Laptop freezing, and balking at Windows updates

A less-than-two-year old Lenovo laptop I have, had a motherboard problem, covered under warranty. The shop found that the HD and its data were intact, and because of supply chain issues, had me agree to swapping the HD into a new identical-model laptop (I preferred this approach, because then I'd have the apps/software intact and not have to reinstall/activate/configure them).

Laptop works, fine, but not perfectly. The two issues are:

1. About half the time, if left unattended (no keyboard/touchpad activity) for 10 minutes or so it totally freezes. Display stays intact, no "event" is recorded, but the mouse pointer disappears from the display, the clock stops, and it won't recognizes keystrokes or touchpad input.
2. Windows updates are dicey. Defender definition updates, and some other ones, have gotten through and installed. But another one - sorry, don't have the number - repeatedly fails to download. KB5009596 will download, install, then get stuck at 20% and fail, even when manually downloading it and forcing the install.

I've tried tips at How to reset Windows Update components on Windows 10 • Pureinfotech and gotten nowhere:

• Troubleshooter tool finds problems but can't fix them
• The Service Stack Update from the Microsoft Update Catalog is incompatible with the 64-bit machine (I'm downloading what should be the correct update)
• Running DISM fails too - even when I download and mount a Windows 10 ISO, and reference the install.esd file from the ISO
• sfc /scannow finds but doesn't fix problems
• I performed the instructions about resetting Windows Update from an Administrator command prompt, including restarting where directed, and each step performed satisfactorily, but this didn't help

I pretty much have nothing to lose now; the offer remains of a new replacement laptop, porting my data, and I'm stuck reinstalling everything. But hoping there's some magic rescue I've not thought of yet.

Hi,

If you are sure the health of your disk is OK, you can do a Repair Install of Windows 10

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

It should fix everything.

MaloK said:

Hi,

If you are sure the health of your disk is OK, you can do a Repair Install of Windows 10

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

It should fix everything.

I have been trying to do that. The issues at hand:

1. Per the instructions:
   If you have Windows 10 version 20H2 installed, then it is required to have KB4586853 for build 19042.662 or higher installed to be able to do a repair install and keep everything.
   
   This does not apply to you if you have a higher version or build installed.
2. ^^^ The afflicted Lenovo does have 20H2, but not that KB4586853 update, and of course part of my issues is certain Windows updates aren't working
3. The available ISO file is for Windows 10 version 21H2 build 19043.1288 - which is newer than the laptops 20H2, and I presume I'd need to have the KB4586853 installed to make that work - or not?

Suggestions on how to proceed, based on the above?

Hi,

If you are stuck with updates not working and not loosing your configuration is important, you can Use 20H2 ISO to attempt your repair.

MaloK said:

Hi,

If you are stuck with updates not working and not loosing your configuration is important, you can Use 20H2 ISO to attempt your repair.

I forged ahead with the 21H2-based upgrade. Made the mistake of walking away from the laptop for 10 minutes, and yup, it had frozen, 61% of the way through the first cycle of update (before any restart). Restarted the computer, began again, tended to keeping the session alive, and it went all the way through.

But now, once logged in, the computer locks up within 15 seconds. Not sure if it's a function of time, or as I launch the first app. I had winver launched soon enough to see that the computer now has 21H2.

Absent other guidance though, I'd say it's time to get a new computer, port the files, install new software. Sigh.

That didn't go well... Not sure about the new computer, but for the clean install... yeah. The FX CPUs are not bad. You could give it a try after saving your files.