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!
1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx
NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.
2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan
(only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
logs in an appropriate forum, not here.
Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
or other appropriate forums.**
If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
=====================
Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527
Support for Windows Update:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport
For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
Kris Rhodes wrote:
> I would appreciate any help anyone could offer.
>
> I am running Windows Vista.
>
> This evening, a popup appeared in the lowe left portion of my desktop that
> said "Windows can't check for updates." I am certain this hasn't shown up
> before today--one of the three paranoid people in my household would have
> noticed--but upon investigating, I see that my Update has not installed an
> update since March 7th and hasn't searched for an update since March 13th.
>
> When I click on the icon generating the "Windows can't check for updates"
> popup, it takes me to Windows Update, and tells me I have an important
> update to install. But when I try to install it, it says "Code 80240016:
> Windows Update is currently installing other updates. Please try again in
> a
> few minutes."
>
> As far as I can tell, this is not true. I have been trying to install this
> update for a few hours now. Rebooting the machine has no effect.
>
> When I click on "check for updates" in Windows Update, I get "Code
> 80072EFD:
> Windows Update encountered an unknown error."
>
> I have run, tonight, Spybot Search and Destroy as well as Malwarebytes'
> Anti-Malware (both fully updated--and it may be important to note that I
> _can_ update both of these programs) and neither found anything other than
> a
> few tracking cookies which are now gone.
>
> Please tell me what further information you might need in order to be able
> assist me here. And thank you in advance!
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