My HP ended up in the "Do not turn off" loop last night... was glad I had read about the issue on this forum the night before! Running 8.1 - followed Microsoft recommendation of forced power down (hold button), then on, do this total of 3 times - brings up repair screen - followed directions on screen to reset from previous restore point - worked fine. I do NOT have auto-updates set on my machine - it tells me when there are new updates, but it is up to me to install them, so it IS possible. I am NO 'puter whiz - and I somehow figured it out a year ago when I got this Pavillion... ST