If they did that they would have a TON of windows updates to do plus likely all 3 service packs to deal with. Any of those items you listed try doing a google search for them and you will quickly find out what they belong to, or use a program like free start up lite by the makers of malwarebytes. StartUpLite avg= your antivirus is AVG? you do not want to stop that for sure. you can use a process library to find what each one is and does, what ever you do, DO NOT use a registry cleaner! if this is a dell then the dsca is a dell file C:\Program Files\Dell Support Center\gs_agent\custom\dsca.exe DSCA is Dell's remote-support app. If you're relying on Dell's remote-desktop support, do not delete it. but it does not need to be in your start up list. msseces.exe (Microsoft Security Essentials) are you using both AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials on your pc for Antivirus? if so you need to fully remove one of them you should only run one full time AV at a time that will cause conflicts. smax4pnp.exe (SoundMax controls) you can look up the rest of them there at the pcpitstop library if you want. another good free program that can help you with this kind of stuff is winpatrol WinPatrol

Suggest more and specific info. This is somewhat confusing -- "but not install windows or microsoft" Which trend version. Which MS updates? Have you disabled the antivirus while attempting to download and install? After downloading have you also tried finding the update file via Windows Explorer then right clicking the file then Open? If a new computer and was purchased locally or from a national chain, have you contacted the source?

not sure how much more descriptive I can be. the smyptoms are stated quite clearly above. the add/remove window opens up, the slider at the right is very small indicating a very long list, but beyond the first 4 or 5 programs in the list it's blank. you can move the slider, or click on the down arrow and the slider moves like there are programs in the list, but NOTHING is visible. very odd. I will follow the links provided above and see what I can see. next tuesday, I will be infront of the computer again, and I will post some screen shots. thanks, John

Don't know much about what otherwise available, now. I've been using "Leopard's" built-in "Time Machine" with an external HD. All I had to do is one short forced back-up before the install to get the last few bits in there. Before that was available, I used manual back-up to the external HD from time-to-time. Seem to recall using carbon copy cloner or some such name, too. Know next to nothing about what available for PC's anymore. I can heap much praise on Apple's Time Machine feature. IMHO, every computer OS sold should have something like it built in. Really takes care of things.