Windows 7 updates will not install

I do have SP1 installed.  LVL 7, I tried to install KB947821-v3.4.  It says that it installed but when restarting, all I get is Shutting down.  After about one hour, I did a forced shut down.  I have not yet tried "Reset Windows Update" components and will try that next.

Do that and let the machine run overnight. It can take that long.

I cannot be certain what actions finally fixed this issue.  I think "Resetting" was important as well as using the newest version of the Windows Update Agent.   Bottom line, all of the updates are installed and the system is running OK.  Thanks to all that contributed to helping me.

I'm glad I could help,

Just about the time I was ready to say "Done", I saw that there were 2 more updates (about 3.5mb) available.  So I downloaded them and they appeared to install.  They did require a restart so did so only to find that the system hung again during shutdown.  I waited 2.5 hours for it to shutdown but no dice.  I did a forced shutdown and then restarted.  The same message "configuring" message occurs but this time the configuration took only seconds and the desktop came up OK.  I checked to see if there were more updates and there were none so the two I elected to install, did install.   It appears that there is something happening in the restart process causing this.  As long as the updates eventually get installed, I'm not sure it is a big deal but I do not like doing the forced shutdown.  IE 11 is installed as well as the latest version of the Update agent.

You can hide a small number of updates that are not installing and wait till later. See if the machine runs normally without the updates.

Thanks.  Will do.

Another option would be to download the KB manually and deploy it, to see if it disappears from updates plus allows a proper reboot.
In addition if you have a HP or other vendor PC, there might be special patches for the machine on the vendors website.  
For Example HP calls them "Essential System Updates for Microsoft Windows"
These often have laptop/desktop specific patches to resolve issues with the PC, and they are not available through automated updates in most cases.

In my view. if its an optional update you can hide no worries, if its critical or security you could hide, but its not recommended as it leaves the system more vulnerable (Not sure what the chances are of some Skynet style stuff to happen to 1 PC, but guess the general idea is hope for the best, plan for the worst).

First of all, this is a "white box" system.  I believe that all of the updates are installed so I'm no longer concerned.  Ultimately, I expect that this system will get replaced with a W10 system of some sort.

That is probably the best approach (move to Windows 10) as Windows 7 is a now end of life security updates only.

Agree.

All good. If you did want to be 100% sure, you can note down the patches available, then output installed patches to text via an elevated cmd prompts. dism /online /get-packages > c:\InstalledUpdates.txt and search for the KB's.
But if its a personal PC as you mentioned (White Box) , then it would be less critical then inside a company in my view. It merely depends on how secure one wants to have things.  Good luck and I'll make my exit now ;)

Thanks again.

since you mentioned it is a fresh  install - did you install ALL the drivers for the motherboard?
that usually is my first step - even before starting to update

I did not and that is an excellent point.  I usually do look to see if there are any issues in the Device manager and simply forgot to do so.  I'll check on this.  Thanks for the tip.

if you post the pc  or mobo model - i can look them up

nobus, thanks for the offer but I think we're good for now.

Can you please return and close the question ?

john, I thought I did close the question.  I really appreciate the help of those on the Experts Exchange panel but I do find it difficult to award points fairly.

It remains open so please Request Attention ( Go to ... in your first post, click, and Request Attention).

Thanks again to all that helped.

A number of good answers have been provided and the author appears to have acknowledged it.