Resolved Windows Update-stuck on "Restarting"

Allowed Windows Update to install latest update.
For 24 hours , screen is stuck on "Restarting" with circling balls
Reboot? Damage from reboot?
Not up to clean install. Lose too much time reloading software, finding files; if files deleted, no hope of installing them again.

Is this just an update gliche? Or is Gates getting back at political opponents?

Dell XPS 420 Pentium Quad, 1 TB HD, 1 TB aux HD.

 

I have done a Hard Shutdown a few times when this has occurred as I figure you may suffer a power outage which is the same as a Shutdown. W10 is more robust than previous MS OS's and should complete the re-install when you Restart the comp.
24 hours is too long to leave the comp running frozen IMHO.

 

While "graceful" shutdowns are always preferable, some times it is just necessary to force a shutdown if a system is locked up. And while it is possible a sudden unexpected shutdown could corrupt a drive, I have never seen that happen with W10. As retiredlearner noted, W10 is much more robust than previous versions of Windows. And I have not seen such a shutdown "damage" a computer since way way back in early XP days when a hard drive became so corrupt it became unusable. But even then, I could not tell you if it was due to the sudden shutdown, or if the drive just decided it what its time to die.

So if I were you, I would force a shutdown - typically holding down the power button for 4 - 5 seconds will trigger that. If not, then flip the master power switch on the back of the PSU to off (0) for a few seconds, then back on. If no master power switch, pull the plug. Then restore power and boot. When it [hopefully] reboots to the desktop, go through the Start menu to "gracefully" do a restart. This second boot should ensure Windows is up and running properly.

 

Roger

 

Understood, Bill. My main question was whether to interrupt the download/install of the latest update, not knowing at what stage it was operating.
Yes, I have done all sorts of reboots, restarts, and clean install included.

 

Yeah and it is wise to be concerned there. And for sure, it is not uncommon for a computer to look like it is locked up, but in reality, it is still chugging along. You often see this disk Error Checker (chkdsk).

Typically, I would say to step away and come back in an hour or so to give time for Windows to sort itself out. But you waited 24 hours - that's plenty long.

Wait! What? Clean install? Please explain.

 

You were correct. Turned off for some hours. Restart required twice. Then, original setup reappeared with exception of display resolution. It zoomed one range in, no problem.
Thanks for the help/encouragement. Back in the saddle again.

 

Nice to see you're back in operation OK.
Are you now showing Version 1909 and OS Buiid 18363.836?

 

1909 yes. Other, don't know. Will DL 2020-1 (KB4497165) shortly.

 

Yes that KB should do the trick.