.Net upgrade fails. (Firefox required for newsgroup access?!!!)

First, there is vast irony, and something *very* wrong, in my not being able
to use Internet Explorer to access Microsoft's own newsgroups, but instead
finding Firefox works just fine--and Firefox being what I'm right now
*having* to use to create this posting. Microsoft, you *should* fear Firefox
when your own browser will not access your own newsgroups. (Sad. No, make
that pathetic.) Now, onto even bigger problems...

***PRIMARY ISSUE***: .Net will not install at the WU site. I get the
following error messages...
SL1.tmp - Common Language Runtime Debugging Services
Application has generated an exception that could not be handled.
Process id = 0xe4, Thread id = 0x1ec(492)
Click OK to terminate the application.
Click CANCEL to debug the application.

Clicking either OK or CANCEL causes WU to freeze, requiring Task Manager to
regain system control. I'm using XP Pro. TONS of RAM available. No problem
with other I.E. critical update installing. (Might that have broken the .Net
update?) And, I have not updated to XPSP2. (My momma didn't raise no fools!)
And once again, I am *forced* to use *Firefox* to post this problem because
I.E. invariably chokes and dies across every attempt to post this problem
using it. <shaking my head>

(However, there is one run-away success story concerning Microsoft.
Microsoft and XP have marvelously succeeded at making *100%* certain my next
OS will *NOT* be a Microsoft product. I just can't take this anymore. Using
Windows XP causes too much mental anguish and loss of time. Problems,
problems, and more problems--incessantly.)

If IE doesn't access these newsgroups, and you're having problems installing
updates, it tends to lead to one conclusion only - you're probably infected
with malware!!

You may have a virus/spyware hijack

download the Stinger from here and run it to make sure that A-V-disabling
viruses are not present on your PC
http://download.nai.com/products/mca...rt/stinger.exe

- update your virus scanner and run a full system scan of all files.

download AdAware from www.lavasoftusa.com, install, update, and run it to
remove spyware, adware,
and other such nasties from your system.


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
news:B9054A5F-8AC4-4EB4-A3BD-...
> First, there is vast irony, and something *very* wrong, in my not being
> able
> to use Internet Explorer to access Microsoft's own newsgroups, but instead
> finding Firefox works just fine--and Firefox being what I'm right now
> *having* to use to create this posting. Microsoft, you *should* fear
> Firefox
> when your own browser will not access your own newsgroups. (Sad. No, make
> that pathetic.) Now, onto even bigger problems...
>
> ***PRIMARY ISSUE***: .Net will not install at the WU site. I get the
> following error messages...
> SL1.tmp - Common Language Runtime Debugging Services
> Application has generated an exception that could not be handled.
> Process id = 0xe4, Thread id = 0x1ec(492)
> Click OK to terminate the application.
> Click CANCEL to debug the application.
>
> Clicking either OK or CANCEL causes WU to freeze, requiring Task Manager
> to
> regain system control. I'm using XP Pro. TONS of RAM available. No problem
> with other I.E. critical update installing. (Might that have broken the
> .Net
> update?) And, I have not updated to XPSP2. (My momma didn't raise no
> fools!)
> And once again, I am *forced* to use *Firefox* to post this problem
> because
> I.E. invariably chokes and dies across every attempt to post this problem
> using it. <shaking my head>
>
> (However, there is one run-away success story concerning Microsoft.
> Microsoft and XP have marvelously succeeded at making *100%* certain my
> next
> OS will *NOT* be a Microsoft product. I just can't take this anymore.
> Using
> Windows XP causes too much mental anguish and loss of time. Problems,
> problems, and more problems--incessantly.)

Noel, I am sorry to disappoint you, but to the very best of my knowledge
there is *zero* malware on my computer. In fact, I checked it just yesterday
afternoon with AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, PestPatrol, PandaSoft, and my
own anti-virus software. All are fully updated. (Might I need to be even more
thorough?) Running all of them approximately every 2-3 days is a part of my
maintenance routine. I well know what is necessary if using a Microsoft OS,
and religiously follow the numerous requirements to keep it functioning. Yes,
I could be wrong, but I think we can nix malware or a virus being the
problem. So, now that at least *I* know my system is clean, might there be a
solution to the problem with Update?

(BTW, I actually prefer I.E. to all other browsers (for now), and use the
Maxthon version of it--but was using straight-up I.E. during these problems.
I turned to Firefox as a last resort after wasting 2 full hours trying to get
I.E to first update and then post to this board. But in only seconds, Firefox
worked where I.E. did not. So please, accept the fact that Microsoft has some
real problems--as the media, government, and many users clearly recognize and
experience each day. I sincerely wish otherwise were the case, but I must
accept facts as very obviously presented to me.)

P.S. -- Believe it or not, over 25 years of using computers from mainframes
to MS-DOS to Macintosh to Windows, I have had only one virus ever--with a
Macintosh! And, I have *never* had a hijack. I can only explain my good
fortune by saying I do not stop *thinking* when I sit down at my computer. I
prefer not learning things the hard way. It's far easier to leave my brain
turned on. <smile>


"Noel Paton" wrote:
> If IE doesn't access these newsgroups, and you're having problems installing
> updates, it tends to lead to one conclusion only - you're probably infected
> with malware!!
> You may have a virus/spyware hijack
> download the Stinger from here and run it to make sure that A-V-disabling
> viruses are not present on your PC
> http://download.nai.com/products/mca...rt/stinger.exe
> - update your virus scanner and run a full system scan of all files.
> download AdAware from www.lavasoftusa.com, install, update, and run it to
> remove spyware, adware,
> and other such nasties from your system.
> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Do my peace-of-mind some good, and run the Stinger over it anyhow, please?
(nice to see someone who obviously does practice common sense in front of a
screen!<g>). It really is so very easy to click once too often nowadays!


While malware is still the most likely cause - and there's any amount of it
out there - there are other things than may give rise to similar
symptoms.......

Corrupted registry
Corrupted update/upgrade
strange settings in IE Security/Privacy (make sure that no MS domain is
entered into 'High Risk' areas!! - I tend to put microsoft.com into Trusted
sites, and see if that cures things, or flags an error)

What other sites can you/can't you get to (a few related sites on either
side of the fence may give some clue)?

What malware did you kill around the time the problem started? - there's
always the possibility that the tools you used didn't do all of the job!

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
news:94984D44-1FDE-4D0A-BD90-...
> Noel, I am sorry to disappoint you, but to the very best of my knowledge
> there is *zero* malware on my computer. In fact, I checked it just
> yesterday
> afternoon with AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, PestPatrol, PandaSoft, and
> my
> own anti-virus software. All are fully updated. (Might I need to be even
> more
> thorough?) Running all of them approximately every 2-3 days is a part of
> my
> maintenance routine. I well know what is necessary if using a Microsoft
> OS,
> and religiously follow the numerous requirements to keep it functioning.
> Yes,
> I could be wrong, but I think we can nix malware or a virus being the
> problem. So, now that at least *I* know my system is clean, might there be
> a
> solution to the problem with Update?
>
> (BTW, I actually prefer I.E. to all other browsers (for now), and use the
> Maxthon version of it--but was using straight-up I.E. during these
> problems.
> I turned to Firefox as a last resort after wasting 2 full hours trying to
> get
> I.E to first update and then post to this board. But in only seconds,
> Firefox
> worked where I.E. did not. So please, accept the fact that Microsoft has
> some
> real problems--as the media, government, and many users clearly recognize
> and
> experience each day. I sincerely wish otherwise were the case, but I must
> accept facts as very obviously presented to me.)
>
> P.S. -- Believe it or not, over 25 years of using computers from
> mainframes
> to MS-DOS to Macintosh to Windows, I have had only one virus ever--with a
> Macintosh! And, I have *never* had a hijack. I can only explain my good
> fortune by saying I do not stop *thinking* when I sit down at my computer.
> I
> prefer not learning things the hard way. It's far easier to leave my brain
> turned on. <smile>
>
>
> "Noel Paton" wrote:
>> If IE doesn't access these newsgroups, and you're having problems
>> installing
>> updates, it tends to lead to one conclusion only - you're probably
>> infected
>> with malware!!
>> You may have a virus/spyware hijack
>> download the Stinger from here and run it to make sure that A-V-disabling
>> viruses are not present on your PC
>> http://download.nai.com/products/mca...rt/stinger.exe
>> - update your virus scanner and run a full system scan of all files.
>> download AdAware from www.lavasoftusa.com, install, update, and run it to
>> remove spyware, adware,
>> and other such nasties from your system.
>> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)
>

Noel, thanks for the quick response. I will run Stinger later today. (I
wouldn't want you losing your mind! <smile>) However, I out-guessed you a tad
and have already checked/cleaned my registry (with 4 different apps) and
looked at zones/sites (but all seems okay there). I then attempted another
update and received a slightly different error message. Same as before except
for:

Process id = 0x78c (1932), Thread id = 0x514 (1300)

To answer your question about malware, I found nothing but a harmless
tracking cookie from a known not dangerous site. In fact, I've not found
anything but an occasional tracking cookie in forever now. (Again, I do not
stop thinking when online or sitting at my computer. <smile>) And knowing one
app could easily overlook something, that's why I run at least three. But
yes, something could still be missed. As for other sites, only Microsoft's
is presenting a problem right now. But, there are a few million I have not
yet tried.

So, I'll run Stinger. But (and again possibly staying a step ahead of you
<grin>), I have also simply downloaded the update and will later try to
install it without using the WU site. Maybe that will bypass any corruption
with the update/process itself. Stay tuned, and don't change that Bat
channel! Thanks again.


"Noel Paton" wrote:
> Do my peace-of-mind some good, and run the Stinger over it anyhow, please?
> (nice to see someone who obviously does practice common sense in front of a
> screen!<g>). It really is so very easy to click once too often nowadays!
> While malware is still the most likely cause - and there's any amount of it
> out there - there are other things than may give rise to similar
> symptoms.......
> Corrupted registry
> Corrupted update/upgrade
> strange settings in IE Security/Privacy (make sure that no MS domain is
> entered into 'High Risk' areas!! - I tend to put microsoft.com into Trusted
> sites, and see if that cures things, or flags an error)
> What other sites can you/can't you get to (a few related sites on either
> side of the fence may give some clue)?
> What malware did you kill around the time the problem started? - there's
> always the possibility that the tools you used didn't do all of the job!
> --
> Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Noel, I ran Stinger and just as I expected, it returned a completely clean
bill of health. No viruses found on my system. (And his record of no PC
viruses in 20+ years still stands! <audience applause!>) Also, trying to
install the .Net update as a standalone file generated approximately the same
error message:

SL34.tmp - Common Language Runtime Debugging Services
Application has generated an exception that cannot be handled
Process id = 0xf0(1264) Thead id = 0x5d8(1496)
Click OK....
Click CANCEL....

Other suggestions?

---------------

BUT, a search of the net returns over 600 pages about this problem. It is a
bug Microsoft has decided isn't worth fixing--although it has now cost me
approximately 8 hours of my weekend time. You might wish to read this:

------------

BUT Noel, if you know of a better and easier solution, please do share.
Otherwise, there is now a probability of 1001% that I will *NEVER* touch
another Microsoft OS. This is ridiculous. Here is a critical update that I
cannot install because of Microsoft itself, and this has clearly presented
problems for countless people who *paid* good money for a bad product.

Not enough of a problem for them to fix? FU, Microsoft! I swear you'll not
ever get another dime from me, effective this day! So much for a pleasant
Saturday.

What can I say? sh1t happens!!
The problem is that when MS write an OS, it gets distributed to perhaps
500million endplaces - no two of which are the same. Some (hopefully very
few) of those places are bound to have something somewhere on their system
which either shouldn't be there, or has got screwed by some act of idiocy by
either the user, or the writer of another piece of software.
Trying to trace and prevent all instances of this type of error is not only
costly, it's impossible, unless it's caught very early in the Beta process
(and even then, if not reproducible, it may not get fixed). Don't forget,
that it's only the hospital cases that generally come to newsgroups, we
never get to hear from the vast majority of users who never have a problem,
and unfortunately, most savvy users fall into that category - maybe we
should be forced to use a noobie's machine for a couple of weeks as
penance?<g> (OTOH, I think I'm doing penance on my box at work at the
oment - the SysAdmins would act as a good firewall between the brewery and
alehouse! - they certainly can't get Win2K to work properly on the network.)

No, it's not a great way to fix a problem, but it can often be an effective
way when the problem is badly-defined by its circumstances. I would hazard a
guess that either there's a very slight corruption of one of the files
concerned, or that a file has been updated without proper
permission/knowledge by the framework - and it's now behaving somewhat
differently to the original. This can have major consequences, and be an
absolute SOB to find, what with the large number of potential files
involved, and the easies way around is to uninstall the whole shebang and
reinstall it - hopefully curing any corruption/misguided files. This should
allow the update to proceed (and then you can start waiting for something
else to fall over<eg>).



--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
news:9C401A9F-0359-41EC-9F47-...
> Noel, I ran Stinger and just as I expected, it returned a completely clean
> bill of health. No viruses found on my system. (And his record of no PC
> viruses in 20+ years still stands! <audience applause!>) Also, trying to
> install the .Net update as a standalone file generated approximately the
> same
> error message:
>
> SL34.tmp - Common Language Runtime Debugging Services
> Application has generated an exception that cannot be handled
> Process id = 0xf0(1264) Thead id = 0x5d8(1496)
> Click OK....
> Click CANCEL....
>
> Other suggestions?
>
> ---------------
>
> BUT, a search of the net returns over 600 pages about this problem. It is
> a
> bug Microsoft has decided isn't worth fixing--although it has now cost me
> approximately 8 hours of my weekend time. You might wish to read this:
>
>

Quote:

Take a look at KB article 824643. It essentially has you manually > deinstall Framework 1.1, then reinstall Framework 1.1 followed by install > of > Framework 1.1 Sp1, all while running in a "clean boot + Windows Installer > service > only" mode. Some of the "uninstall" parts didn't work for me, but manually > deleting the various .Net Framework related .msi files from > C:\\Installer\ as directed by KB 824643 worked just as well. Kind of > stupid > of Microsoft to make us do it this way (deinstall everything, reinstall > everything), but it worked for me after weeks of frustration.

>
> ------------
>
> BUT Noel, if you know of a better and easier solution, please do share.
> Otherwise, there is now a probability of 1001% that I will *NEVER* touch
> another Microsoft OS. This is ridiculous. Here is a critical update that I
> cannot install because of Microsoft itself, and this has clearly presented
> problems for countless people who *paid* good money for a bad product.
>
> Not enough of a problem for them to fix? FU, Microsoft! I swear you'll not
> ever get another dime from me, effective this day! So much for a pleasant
> Saturday.

Yea, but the sh1t happened to me. This *really* sucks. The richest man in the
known universe creates an insecure OS and then refuses to let me secure
it--after he's got my money! I'll start looking at Macintosh and/or Linux
tomorrow. I can only assume B.G. thinks there are few better business
practices than pushing the customer away to competitors--and then typically
intimidating and/or suing those competitors for satisfying that customer
after he would not.

Goodbye, Microsoft. Good riddance. I hate you with a passion typically
reserved for mass murderers of children. (And to think, as a business school
professor, I've often used Gates and Microsoft as examples of good business
and capitalism at its best. Well, never again. I'll refuse admission to any
student who now attempts to walk into my classroom with a Windows-based
computer. And no, I am not kidding. And yes, I can do it. It's called
academic freedom--and tenure.)

(Regardless of EULAs, this has to be illegal somehow. Bottom line: I've
been ripped off. I have a defective product that the seller refuses to fix.
That's the only way to view it, if you're at all intelligent.)


"Noel Paton" wrote:
> What can I say? sh1t happens!!

You'll find that ALL other OS's suffer from variations of the same problem -
it's not confined to MS.

Good Luck (and if you do find an OS that gives you what you want, and also
allows you to run a decent number of applications - let me and the rest of
the world know!)

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2005, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
news:3554645A-5692-4C3B-898C-...
> Yea, but the sh1t happened to me. This *really* sucks. The richest man in
> the
> known universe creates an insecure OS and then refuses to let me secure
> it--after he's got my money! I'll start looking at Macintosh and/or Linux
> tomorrow. I can only assume B.G. thinks there are few better business
> practices than pushing the customer away to competitors--and then
> typically
> intimidating and/or suing those competitors for satisfying that customer
> after he would not.
>
> Goodbye, Microsoft. Good riddance. I hate you with a passion typically
> reserved for mass murderers of children. (And to think, as a business
> school
> professor, I've often used Gates and Microsoft as examples of good
> business
> and capitalism at its best. Well, never again. I'll refuse admission to
> any
> student who now attempts to walk into my classroom with a Windows-based
> computer. And no, I am not kidding. And yes, I can do it. It's called
> academic freedom--and tenure.)
>
> (Regardless of EULAs, this has to be illegal somehow. Bottom line: I've
> been ripped off. I have a defective product that the seller refuses to
> fix.
> That's the only way to view it, if you're at all intelligent.)
>
>
> "Noel Paton" wrote:
>> What can I say? sh1t happens!!

"Zen Warrior",

I apologize that you have hit this issue. I would like to help you, if you
are still open to fixing this issue. Your thread thus far pursued a
malware/spyware problem, and that obviously is not the issue. Would you
mind answering just a few more questions for me, and allow us to arrive at a
possible fix for your issue?

Assumptions:
1. You have Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 1 installed, along with
all other critical updates.
2. You had trouble with the .NET Framework 1.1 installation. (or was this
Service Pack 1 of the .net framework 1.1?)
3. You received a popup at the Windows Update site that froze your computer
no matter which choice you made.

Questions:
1. When you open the Add/Remove Programs under Control Panel, is the .NET
Framework 1.1 or 1.0 listed as installed?
2. Did the .NET framework download initially and then produce this exception
during installation or did the popup occur right after you clicked the
Install now button?
3. Would you mind trying the steps listed in this particular KB article?
Here it is:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=824643

Please let me know how this works out for you, and please do post the
answers to my questions. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Pat Walters [MSFT]


"ZenWarrior" <> wrote in message
news:3554645A-5692-4C3B-898C-...
> Yea, but the sh1t happened to me. This *really* sucks. The richest man in
the
> known universe creates an insecure OS and then refuses to let me secure
> it--after he's got my money! I'll start looking at Macintosh and/or Linux
> tomorrow. I can only assume B.G. thinks there are few better business
> practices than pushing the customer away to competitors--and then
typically
> intimidating and/or suing those competitors for satisfying that customer
> after he would not.
>
> Goodbye, Microsoft. Good riddance. I hate you with a passion typically
> reserved for mass murderers of children. (And to think, as a business
school
> professor, I've often used Gates and Microsoft as examples of good
business
> and capitalism at its best. Well, never again. I'll refuse admission to
any
> student who now attempts to walk into my classroom with a Windows-based
> computer. And no, I am not kidding. And yes, I can do it. It's called
> academic freedom--and tenure.)
>
> (Regardless of EULAs, this has to be illegal somehow. Bottom line: I've
> been ripped off. I have a defective product that the seller refuses to
fix.
> That's the only way to view it, if you're at all intelligent.)
>
>
> "Noel Paton" wrote:
> > What can I say? sh1t happens!!