Windows 8.1 refuses to boot after Tuesday Update

For what it's worth, I LOVE my win 8.1 install w/ Classic Shell.

However, I have both these updates pending to install with no way to uninstall until I actually do reboot. Can't say I'm eager to shut her down right now.

Can the font cache be unlocked via "unlocker" or some other such software? I'm lazy and don't want to dick with repair options this morning.

EDIT: the file can be freely deleted without such tools. Rebooting.

EDIT II: Rebooted, uninstalled the updates, set to clear pagefile at reboot, rebooted another 4 times and all is dandy.

 

Don't think 7 was safe from this update either looking at the fix for the font cache
http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsof...-2982791-and-kb-2970228-windows-update-248476


QUOTE:

I had the same problem on two computers, both win7 64bits.
I could solve it by booting from a DVD and removing the following file:
c:\Windows\System32\FNTCACHE.DAT
​

 

Good reason to upgrade to Windows 7.

 

See post #28 and the one directly above yours.

 

Whew I got lucky. I thought Win 7 was everything but I really love Windows 8.1.

 

Well I have installed KB2982791 update, but not the optional one KB2975719, and my windows is booting fine. I don't find it necessary to install optional updates, don't think they are important. Good luck to everyone with that problem, hope you solve it.

 

Silly Windows 7 users thinking their OS of choice would be OK because it is somehow superior when its not. I hated Windows 8 but I realise the truth that is that it is better for your system. its better for your SSD. its better for gaming. Simple as that. No fanboi mentality needed.

Hope MS sorts this out quick. For the record, I have no boot problems.

 

Not all Windows 7 users think that. You are stereotyping all windows 7 users and it makes your argument a tad flawed.

Also Windows 8 being better for your system?
Well that depends on what kind of user you are and how old your system is. If its a 4 year old system like mine is then no Windows 8 wouldn't be right due to the fact that there might be driver issues.

Business users on the other hand I would not recommend Windows 8 because if majority of the IT users in of xyz company are using Windows 7 and one user is using Windows 8 they would have trouble fixing any problems that would occur.

 

I did not say they all thought like that but I do get your point.

Windows 8 is better for gamers. That is what I said and that is what I meant.

 

EDIT: I have just seen your second post.

 

Newer Windows is better for modern hardware because it supports newer architecture better then previous OSes and gets more frequent updates. I always stick to the latest though, as long as the hardware still supports it. I have nothing against Windows 8.x. I like it actually.

 

Had no probs with the update. Usually don't have problems, but fingers crossed. Folks talk bout WP 8.1 update that's also causing problems.
Don't know what it is, but some pple have something in their systems that "trigger" these problems. I have 2 pc's both running Windows 8.1 Pro and neither one got problems with recent updates.

Hopefully MS will fix it soon!

 

Looks like a fix may have been found! Here are the steps posted by Voyager72 on this forum:http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_update/win-81-august-12-updates-black-screen-after-2nd/ff06e4d3-2fed-44bb-b07a-e0f3f351eaa1?page=7&tm=1408129430363

After restoring my pc to the pre-patch state, i was able to install these succesfully by taking the following steps:
1. Reboot into safe mode with command prompt
2. Delete fntcache.dat from c:\windows\system32
3. Reboot back to windows 8.1. The fntcache.dat file is auto-recreated.
4. Install the two famous updates and pray
I believe the theory expressed above about some older font cache format may be correct, and probably microsoft didnt test compatibility with it... So only when you have a 'freshly created' fontcache right before the patch it works correctly...

Good Luck!

 

Lucky me, it was ready to install, but i hid the update.

Thanks Guru3d!

 

I laughed when I saw the news, I updated everything and my 8.1 is nothing but smooth sailing. I have windows set to manually update when I check them. I wish people would learn to get over the bs and just upgrade windows(albeit a bit cautiously), Classic Shell makes everything sexy again. There are no guarentees make backups and have your OS on a usb/disc at all times.

 

Well, i will have win a little 30 minutes knowing that before, but txs will be good to know for the next time it happend.

 

No issues here.

 

No problems here either.

 

Im getting a boot loop even by trying to get into safe mode with command prompt. This is annoying...

EDIT:

Just deleted that FNTCACHE.DAT by booting into Windows 7 on the same pc and it works. Good stuff

 

If the "start-up" process is corrupted you need to burn/create a bootable image (CD/DVD/USB), something like Parted Magic will do the trick.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/parted_magic.html(latest free version)

For example;

1. Burn Parted Magic to DVD/CD or Create Bootable USB
2. Boot from that particular optical or flash storage
3. Use the Explorer and select your hard drive
4. Browse to the exact file location and remove the file

You can also do this with a linux terminal from a free portable distribution or the usual cmd in Windows DVD's/Repair Disks, but that requires commands, not everyone may understand that.