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Automatic updates is not working.

E

elkinm

Platinum Member
My automatic updates is simply not working and the options menu is grayed out. The automatic update service is running and I can go to Microsoft Update to download files but not automatically.

A while ago I had a spyware/virus issue and I believe that is when the settings became grayed out. I don't use it really, I just want to be able to.

I tried the typical registry and GP changes to enable it and it is not working or I don't have the specified registry keys.

I am using SP1 and while I am getting ready for SP2 I am still not updating yet.

On a possibly related issue, I cannot load Help and Support. Nothing happens when I try to load it and once again the service is running fine.

Anybody know how to deal with this problem?

Thanks
 
What spyware & viruses did your system have, do you remember the exact names?


Bigger picture: you could download the full Service Pack 2 installation file, back up your stuff, nuke Windows, unplug your network cable, reinstall Windows, and patch to SP2 while safely offline. Problem solved.
 
The virus was detected as Hacktool.rootkit attached to userinit.dll through explorer. I don't remember the spyware with it but it was persistent.

I killed it, but I believe that in my haste to find and kill what was wrong I myself removed some programs or settings which may have stopped the automatic updates. This was all before Microsoft Update but installing the new MS update interface did not help.

I will run the scans but I don't think they will find anything as I have not seen any recent problems.

I have the SP2 CD but still very hesitant to actually install it.
 
I am hesitant for the possible data loss. In this thread I am cloning the drive. Then I can install SP2 on the new drive with much more space and not worry about loosing anything.
 
Originally posted by: elkinm
I am hesitant for the possible data loss. In this thread I am cloning the drive. Then I can install SP2 on the new drive with much more space and not worry about loosing anything.
Click to expand...
You want to clone an infected OS? 😕 This is not logical, sir. My suggestion instead:

1) DBAN

2) unplug network cable & wireless card/dongle so you are isolated from any networks. Unplug all hard drives and USB drives/card-readers except your new drive.

3) install WinXP offline

4) patch to SP2 offline and reboot. Enable the Automatic Updates feature when asked on the reboot.

5) install motherboard driver package offline & reboot. Note this comes before the video drivers.

6) install video drivers offline & reboot

7) install antivirus software offline. FULLY configure it and max out all protection options.

8) enable DEP offline

9) take a snack break

10) ensure that your Windows Firewall is enabled, then plug in your network cable or install your wireless NIC, and immediately update your antivirus software & reboot if needed.

11) now run the system through Windows Update repeatedly until it comes up clean

12) install only legit programs from authentic CDs. Patch them (e.g. patch Office at the Office Update site, patch Acrobat Reader, etc).

13) use Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer to check your Microsoft patching and stuff.
 
The drive is clean, the said infection happened nearly a year ago and not a problem since. The issue is that I removed to much in cleaning it so I probably removed some files or did somehting to disable updates. I want to fix as much as I can before the clone but don't want to risk anything. Then once I can get the clone working then I can try any updates I want on it but not on the original.
 
The drive is clean? You had at least one rootkit. You found one of them, what about the others? Rootkits make stuff look clean when it isn't, that's what they do. You might still have some that none of your tools are detecting. Burn it down.

Also, I see from your thread in General Hardware that you're using a downloaded corporate Windows CD. You have no way of confirming that's clean. Use a genuine hologram-topped Microsoft Windows CD and license, so you know you're not playing the fool to a botmaster somewhere.
 
Fixed. I used Acronis TrueImage to clone my drive and then upgraded to SP2 on the new drive. The install went perfectly. But I still had no automatic update.

After a whole lot of searching I found the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU which had a NoAutoUpdade entry set to 1. When I set it to 0 updates started working again.
 
Originally posted by: elkinm
Fixed. I used Acronis TrueImage to clone my drive and then upgraded to SP2 on the new drive. The install went perfectly. But I still had no automatic update.

After a whole lot of searching I found the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU which had a NoAutoUpdade entry set to 1. When I set it to 0 updates started working again.
Click to expand...

What a clever little virus 🙂
 
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