Windows Update Advise

18 years ago

Thanks to Ravencajun for the useful post on SP3; that was my first question. Background: XP SP2. I got finished getting ride of a nasty virus Trojan (or 3), with the help of past postings on this site. I didn't even post a question, just did a search. Apparently had Vundo trojan and maybe another one. All seems to be going pretty well now. Prior to using the freeware that the posts here lead me to, I had purchased and installed Norton 360 (which did not completely clean the viruses that I had), and have decided to keep it and run it. Last night, it was "processing" a Vundo threat and claims to have taken care of it, all without much intervention from me. I updated Java as advised here. I want to run Windows updates, at least to get what I may need short of SP3. I had tried to turn on Automatic Updates, could not, did turn on the other two functions associated with it, still could not turn on Automatic Updates. Just as well, I guess considering the SP3 problems. As I said I do appreciate all of the knowledgeable folks here sharing and helping. But I do not want to a be @%#@@ System Administrator for my home computer. I do that at work, but am not involved with Windows. Is there a relatively easy way to find out what updates I need? I know I can download them from the MS website. When I tried this (in the midst of my marathon session last weekend trying to fix the virus), I found it confusing and just not working well. But maybe with a clearer mind and a little advise I can figure it out. Thanks for any advice, Steve

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Comments (13)

mikie_gw
18 years ago
Unless they've changed the standard way, for XP you should be able to go to update.microsoft.com .

Choose the Custom scan & it will present you with a list of updates you computer should have. Each update will have Check boxes for install or not.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
18 years ago
I suggest just going to the update website you can go there from your Start menu and all programs it is up at the top.
When you go there it will scan your pc and then give you 2 options one is custom, choose custom that way it only gives you the true critical updates that you need, then you select each one to install, if it shows say sp3 and you do not want sp3 do NOT check it, in fact you can tell it to hide ones you do not want to see and at any time later you can hit the unhide option, So choose custom, select the ones you want which should be all of the critical ones and then select the download and install option. that is the only way I do my updates.
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steve_a
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks guys, I'll try it this weekend. Steve
steve_a
Original Author
18 years ago
I can't get updates because my Automatic Updates is disabled in services.msc. No matter what I try, automatic, manual; it won't turn on and it goes back to disabled. Do I need to reload Windows or ?? (Windows XP). Thanks, Steve
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
18 years ago
are you sure you got rid of Vundo completely? IT sounds like it still has some of it's tentacles in your system.

you can get belarc advisor which is free, let it scan your pc then it will give you a list of everything on your pc including updates and will list those that you are missing.

Here is a link that might be useful: belarc
steve_a
Original Author
18 years ago
OK, that sounds good, I probably will get Belarc Advisor. However, even with the list of updates hat I need, the MS site is not going to let me download uniess I can get Automatic Updates turned on. As far as Vundo goes, yes I agree that there may be something in there still. Norton 360 says it has fixed the Vundo threat, and VundoFix doesn't find anything. So I need to try something else. Thanks, Steve
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
18 years ago
you could try using firefox browser and going to windiz.
WindizUpdate

or you can go to the microsoft sites for each specific KB number you need and download each manually but that is a pain.
Have you tried going into services and turning it on from there?

My other suggestion is to go over to dslreports and ask there to see if they know of any way that vundo could still be hanging in there and how to fix it, they are helping fix a lot of vundo infections there.
Security Cleanup
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
18 years ago
you can try using IEtab in firefox to access windows updates
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1419/
zep516
18 years ago
Try running the Vundobegone tool in the link, this will remove older variants of Vundo. Also make sure your Sun java is up to date. Then run Superantispyware, ccleaner, and Malwarebytes, after you have run these and your clean purge your system restore points by turning system restore off then on.

Click the link save the file to desk top run the tool.

Malwarebytes is a great tool to use and removes alot of stuff google it...

Here is a link that might be useful: VUNDOBEGONE
zep516
18 years ago
Here is the link for Malwarebytes this is a Great tool don't under estimate it's usefulness it will remove alot see the Tutorial in the below link....

Here is a link that might be useful: Malwarebytes
zep516
18 years ago
One more link Dial-a-fix yet another great tool also address some windows update issues, see the link please.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dial-a-fix
steve_a
Original Author
18 years ago
raven and zep, Many thanks to both of you, I will try the links and suggestions you have provided, when I have time. Steve
DA_Mccoy
18 years ago
For what it is worth Microsoft itself recommends using the update utility rather than going to the update site on the web. I'm not sure why. I have a guess that one reason is when using the utility for a cummulative release it does only the files necessary while the website does a full over write.

Of course when the utility is inoperable there is no alternative.

DA

Windows Update Advise

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mikie_gw

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

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