Has KB958644 been installed ?
Is a firewall enabled ?
IF the answer to the 2 questions is yes, then the system most likely is
not infected with Conficker.
One other infection vector would have been to attach an infected USB
thumb or external drive.
Using Internet Explorer, can the system be scanned here ?
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
IF the system can be scanned and nothing was detected, for the blank
Windows Update applet and the non-functioning Defender issue, see this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
MowGreen [MVP 2003-2009]
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*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
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DRK wrote:
> An earlier thread mentioned the Conficker worm, how it is affecting Vista,
> and that the threat has changed. I have two symptoms of the worm - Windows
> Update no longer works (when I load it goes to a blank windows explorer
> screen, which I have force quit through Task Manager), and Windows Defender
> no longer works. I have used multiple Conficker removal tools (BD, F Smart,
> MS Removal) and none of these have found anything wrong. Any ideas if this is
> Conficker adapting or if its something else?