer I’ll wipe it and install Windows 7. Meanwhile, I have an opportunity to perhaps learn something. Which is why I asked for suggestions beyond just “throw it out”.