You may want to have a good read here, it looks like you're having the same problems as lots of others... "Lastest Windows Update Problems", https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160717.0.
Gordon.
Well apparently I'm not because everyone else is saying that it's only on Windows 8 and I have Windows 7.
I had problems with W7 update.....but did not suffer too bad results.
Also, now that things are stable you should really think about doing offline backups (images) of your PC.
This safety net is not only good for when things go very wrong with a O/S update but when a HDD physically crashes.
This is known as a bare-metal restore....which meanas you put new HDD in PC and restore your old PC image to it.
Also a mentioned, for a system crash...say O/S update or say Virus that has messed thins up so back you need to go back to previous state.
So, a lot of packages out there (including Windows own backup) but Macrium Reflect FREE is terrific.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspxIt has a easy recover disk creator within the Macrium software to burn a recovery CD.
So, basically you schedule at night when you are done with PC for Macrium to run and it basically takes image of PC and stores this file (compressed but large) to a connected USB HDD.
Two scenarios to get info back....let's say everything is OK on O/S/PC but something corrupted or deleted data you need.
Just launch Macrium...."open" one of your image files and Macrium will mount the file to look lie a HDD....just copy backup files and good to go.
Other is as we said.....HDD crashes or O/S/PC is mucked up beyond repair.
Just put Macrium Recovery CD (one you'll create once from with Macrium) into CD bay, reboot using CD to boot from.
This recovery CD will walk you thru taking backup image and having it overwrite HDD or to new HDD.....very straight forward.