Re: 'we couldn't complete updates, undoing changes, don't turn off your computer'

Juliehe,

The "update" to Windows 8.1 is not merely an update, it is a change to the version the Operating System on your computer.   Your system may not be ready to upgrade to Windows 8.1 -- it is not always simply a matter of just "updating".  There may be driver incompatibility issues that show up immediately or, as in your case, soon after the upgrade was attempted.

Hopefully, when you did first get your computer and set it up, you created the suggested Recovery Media and you might have even created a system Image.  You may need them.

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You might be able to stop the "update madness" if you have a viable Restore Point dated prior to when this all started to fall apart.

That means:  If there is an old restore point dated before you applied the "Windows 8.1 Update" in the computer, you might be able to back out of this trouble.

Look on your computer for a Restore point dated before the trouble started.

Note that if this does work, it may take some time for the Restore to put the operating system back together - twenty minutes, thirty ... maybe longer.  It may not work.

Assuming the Restore does work, you may want to reconsider the upgrade to Windows 8.1 until such time that you are ready to complete the task without risk to your current setup.  You need to have your computer backups in place, your Recovery media complete and ready, and a clear understanding of what is going to be necessary to allow the upgrade to succeed.  Not every computer is "ready" to upgrade.  Microsoft sent the invitation to upgrade -- and Microsoft does not know if your HP computer can handle the upgrade or whether the upgrade will succeed or not.

Reference:

Restore Point Win8

Read section: Restore your computer when Windows 8 starts normally

It is a bit less than a third of the way down the page.

Example:

Open the file > Click on Download > Click “Open in Adobe Reader”

System Restore Example – Windows 8

There are other Experts on this Forum who know more about this subject that do I.

I hope this helps.

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Although I strive to reflect HP's best practices, I do not work for HP.