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Windows Updates - Hardware interrupts

  • Thread starter Menno Hershberger
  • Start date
M

Menno Hershberger

Flightless Bird
eMachine - Windows XP SP3
A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl. Task
Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it didn't show what
process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle process 90-99%. Process
Explorer identified the culprit as "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I
disabled all the startup items and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't
help. The problem did not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in
normal mode if I chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL
services and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
services and the problem returned. In task manager I started randomly
killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed wuauclt.exe the
problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update, re-enabled all the non-
Microsoft services and startup items that had been originally enabled.
Everything is still okay. So I went to the Windows Update site to make sure
the updates were up to date, and got an error message that automatic
updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck now. Everything is
fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired turning it back on
just to confirm that was the problem and it went right back to the original
behavior.
Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode. SAS found
a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the night before last and
the problem started when she booted it up this morning.
Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all the questions
that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?

--
--- Long live Fat32! ---
 
S

Shenan Stanley

Flightless Bird
Menno Hershberger wrote:
> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl.
> Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it
> didn't show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle
> process 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as
> "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup items
> and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The problem did
> not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in normal mode if I
> chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL services
> and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started
> randomly killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed
> wuauclt.exe the problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update,
> re-enabled all the non- Microsoft services and startup items that
> had been originally enabled. Everything is still okay. So I went to
> the Windows Update site to make sure the updates were up to date,
> and got an error message that automatic updates had to be turned
> on. So that's where I'm stuck now. Everything is fine as long as
> Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired turning it back on just to
> confirm that was the problem and it went right back to the original
> behavior.
> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode.
> SAS found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the
> night before last and the problem started when she booted it up
> this morning.
> Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all the
> questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?


Do this for a living or is this your first rodeo?

First - try and Reset the Windows Update Components...
(Google that)

There is a longer spiel I posted many times about that - with a procedural
step to make sure the machine is clean and the components for Windows Update
are 'up-to-date' themselves. You could probably find that too.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
 
M

Menno Hershberger

Flightless Bird
"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in
news:#CdNzUGNLHA.4824@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:

> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
>> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl.
>> Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it
>> didn't show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle
>> process 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as
>> "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup items
>> and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The problem did
>> not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in normal mode if I
>> chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL services
>> and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
>> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started
>> randomly killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed
>> wuauclt.exe the problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update,
>> re-enabled all the non- Microsoft services and startup items that
>> had been originally enabled. Everything is still okay. So I went to
>> the Windows Update site to make sure the updates were up to date,
>> and got an error message that automatic updates had to be turned
>> on. So that's where I'm stuck now. Everything is fine as long as
>> Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired turning it back on just to
>> confirm that was the problem and it went right back to the original
>> behavior.
>> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode.
>> SAS found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the
>> night before last and the problem started when she booted it up
>> this morning.
>> Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all the
>> questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
>> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?

>
> Do this for a living or is this your first rodeo?


I do this for "supplemantal income" (I'm retired)

> First - try and Reset the Windows Update Components...
> (Google that)


I Googled everything else... I'll try that.

> There is a longer spiel I posted many times about that - with a
> procedural step to make sure the machine is clean and the components
> for Windows Update are 'up-to-date' themselves. You could probably
> find that too.


One long-winded spiel deserves another!

Thanks...

--
--- Long live Fat32! ---
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a hijackware
infection!

NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

Menno Hershberger wrote:
> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl. Task
> Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it didn't show what
> process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle process 90-99%. Process
> Explorer identified the culprit as "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I
> disabled all the startup items and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't
> help. The problem did not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in
> normal mode if I chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL
> services and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started randomly
> killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed wuauclt.exe the
> problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update, re-enabled all the non-
> Microsoft services and startup items that had been originally enabled.
> Everything is still okay. So I went to the Windows Update site to make
> sure
> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that automatic
> updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck now. Everything is
> fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired turning it back on
> just to confirm that was the problem and it went right back to the
> original
> behavior.
> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode. SAS found
> a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the night before last and
> the problem started when she booted it up this morning.
> Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all the questions
> that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?
 
M

Milt

Flightless Bird
Hi Menno,

Can you please post back after solving your problem with Windows Update and
let us know what you found. I'm asking because, as of Aug. 3 I'm having
similar problems.

I'm aware of Microsoft's "Fix-It" tool and manual procedure in Article ID:
971058,
"How do I reset Windows Update components?". But I am reluctant to run it. I
think the problem may be on Microsoft's end.

I say that because the problem here is on three computers. One is XP-SP 3
Pro and the other two are XP-SP 3 Home. And it appeared with the Automatic
Update notice for KB2286198. The update notice slows down my machines badly.
Looking in Windows Task Master I see wuauclt.exe and a svchost.exe entry
using ten to fifteen times normal memory unless I disable the Update
Notification. My Pagefile usage is double what it is normally.

If I go to Windows Update and try either Express or Custom, the page just
searches endlessly but doesn't find anything. But if I download the update
from the taskbar notification tray, it downloads and installs fine.

So...as I said, please post back and let us know what you find

Thanks,
Milt

"Menno Hershberger" wrote:

> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:#CdNzUGNLHA.4824@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:
>
> > Menno Hershberger wrote:
> >> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
> >> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl.
> >> Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it
> >> didn't show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle
> >> process 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as
> >> "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup items
> >> and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The problem did
> >> not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in normal mode if I
> >> chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL services
> >> and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
> >> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started
> >> randomly killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed
> >> wuauclt.exe the problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update,
> >> re-enabled all the non- Microsoft services and startup items that
> >> had been originally enabled. Everything is still okay. So I went to
> >> the Windows Update site to make sure the updates were up to date,
> >> and got an error message that automatic updates had to be turned
> >> on. So that's where I'm stuck now. Everything is fine as long as
> >> Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired turning it back on just to
> >> confirm that was the problem and it went right back to the original
> >> behavior.
> >> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode.
> >> SAS found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the
> >> night before last and the problem started when she booted it up
> >> this morning.
> >> Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all the
> >> questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
> >> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?

> >
> > Do this for a living or is this your first rodeo?

>
> I do this for "supplemantal income" (I'm retired)
>
> > First - try and Reset the Windows Update Components...
> > (Google that)

>
> I Googled everything else... I'll try that.
>
> > There is a longer spiel I posted many times about that - with a
> > procedural step to make sure the machine is clean and the components
> > for Windows Update are 'up-to-date' themselves. You could probably
> > find that too.

>
> One long-winded spiel deserves another!
>
> Thanks...
>
> --
> --- Long live Fat32! ---
> .
>
 
U

Unknown

Flightless Bird
Baloney.
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:uqI%23fOLNLHA.4288@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
> hijackware infection!
>
> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
> expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
> since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
> Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
> Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!
>
> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
>> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl. Task
>> Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it didn't show what
>> process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle process 90-99%. Process
>> Explorer identified the culprit as "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I
>> disabled all the startup items and all non-Microsoft services. That
>> didn't
>> help. The problem did not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in
>> normal mode if I chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL
>> services and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
>> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started randomly
>> killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed wuauclt.exe the
>> problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update, re-enabled all the non-
>> Microsoft services and startup items that had been originally enabled.
>> Everything is still okay. So I went to the Windows Update site to make
>> sure
>> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that automatic
>> updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck now. Everything is
>> fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired turning it back on
>> just to confirm that was the problem and it went right back to the
>> original
>> behavior.
>> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode. SAS
>> found
>> a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the night before last
>> and
>> the problem started when she booted it up this morning.
>> Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all the questions
>> that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
>> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?

>
 
M

Menno Hershberger

Flightless Bird
=?Utf-8?B?TWlsdA==?= <Milt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:8A5667ED-DE3D-40D7-BE16-C3A4A17AF1DB@microsoft.com:

>
> Hi Menno,
>
> Can you please post back after solving your problem with Windows
> Update and let us know what you found. I'm asking because, as of Aug.
> 3 I'm having similar problems.
>
> I'm aware of Microsoft's "Fix-It" tool and manual procedure in Article
> ID: 971058,
> "How do I reset Windows Update components?". But I am reluctant to run
> it. I think the problem may be on Microsoft's end.
>
> I say that because the problem here is on three computers. One is
> XP-SP 3 Pro and the other two are XP-SP 3 Home. And it appeared with
> the Automatic Update notice for KB2286198. The update notice slows
> down my machines badly. Looking in Windows Task Master I see
> wuauclt.exe and a svchost.exe entry using ten to fifteen times normal
> memory unless I disable the Update Notification. My Pagefile usage is
> double what it is normally.
>
> If I go to Windows Update and try either Express or Custom, the page
> just searches endlessly but doesn't find anything.


You just didn't wait long enough.... :)

> But if I download
> the update from the taskbar notification tray, it downloads and
> installs fine.


Since I've already cloned the drive, I went ahead and ran that Fix-It
tool. I ran it in both default and agressive mode. It didn't fix anything
but it didn't break anything either.
I turned Automatic Updates back on and then went to the update site to
see if there were, in fact, any updates. It took the best part of an hour
to find, download and install one update which was for Office 2003. If I
remember right, it didn't require a reboot, but I rebooted anyway and the
problem seems to have gone away. But I'm not really trusting it to stay
away since it's hard to believe an Office update is what fixed it.
The lady took it home today and will try it for a few days. If the
problem comes back then we'll wipe and reinstall.

--
--- Long live Fat32! ---
 
L

Lil' Abner

Flightless Bird
It has the free version of Avast which is up to date.
But I fear a bug has gotten to it anyway. It seems to be OK at the moment
but if it comes back it'll be a wipe and reinstall. I don't do repair
installs anymore... never had much luck with them.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in
news:uqI#fOLNLHA.4288@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
> hijackware infection!
>
> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription
> had expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your
> subscription has since expired and/or the machine's not been kept
> fully-patched at Windows Update, don't waste your time with any of the
> below: Format & reinstall Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!
>
> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
>> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl.
>> Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it didn't
>> show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle process
>> 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as "Hardware
>> Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup items and all
>> non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The problem did not exist
>> in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in normal mode if I chose
>> diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL services and makes
>> Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft services and the
>> problem returned. In task manager I started randomly killing the
>> processes that would allow it. When I killed wuauclt.exe the problem
>> ceased. So I turned off Windows Update, re-enabled all the non-
>> Microsoft services and startup items that had been originally
>> enabled. Everything is still okay. So I went to the Windows Update
>> site to make sure
>> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that automatic
>> updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck now.
>> Everything is fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired
>> turning it back on just to confirm that was the problem and it went
>> right back to the original
>> behavior.
>> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode. SAS
>> found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the night
>> before last and the problem started when she booted it up this
>> morning. Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all
>> the questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
>> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?

>




--
--- Everybody has a right to my opinion. ---
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
Who are you and what did you do with Menno Hershberger?

Lil' Abner wrote:
> It has the free version of Avast which is up to date.
> But I fear a bug has gotten to it anyway. It seems to be OK at the moment
> but if it comes back it'll be a wipe and reinstall. I don't do repair
> installs anymore... never had much luck with them.
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in
> news:uqI#fOLNLHA.4288@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
>
>> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
>> hijackware infection!
>>
>> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription
>> had expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your
>> subscription has since expired and/or the machine's not been kept
>> fully-patched at Windows Update, don't waste your time with any of the
>> below: Format & reinstall Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!
>>
>> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>>> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
>>> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl.
>>> Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it didn't
>>> show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle process
>>> 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as "Hardware
>>> Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup items and all
>>> non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The problem did not exist
>>> in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in normal mode if I chose
>>> diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL services and makes
>>> Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft services and the
>>> problem returned. In task manager I started randomly killing the
>>> processes that would allow it. When I killed wuauclt.exe the problem
>>> ceased. So I turned off Windows Update, re-enabled all the non-
>>> Microsoft services and startup items that had been originally
>>> enabled. Everything is still okay. So I went to the Windows Update
>>> site to make sure
>>> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that automatic
>>> updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck now.
>>> Everything is fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired
>>> turning it back on just to confirm that was the problem and it went
>>> right back to the original
>>> behavior.
>>> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode. SAS
>>> found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the night
>>> before last and the problem started when she booted it up this
>>> morning. Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all
>>> the questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
>>> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?
 
M

Milt

Flightless Bird
Menno,

Thank you for the update.

Milt

"Menno Hershberger" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?TWlsdA==?= <Milt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> news:8A5667ED-DE3D-40D7-BE16-C3A4A17AF1DB@microsoft.com:
>
> >
> > Hi Menno,
> >
> > Can you please post back after solving your problem with Windows
> > Update and let us know what you found. I'm asking because, as of Aug.
> > 3 I'm having similar problems.
> >
> > I'm aware of Microsoft's "Fix-It" tool and manual procedure in Article
> > ID: 971058,
> > "How do I reset Windows Update components?". But I am reluctant to run
> > it. I think the problem may be on Microsoft's end.
> >
> > I say that because the problem here is on three computers. One is
> > XP-SP 3 Pro and the other two are XP-SP 3 Home. And it appeared with
> > the Automatic Update notice for KB2286198. The update notice slows
> > down my machines badly. Looking in Windows Task Master I see
> > wuauclt.exe and a svchost.exe entry using ten to fifteen times normal
> > memory unless I disable the Update Notification. My Pagefile usage is
> > double what it is normally.
> >
> > If I go to Windows Update and try either Express or Custom, the page
> > just searches endlessly but doesn't find anything.

>
> You just didn't wait long enough.... :)
>
> > But if I download
> > the update from the taskbar notification tray, it downloads and
> > installs fine.

>
> Since I've already cloned the drive, I went ahead and ran that Fix-It
> tool. I ran it in both default and agressive mode. It didn't fix anything
> but it didn't break anything either.
> I turned Automatic Updates back on and then went to the update site to
> see if there were, in fact, any updates. It took the best part of an hour
> to find, download and install one update which was for Office 2003. If I
> remember right, it didn't require a reboot, but I rebooted anyway and the
> problem seems to have gone away. But I'm not really trusting it to stay
> away since it's hard to believe an Office update is what fixed it.
> The lady took it home today and will try it for a few days. If the
> problem comes back then we'll wipe and reinstall.
>
> --
> --- Long live Fat32! ---
> .
>
 
M

Menno Hershberger

Flightless Bird
Sorry. I am one and the same, I am starting to migrate to GigaNews for
this group since it is goins away soon, My default personality is Lil'
Abner in GigaNews. I try to change it back to Menno when I think of it

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in
news:el2eyiPNLHA.1996@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> Who are you and what did you do with Menno Hershberger?
>
> Lil' Abner wrote:
>> It has the free version of Avast which is up to date.
>> But I fear a bug has gotten to it anyway. It seems to be OK at the
>> moment but if it comes back it'll be a wipe and reinstall. I don't do
>> repair installs anymore... never had much luck with them.
>>
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in
>> news:uqI#fOLNLHA.4288@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
>>
>>> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
>>> hijackware infection!
>>>
>>> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the
>>> subscription had expired *when the machine first got infected*
>>> and/or your subscription has since expired and/or the machine's not
>>> been kept fully-patched at Windows Update, don't waste your time
>>> with any of the below: Format & reinstall Windows. A Repair Install
>>> will NOT help!
>>>
>>> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>>>> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
>>>> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl.
>>>> Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it
>>>> didn't show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle
>>>> process 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as
>>>> "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup items
>>>> and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The problem did
>>>> not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in normal mode if I
>>>> chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL services
>>>> and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
>>>> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started
>>>> randomly killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed
>>>> wuauclt.exe the problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update,
>>>> re-enabled all the non- Microsoft services and startup items that
>>>> had been originally enabled. Everything is still okay. So I went to
>>>> the Windows Update site to make sure
>>>> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that
>>>> automatic updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck
>>>> now. Everything is fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I
>>>> tired turning it back on just to confirm that was the problem and
>>>> it went right back to the original
>>>> behavior.
>>>> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode.
>>>> SAS found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the
>>>> night before last and the problem started when she booted it up
>>>> this morning. Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to
>>>> answer all the questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
>>>> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?

>




--
--- Long live Fat32! ---
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
[Why "Lil' Abner" vs. the customary "Li'l Abner"? Is your first name
Lillian or...? <w>]

Avast is free but you must renew the registration annually: Is the
registration current?

Menno Hershberger wrote:
> Sorry. I am one and the same, I am starting to migrate to GigaNews for
> this group since it is goins away soon, My default personality is Lil'
> Abner in GigaNews. I try to change it back to Menno when I think of it
>
>> Who are you and what did you do with Menno Hershberger?
>>
>> Lil' Abner wrote:
>>> It has the free version of Avast which is up to date.
>>> But I fear a bug has gotten to it anyway. It seems to be OK at the
>>> moment but if it comes back it'll be a wipe and reinstall. I don't do
>>> repair installs anymore... never had much luck with them.
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in
>>> news:uqI#fOLNLHA.4288@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
>>>
>>>> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
>>>> hijackware infection!
>>>>
>>>> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the
>>>> subscription had expired *when the machine first got infected*
>>>> and/or your subscription has since expired and/or the machine's not
>>>> been kept fully-patched at Windows Update, don't waste your time
>>>> with any of the below: Format & reinstall Windows. A Repair Install
>>>> will NOT help!
>>>>
>>>> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>>>>> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
>>>>> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl.
>>>>> Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it
>>>>> didn't show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle
>>>>> process 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as
>>>>> "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup items
>>>>> and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The problem did
>>>>> not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in normal mode if I
>>>>> chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL services
>>>>> and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
>>>>> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started
>>>>> randomly killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed
>>>>> wuauclt.exe the problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update,
>>>>> re-enabled all the non- Microsoft services and startup items that
>>>>> had been originally enabled. Everything is still okay. So I went to
>>>>> the Windows Update site to make sure
>>>>> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that
>>>>> automatic updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck
>>>>> now. Everything is fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I
>>>>> tired turning it back on just to confirm that was the problem and
>>>>> it went right back to the original
>>>>> behavior.
>>>>> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode.
>>>>> SAS found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the
>>>>> night before last and the problem started when she booted it up
>>>>> this morning. Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to
>>>>> answer all the questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
>>>>> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?
 
M

Menno Hershberger

Flightless Bird
I guess I've been putting the aposthrope in the wrong place for years
and you're the first to notice. Menno Hershberger is an Amish
aquaintence of mine who doesn't even have electricity, much less a
computer. I am a 73 year old male whose real names is not "lillian". Is
your real names "PA Bear"?

I keep my Avast subscription up to date.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in
news:uO7DNJkNLHA.5984@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:

> [Why "Lil' Abner" vs. the customary "Li'l Abner"? Is your first name
> Lillian or...? <w>]
>
> Avast is free but you must renew the registration annually: Is the
> registration current?
>
> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>> Sorry. I am one and the same, I am starting to migrate to GigaNews
>> for this group since it is goins away soon, My default personality is
>> Lil' Abner in GigaNews. I try to change it back to Menno when I think
>> of it
>>
>>> Who are you and what did you do with Menno Hershberger?
>>>
>>> Lil' Abner wrote:
>>>> It has the free version of Avast which is up to date.
>>>> But I fear a bug has gotten to it anyway. It seems to be OK at the
>>>> moment but if it comes back it'll be a wipe and reinstall. I don't
>>>> do repair installs anymore... never had much luck with them.
>>>>
>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in
>>>> news:uqI#fOLNLHA.4288@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl:
>>>>
>>>>> There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a
>>>>> hijackware infection!
>>>>>
>>>>> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the
>>>>> subscription had expired *when the machine first got infected*
>>>>> and/or your subscription has since expired and/or the machine's
>>>>> not been kept fully-patched at Windows Update, don't waste your
>>>>> time with any of the below: Format & reinstall Windows. A Repair
>>>>> Install will NOT help!
>>>>>
>>>>> Menno Hershberger wrote:
>>>>>> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
>>>>>> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a
>>>>>> crawl. Task Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although
>>>>>> it didn't show what process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle
>>>>>> process 90-99%. Process Explorer identified the culprit as
>>>>>> "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I disabled all the startup
>>>>>> items and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't help. The
>>>>>> problem did not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in
>>>>>> normal mode if I chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That
>>>>>> disables ALL services and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled
>>>>>> all the Microsoft services and the problem returned. In task
>>>>>> manager I started randomly killing the processes that would allow
>>>>>> it. When I killed wuauclt.exe the problem ceased. So I turned off
>>>>>> Windows Update, re-enabled all the non- Microsoft services and
>>>>>> startup items that had been originally enabled. Everything is
>>>>>> still okay. So I went to the Windows Update site to make sure
>>>>>> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that
>>>>>> automatic updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck
>>>>>> now. Everything is fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off.
>>>>>> I tired turning it back on just to confirm that was the problem
>>>>>> and it went right back to the original
>>>>>> behavior.
>>>>>> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode.
>>>>>> SAS found a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the
>>>>>> night before last and the problem started when she booted it up
>>>>>> this morning. Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to
>>>>>> answer all the questions that I'm bound to be asked ahead of
>>>>>> time. What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?

>
>




--
--- Long live Fat32! ---
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
Menno Hershberger wrote:
> I guess I've been putting the aposthrope in the wrong place for years
> and you're the first to notice. Menno Hershberger is an Amish
> aquaintence of mine who doesn't even have electricity, much less a
> computer. I am a 73 year old male whose real names is not "lillian". Is
> your real names "PA Bear"?


PA = Pennsylvania & I live in "PA Dutch Country" so I know lots of
Hershbergers, Masts, Stolzfusses, Martins, and Goods!
 
M

Milt

Flightless Bird
Menno,

I found a "fix" for this problem. I'm posting this in case anyone else has
this problem.

Like you, I tried the Microsoft "Fix It For Me" tool 50502 tool referenced
in Article ID: 971058, "How do I reset Windows Update components?". I ran it
in both modes and it didn't help. I then restored my computer using a back up
Norton Ghost image.

I next deleted the Microsoft update, KB2286198 using "Add/Remove Programs".
And reinstalled the update using "Microsoft Update" site, not the tray icon I
had used the first time I installed it.

Doing this fixed the problem. I had the same problem on my two of my other
computers. The fix also repaired them.

It seems that there was something about the original update, which I had
installed on Aug. 5, that conflicted with my computers. Removing it and
reinstalling it on Aug. 8 corrected the problems.

Milt



"Menno Hershberger" wrote:

> eMachine - Windows XP SP3
> A lady brought this machine to me because it had slowed to a crawl. Task
> Manager was showing high CPU usage (40%-90%) although it didn't show what
> process(es) were using it. Showed System Idle process 90-99%. Process
> Explorer identified the culprit as "Hardware Interrupts". In msconfig I
> disabled all the startup items and all non-Microsoft services. That didn't
> help. The problem did not exist in Safe Mode. It also did not exist in
> normal mode if I chose diagnostic startup in msconfig. That disables ALL
> services and makes Windows useless. So I re-enabled all the Microsoft
> services and the problem returned. In task manager I started randomly
> killing the processes that would allow it. When I killed wuauclt.exe the
> problem ceased. So I turned off Windows Update, re-enabled all the non-
> Microsoft services and startup items that had been originally enabled.
> Everything is still okay. So I went to the Windows Update site to make sure
> the updates were up to date, and got an error message that automatic
> updates had to be turned on. So that's where I'm stuck now. Everything is
> fine as long as Automatic Updates is hut off. I tired turning it back on
> just to confirm that was the problem and it went right back to the original
> behavior.
> Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntispyware were all run in Safe Mode. SAS found
> a few cookies. The lady said it was working fine the night before last and
> the problem started when she booted it up this morning.
> Sorry I was so long winded, but I was trying to answer all the questions
> that I'm bound to be asked ahead of time.
> What do I do about Windows Automatic Update?
>
> --
> --- Long live Fat32! ---
> .
>
 
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