PC Unusable after Loading Updates

On Friday, the 27th of August, I loaded the automatic updates from MS
then I loaded the auto updates from Norton. After that, all heck broke
loose. Can't access what anything that appears to be a system file, not
even Exploring to look at files, can't access System Restore, nothing!!!

My computer worked fine up until that point. I don't check email at
home so no viruses.

I'm f**ked! Looks like I'm going to have to reimage and lose precious
information. I was able to back up using a CD write program, but I'm
not sure if I got everything. Can't back up my system set ups (for MS
Office). It's as though MS put in its own very stringent firewall and
spam blockers because I can click on some things and the window will
pop open but then it gets blipped away.

Any thoughts, suggestions? I've been working on this for 3 days now
and don't know what to do.

And what really sucks is that you can't contact MS to find out if it is
something to do with their upgrade...

And my hubby is graciously allowing me to use his iMac to post this
message. <grin>

Which updates? Was "Norton" closed when you installed them?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE)

FlorencePS wrote:
> On Friday, the 27th of August, I loaded the automatic updates from MS
> then I loaded the auto updates from Norton. After that, all heck broke
> loose. Can't access what anything that appears to be a system file, not
> even Exploring to look at files, can't access System Restore, nothing!!!
>
> My computer worked fine up until that point. I don't check email at
> home so no viruses.
>
> I'm f**ked! Looks like I'm going to have to reimage and lose precious
> information. I was able to back up using a CD write program, but I'm
> not sure if I got everything. Can't back up my system set ups (for MS
> Office). It's as though MS put in its own very stringent firewall and
> spam blockers because I can click on some things and the window will
> pop open but then it gets blipped away.
>
> Any thoughts, suggestions? I've been working on this for 3 days now
> and don't know what to do.
>
> And what really sucks is that you can't contact MS to find out if it is
> something to do with their upgrade...
>
> And my hubby is graciously allowing me to use his iMac to post this
> message. <grin>

Of course not. Why? You think that caused the problem? And I don't
know what updates, only that I got the usual we have updates ready to
install from both MS and Norton, did them one right after the other

>-----Original Message-----
>Which updates? Was "Norton" closed when you installed them?
>--
>~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE)
>
>FlorencePS wrote:
>> On Friday, the 27th of August, I loaded the automatic updates from
MS
>> then I loaded the auto updates from Norton. After that, all heck
broke
>> loose. Can't access what anything that appears to be a system file,
not
>> even Exploring to look at files, can't access System Restore,
nothing!!!
>>
>> My computer worked fine up until that point. I don't check email at
>> home so no viruses.
>>
>> I'm f**ked! Looks like I'm going to have to reimage and lose
precious
>> information. I was able to back up using a CD write program, but
I'm
>> not sure if I got everything. Can't back up my system set ups (for
MS
>> Office). It's as though MS put in its own very stringent firewall and
>> spam blockers because I can click on some things and the window
will
>> pop open but then it gets blipped away.
>>
>> Any thoughts, suggestions? I've been working on this for 3 days
now
>> and don't know what to do.
>>
>> And what really sucks is that you can't contact MS to find out if it is
>> something to do with their upgrade...
>>
>> And my hubby is graciously allowing me to use his iMac to post
this
>> message. <grin>
>.
>

To assure a clean install, your anti-virus application should be disabled
and all other running processes closed before installing anything, including
Windows Updates.

See this list of recent Critical Updates:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx. Most are fully
uninstallable via Add/Remove Programs. Do so with NAV and all other
application closed and reboot.

Now revisit Windows Update in the same, recommended environment and install
the updates again manually. Reboot.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP

Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
http://support.microsoft.com/default...r=windowsxpsp2

What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...ssoftware.mspx

AumHa Forums
http://forum.aumha.org

FlorencePS wrote:
> Of course not. Why? You think that caused the problem? And I don't
> know what updates, only that I got the usual we have updates ready to
> install from both MS and Norton, did them one right after the other
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Which updates? Was "Norton" closed when you installed them?
> > --
> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE)
> >
> > FlorencePS wrote:
> > > On Friday, the 27th of August, I loaded the automatic updates from
> MS
> > > then I loaded the auto updates from Norton. After that, all heck
> > > broke loose. Can't access what anything that appears to be a system
> > > file, not even Exploring to look at files, can't access System
> > > Restore, nothing!!!
> > >
> > > My computer worked fine up until that point. I don't check email at
> > > home so no viruses.
> > >
> > > I'm f**ked! Looks like I'm going to have to reimage and lose
> precious
> > > information. I was able to back up using a CD write program, but
> I'm
> > > not sure if I got everything. Can't back up my system set ups (for
> MS
> > > Office). It's as though MS put in its own very stringent firewall and
> > > spam blockers because I can click on some things and the window
> will
> > > pop open but then it gets blipped away.
> > >
> > > Any thoughts, suggestions? I've been working on this for 3 days
> now
> > > and don't know what to do.
> > >
> > > And what really sucks is that you can't contact MS to find out if it
> > > is something to do with their upgrade...
> > >
> > > And my hubby is graciously allowing me to use his iMac to post
> this
> > > message. <grin>
> > .

You'll get no disagreement from me, danar. Please note that the vast
majority of XP users have installed SP2 without problems, either during the
install or afterwards.
--
~PA Bear

danar wrote:
> Would have been really nice if that bit of information was posted on the
> update before anyone tried to download and install. I checked and read
> everything I could find and didn't see this. Still haven't got the update
> and wondering if I want it at this point.
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
> > To assure a clean install, your anti-virus application should be
> > disabled and all other running processes closed before installing
> > anything, including Windows Updates.
> >
> > See this list of recent Critical Updates:
> > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx. Most are fully
> > uninstallable via Add/Remove Programs. Do so with NAV and all other
> > application closed and reboot.
> >
> > Now revisit Windows Update in the same, recommended environment and
> > install the updates again manually. Reboot.
> > --
> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP
> >
> > Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default...r=windowsxpsp2
> >
> > What You Should Know About Spyware
> > http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...ssoftware.mspx
> >
> > AumHa Forums
> > http://forum.aumha.org
> >
> > FlorencePS wrote:
> > > Of course not. Why? You think that caused the problem? And I don't
> > > know what updates, only that I got the usual we have updates ready to
> > > install from both MS and Norton, did them one right after the other
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > Which updates? Was "Norton" closed when you installed them?
> > > > --
> > > > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> > > > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE)
> > > >
> > > > FlorencePS wrote:
> > > > > On Friday, the 27th of August, I loaded the automatic updates from
> > > MS
> > > > > then I loaded the auto updates from Norton. After that, all heck
> > > > > broke loose. Can't access what anything that appears to be a
> > > > > system file, not even Exploring to look at files, can't access
> > > > > System Restore, nothing!!!
> > > > >
> > > > > My computer worked fine up until that point. I don't check email
> > > > > at home so no viruses.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm f**ked! Looks like I'm going to have to reimage and lose
> > > > > precious information. I was able to back up using a CD write
> > > > > program, but
> > > I'm
> > > > > not sure if I got everything. Can't back up my system set ups
> > > > > (for MS Office). It's as though MS put in its own very stringent
> > > > > firewall and spam blockers because I can click on some things and
> > > > > the window
> > > will
> > > > > pop open but then it gets blipped away.
> > > > >
> > > > > Any thoughts, suggestions? I've been working on this for 3 days
> > > now
> > > > > and don't know what to do.
> > > > >
> > > > > And what really sucks is that you can't contact MS to find out if
> > > > > it is something to do with their upgrade...
> > > > >
> > > > > And my hubby is graciously allowing me to use his iMac to post
> > > this
> > > > > message. <grin>
> > > > .

Well, PABear, thanks for that info, but I've already done
the reinstall from scratch. My point re: this update, is
that MS should have a warning prior to a user doing the
auto update and it should include all the instructions
necessary to ensure a clean upgrade BEFORE the install
actually happens. This really sucked big time and I'm
sure I'm not unlike a lot of other users, who know just
enough to get around, but not enough to troubleshoot if
there is a problem. MS did not think this through before
pushing it out to the public and I think Bill Gates
should rethink his company's customer service
initiative. I mean, I couldn't even talk to a real live
tech wihtout paying for it, which was absurd because, as
I see it, their screw up was the reason my computer got
toasted!

But thanks for trying to help PABear, I know you had good
intentions. I think it's MAC time for me (my husband's
been trying to get me to switch for years). <grin>

>-----Original Message-----
>To assure a clean install, your anti-virus application
should be disabled
>and all other running processes closed before installing
anything, including
>Windows Updates.
>
>See this list of recent Critical Updates:
>http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx.
Most are fully
>uninstallable via Add/Remove Programs. Do so with NAV
and all other
>application closed and reboot.
>
>Now revisit Windows Update in the same, recommended
environment and install
>the updates again manually. Reboot.
>--
>~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP
>
>Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
>http://support.microsoft.com/default...r=windowsxpsp2
>
>What You Should Know About Spyware
>http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...yware/deviouss
oftware.mspx
>
>AumHa Forums
>http://forum.aumha.org
>
>FlorencePS wrote:
>> Of course not. Why? You think that caused the
problem? And I don't
>> know what updates, only that I got the usual we have
updates ready to
>> install from both MS and Norton, did them one right
after the other
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > Which updates? Was "Norton" closed when you
installed them?
>> > --
>> > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE)
>> >
>> > FlorencePS wrote:
>> > > On Friday, the 27th of August, I loaded the
automatic updates from
>> MS
>> > > then I loaded the auto updates from Norton. After
that, all heck
>> > > broke loose. Can't access what anything that
appears to be a system
>> > > file, not even Exploring to look at files, can't
access System
>> > > Restore, nothing!!!
>> > >
>> > > My computer worked fine up until that point. I
don't check email at
>> > > home so no viruses.
>> > >
>> > > I'm f**ked! Looks like I'm going to have to
reimage and lose
>> precious
>> > > information. I was able to back up using a CD
write program, but
>> I'm
>> > > not sure if I got everything. Can't back up my
system set ups (for
>> MS
>> > > Office). It's as though MS put in its own very
stringent firewall and
>> > > spam blockers because I can click on some things
and the window
>> will
>> > > pop open but then it gets blipped away.
>> > >
>> > > Any thoughts, suggestions? I've been working on
this for 3 days
>> now
>> > > and don't know what to do.
>> > >
>> > > And what really sucks is that you can't contact MS
to find out if it
>> > > is something to do with their upgrade...
>> > >
>> > > And my hubby is graciously allowing me to use his
iMac to post
>> this
>> > > message. <grin>
>> > .
>
>.
>

hehehe, my sentiments exactly, Danar! Read my tirade
following PABear's suggestion.
>-----Original Message-----
>Would have been really nice if that bit of information
was posted on the
>update before anyone tried to download and install. I
checked and read
>everything I could find and didn't see this. Still
haven't got the update
>and wondering if I want it at this point.
>
>"PA Bear" wrote:
>
>> To assure a clean install, your anti-virus application
should be disabled
>> and all other running processes closed before
installing anything, including
>> Windows Updates.
>>
>> See this list of recent Critical Updates:
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx.
Most are fully
>> uninstallable via Add/Remove Programs. Do so with NAV
and all other
>> application closed and reboot.
>>
>> Now revisit Windows Update in the same, recommended
environment and install
>> the updates again manually. Reboot.
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP
>>
>> Are You Ready for WinXP SP2?
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
pr=windowsxpsp2
>>
>> What You Should Know About Spyware
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...ware/deviousso
ftware.mspx
>>
>> AumHa Forums
>> http://forum.aumha.org
>>
>> FlorencePS wrote:
>> > Of course not. Why? You think that caused the
problem? And I don't
>> > know what updates, only that I got the usual we have
updates ready to
>> > install from both MS and Norton, did them one right
after the other
>> >
>> > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > Which updates? Was "Norton" closed when you
installed them?
>> > > --
>> > > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> > > MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE)
>> > >
>> > > FlorencePS wrote:
>> > > > On Friday, the 27th of August, I loaded the
automatic updates from
>> > MS
>> > > > then I loaded the auto updates from Norton.
After that, all heck
>> > > > broke loose. Can't access what anything that
appears to be a system
>> > > > file, not even Exploring to look at files, can't
access System
>> > > > Restore, nothing!!!
>> > > >
>> > > > My computer worked fine up until that point. I
don't check email at
>> > > > home so no viruses.
>> > > >
>> > > > I'm f**ked! Looks like I'm going to have to
reimage and lose
>> > precious
>> > > > information. I was able to back up using a CD
write program, but
>> > I'm
>> > > > not sure if I got everything. Can't back up my
system set ups (for
>> > MS
>> > > > Office). It's as though MS put in its own very
stringent firewall and
>> > > > spam blockers because I can click on some things
and the window
>> > will
>> > > > pop open but then it gets blipped away.
>> > > >
>> > > > Any thoughts, suggestions? I've been working on
this for 3 days
>> > now
>> > > > and don't know what to do.
>> > > >
>> > > > And what really sucks is that you can't contact
MS to find out if it
>> > > > is something to do with their upgrade...
>> > > >
>> > > > And my hubby is graciously allowing me to use
his iMac to post
>> > this
>> > > > message. <grin>
>> > > .
>>
>>
>.
>