Avast downloaded updates to my computer Dec 25th. I had a Avast window that it needed to restart my computer. I clicked to do that. My computer is stuck on, "Please wait while setup config update…and then Windows cannot update this file %1 , etc. over and over again, this happens right at startup. I cannot get into safemode, when I try to, the same thing happens. I restarted with my boot disk and can get in there, but do not know what to do to change this behavior. I restored my register to an earlier time twice but it did not correct the problem.
I run a Compaq with Windows ME, upgraded memory to 512 mgs, 30 gig hard drive. I am on a second computer at this time. I am in school on-line and need to get into the files on that computer really bad! I have some backed up but not all. I might think it was a virus other than this was Avast files that started this. I have a firewall installed plus Avast virus protection, also Win Patrol. I had not downloaded anything else before this happened! Can anyone help me?
Thank you,
Deanna
Which program is giving this error message?
Are you updating Windows and this error appear?
Can you open Windows Update site and start manually the updates?
It is not an error message, when I restarted my computer, the Compaq splash screen comes up and then the Windows ME splash screen. It sits there churning, I hit the esc key and the splash screen goes away, then it says "Please wait while setup updates your configuration files, This may take a few minutes…Then it just keeps saying “Windows could not upgrade the file %1 from %2 %1: x2” It says that over and over. I can hit the pause button and it stops, but if I push any other buttons it just starts again, filling page after page of this, if I let it.
I would love it if there was something that I can press to get it to bypass this update command…
Clicking ‘esc’ you just bypass the logon process and start a temporary profile, as far I remember from Millenium.
Can you, just after boot, press the F8 key and wait to see if you get the logon menu and try to boot in Safe Mode?
I tryed that. I choose safe mode and then it goes right into the same thing. It won’t let me go on into safe mode, just keeps trying to update…
Is there not a way to bypass the Avast update or cancel it? Some how! Somewhere?
Hi deanna and welcome to the forum!First of all this has nothing to do with avast! since this happens before it boots into windows correct?.Seems like some of your windows files got damaged somehow.Do you have your windows install cd?If so i suggest you put it in and try a repair of windows.Now i’m afraid i don’t how this is done in ME and i completely forgot about win98 too(been on xp since they came out in 2001).I’ll ask a firend who is still on 98SE if he can help you out.I’ll direct him in this thread. 
Cheers
Mikey
Thank you Mikey, I do not have a Windows CD. I bought this computer back when the retail stores were not giving them with the computers.
This started happening right after the last Avast update came in. I wasn’t having any problems before that. I am trained to always look at the last thing that occured before the problem started. I am assuming that the file that is stuck trying to update my configuration file has to the Avast file update as that is the only thing that was brought into my computer on that day, which was yesterday.
I know there is a way to get into DOS under Windows ME. I have done it in the past, but for the life of me I cannot remember how I did it. If I could get there, I think I could restore my whole computer system to an earlier date, not just the registry. Any computer wizards out there that could jog my memory on how to do that?
Hi deanna,
Look here, and it will come all back to you:
http://www.mdgx.com/msdos.htm, and for further info here:
http://www.everythingcomputers.com/pc_startup_trouble.htm.
Hope your troubles are soon over, and welcome to our forum on my behalf too,
greets,
polonus
F8 before it goes into windows then select COMMAND PROMPT if i remember correctly that should take you into dos…
Thank you for the sites, I think I can find what I need on the everything computers site. Looks like a book I need to invest in!
Mikey,
On Windows ME after hitting F8, the Command Prompt isn’t a choice. There are only 4 choices and it isn’t one of them! I miss the days of Windows 98, things were so simple then! You were allowed to go anywhere.
Thank you both for your suggestions! And the Welcome! Nice people live here!
I am going to go do some reading and maybe try a thing or 2, If I didn’t need those school files so bad, I would just reformat! That old computer could use a good cleaning, I just want to get back in to back up those files first! I have a portable USB hard drive I just bought for that purpose. It is just sitting there empty! Dang it! I wish I had just taken the time out of my Christmas Holiday to do that! Wouldn’t you know, Murphy’s Law!
This mess just couldn’t have waited a couple of days, could it! 
Deana as you are runnunig Windows Me just run setup again,
it will take you a few minutes and silve your problems, Hope that helped, garry
Garry,
I would love for this to be easy, but how would I run setup when I can’t get anywhere. Is there a way I can do this using my start up disk? That is the only place I can go…To the command prompt after using my start up disk.
The only disk I have is the Recovery CD that came with my PC, which as you know will reformat.
is it possible to get a run command into msconfig and disable avast from the startup option. this should then allow you to boot normally ? good luck
Okay, I did get the editor open but have not been able to open config.sys. It is really scary messing around in these system files when I am not sure what I am doing!
I backed out back to the c: prompt, I think I need to research this a little better. I do feel like this is where the problem is, and I read how to disable a command in there. I just need to find out how to pull config.sys file up in the editor. I am sure if I could disable Avast from the boot up this problem would go away. Then I could fix it from the top side!
I have messed around quite a bit in DOS but it was only on older computers that I wasn’t trying to save the stuff on anyway. Under those conditions I was brave! And usually successful with what I was trying to do. This time is it is scary!
I want those school files realllllly bad! >:(
How about edit config.sys? O boy where are those DOS days hihi ;D
Okay, after further study the config. sys is not in Windows ME. So that is not where I want to be anyway! I will keep on searching!
The start up commands are in the registry for Windows ME! I miss Windows 98 for it’s simplicity!
I know, I know, those were the olden days. I still think there should be a way to stop Avast trying to update these files in a case like this. Maybe future developement?
maybe what you need to focus on is disable cmd from dos see link http://www.computerhope.com/disable.htm
and this might lead to a recovery