Returning to Restore Point

Please can someone help and advise me. I had a contract using a Vodafone
Mobile Connect Lite which I used for 2 years. This USB device was not
really satisfactory in that I lost connection quite often. Now I have
(supposedly) an improved version, Vodafone Mobile Connect. I find this more
unreliable than the first. I contacted Vodacom, my ISP, and they told me to
download the latest upgrade which I did. However, the installation had a
hiccup in that it never got to 'finish'. I waited for ages - at least half
an hour- and then rebooted the PC. Well, the PC almost crashed and went to
System Restore. Now the 'Usage' is not working properly and has converted
from MB to GB! I subsequently uninstalled all and reinstalled, but MB still
remains GB. This I can live with as I can get correct figures from my
Online Bill.

The REAL problem is that my web access is very limited. Now and then I can
use the net, but most often I have 'Windows cannot display the page'.
Diagnosis: Windows has found a problem that cannot be fixed automatically.
Contact your ISP. (Sometimes: The host may be down, or may not support a
secure connection.) I also have problems with emails (WLM). I seem to
receive OK but sending is usually a problem.

Your server has unexpectedly terminated the connection. Possible causes for
this include server problems, network problems, or a long period of
inactivity.

Subject 'Fw: USD 2522759 Re: Invoice Queries [#1925244]'
Server: 'smtp.vodamail.co.za'
Windows Live Mail Error ID: 0x800CCC0F
Protocol: SMTP
Port: 25
Secure(SSL): No
Socket Error: 10053

I am considering going back to a restore point before the first download and
install of the upgrade. Will this work? I realise that I will have to
install all the Microsoft and antivirus updates that I lose. I do realise
that I have a problem
with a poor signal and my ISP is hiding behind the problem download which is
why I would like to resolve the issue before confronting them. They have
told me that my area is 'well covered' for 3G, which is certainly not my
experience.

Thanks in anticipation for all your help - JD

Jane Doe wrote:
> Please can someone help and advise me. I had a contract using a
> Vodafone Mobile Connect Lite which I used for 2 years. This USB
> device was not really satisfactory in that I lost connection quite
> often. Now I have (supposedly) an improved version, Vodafone
> Mobile Connect. I find this more unreliable than the first. I
> contacted Vodacom, my ISP, and they told me to download the latest
> upgrade which I did. However, the installation had a hiccup in
> that it never got to 'finish'. I waited for ages - at least half
> an hour- and then rebooted the PC. Well, the PC almost crashed and
> went to System Restore. Now the 'Usage' is not working properly
> and has converted from MB to GB! I subsequently uninstalled all
> and reinstalled, but MB still remains GB. This I can live with as
> I can get correct figures from my Online Bill.
> The REAL problem is that my web access is very limited. Now and
> then I can use the net, but most often I have 'Windows cannot
> display the page'. Diagnosis: Windows has found a problem that
> cannot be fixed automatically. Contact your ISP. (Sometimes: The
> host may be down, or may not support a secure connection.) I also
> have problems with emails (WLM). I seem to receive OK but sending
> is usually a problem.
> Your server has unexpectedly terminated the connection. Possible
> causes for this include server problems, network problems, or a
> long period of inactivity.
>
> Subject 'Fw: USD 2522759 Re: Invoice Queries
> [#1925244]' Server: 'smtp.vodamail.co.za'
> Windows Live Mail Error ID: 0x800CCC0F
> Protocol: SMTP
> Port: 25
> Secure(SSL): No
> Socket Error: 10053
>
> I am considering going back to a restore point before the first
> download and install of the upgrade. Will this work? I realise
> that I will have to install all the Microsoft and antivirus updates
> that I lose. I do realise that I have a problem
> with a poor signal and my ISP is hiding behind the problem download
> which is why I would like to resolve the issue before confronting
> them. They have told me that my area is 'well covered' for 3G,
> which is certainly not my experience.
>
> Thanks in anticipation for all your help - JD

Honestly - I don't believe it will remedy your problem.

How important is this connection to you and how frequently do you backup
*your* important data (documents, music, pictures, favorites, email,
contacts, etc?)

While someone might be able to troubleshoot your issues in-person, and that
may be your best option - you might consider a clean installation if you
have everything backed up and you have all the installation media for
everything you will need outside of the current machine's hard disk drive.

Truthfully - it would be highly unusual for the problems you describe to be
solved by a roll-back/system restore - especially since you had not-so-great
reception originally.

- Is this something like a Dell, IBM/Lenovo, Gateway, HP, etc machine?
- Does it still have most of the software that *came* installed on it
(whether or not you use it?)
- What AntiVirus software do you maintain (is it current release and current
antivirus definitions?)
- Do you utilize the built-in firewall or some third party firewall (is your
AntiVirus solution actually an all-in-one that includes a firewall?)
- What AntiSpyware/AntiMalware software have you ran/do you run and with
what consistentcy/frequency?
- What is your normal backup schedule? Also - what do you use to backup
your machine?

Some of your issues could be resolved with application removals, going back
to the basics of a good simple AntiVirus software and no third-party
firewall solutions, a few antimalware scans, a good defragmentation and
CHKDSK and updating the hardware device drivers from the manufacturer's web
site.

Barring that - perhaps a repair (in-place) installation using the latest
version of the OS (given where you are posting - a Windows Vista _____
Edition with SP2 integrated DVD would be required) and then updating the OS
to its necessary state (current updates.) Still would suggest the latest
hardware device drivers in your case - as some of your problem could be
out-of-date drivers of other items (chipset, etc.)

Finally - the end-all solution I alluded to - an all-out format and install
clean of the OS and just the things you need.

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

Hi Shenan, thanks for responding.

This Vodafone Mobile Connect is a small modem/USB. It came with the
application installed, but when I complained to the ISP (Vodacom) they gave
me a site from which to download an update. All this USB Modem does is
enable access to the net.

I use Windows Firewall, and have AVG free, custom-installed without email
scanning, which I run daily, I also have Malwarebytes and Spybot R&D which I
run twice a month.

I just thought that if I could take the PC back to before any installation
of the VMC, then do the download & update (which I have on my flash drive)
it would maybe be clean. This might not be the case though, because the
actual VMC USB probably carries the error now. I should first take it in to
be checked out/reloaded. I see from the help programme I won't lose any
emails, docs, etc. I really just wanted to do it today/tomorrow as I have
half a month's allocation of MBs left which do not carry over to the new
month.

Windows Vista Home Basic
Intel® Celeron(R) D CPU 3.33 GHz
Memory (RAM) 1919 GB
3325 Mhz 1 Core
1 logical processor
ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series
System Type 32-bit Operating System
Manufacturer Fujitsu Siemens Computers

Vista was pre-installed and I have disks for Drivers & Utilities Version
3/2007, Oracle, Norton (wouldn't use), and Nero 7 Essentials.

If I was to do a total format and install I would rather go for Win 7. But
my system is mainly OK, I think.

Thanks - JD

"Shenan Stanley" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Jane Doe wrote:
>> Please can someone help and advise me. I had a contract using a
>> Vodafone Mobile Connect Lite which I used for 2 years. This USB
>> device was not really satisfactory in that I lost connection quite
>> often. Now I have (supposedly) an improved version, Vodafone
>> Mobile Connect. I find this more unreliable than the first. I
>> contacted Vodacom, my ISP, and they told me to download the latest
>> upgrade which I did. However, the installation had a hiccup in
>> that it never got to 'finish'. I waited for ages - at least half
>> an hour- and then rebooted the PC. Well, the PC almost crashed and
>> went to System Restore. Now the 'Usage' is not working properly
>> and has converted from MB to GB! I subsequently uninstalled all
>> and reinstalled, but MB still remains GB. This I can live with as
>> I can get correct figures from my Online Bill.
>> The REAL problem is that my web access is very limited. Now and
>> then I can use the net, but most often I have 'Windows cannot
>> display the page'. Diagnosis: Windows has found a problem that
>> cannot be fixed automatically. Contact your ISP. (Sometimes: The
>> host may be down, or may not support a secure connection.) I also
>> have problems with emails (WLM). I seem to receive OK but sending
>> is usually a problem.
>> Your server has unexpectedly terminated the connection. Possible
>> causes for this include server problems, network problems, or a
>> long period of inactivity.
>>
>> Subject 'Fw: USD 2522759 Re: Invoice Queries
>> [#1925244]' Server: 'smtp.vodamail.co.za'
>> Windows Live Mail Error ID: 0x800CCC0F
>> Protocol: SMTP
>> Port: 25
>> Secure(SSL): No
>> Socket Error: 10053
>>
>> I am considering going back to a restore point before the first
>> download and install of the upgrade. Will this work? I realise
>> that I will have to install all the Microsoft and antivirus updates
>> that I lose. I do realise that I have a problem
>> with a poor signal and my ISP is hiding behind the problem download
>> which is why I would like to resolve the issue before confronting
>> them. They have told me that my area is 'well covered' for 3G,
>> which is certainly not my experience.
>>
>> Thanks in anticipation for all your help - JD
>
> Honestly - I don't believe it will remedy your problem.
>
> How important is this connection to you and how frequently do you backup
> *your* important data (documents, music, pictures, favorites, email,
> contacts, etc?)
>
> While someone might be able to troubleshoot your issues in-person, and
> that may be your best option - you might consider a clean installation if
> you have everything backed up and you have all the installation media for
> everything you will need outside of the current machine's hard disk drive.
>
> Truthfully - it would be highly unusual for the problems you describe to
> be solved by a roll-back/system restore - especially since you had
> not-so-great reception originally.
>
> - Is this something like a Dell, IBM/Lenovo, Gateway, HP, etc machine?
> - Does it still have most of the software that *came* installed on it
> (whether or not you use it?)
> - What AntiVirus software do you maintain (is it current release and
> current antivirus definitions?)
> - Do you utilize the built-in firewall or some third party firewall (is
> your AntiVirus solution actually an all-in-one that includes a firewall?)
> - What AntiSpyware/AntiMalware software have you ran/do you run and with
> what consistentcy/frequency?
> - What is your normal backup schedule? Also - what do you use to backup
> your machine?
>
> Some of your issues could be resolved with application removals, going
> back to the basics of a good simple AntiVirus software and no third-party
> firewall solutions, a few antimalware scans, a good defragmentation and
> CHKDSK and updating the hardware device drivers from the manufacturer's
> web site.
>
> Barring that - perhaps a repair (in-place) installation using the latest
> version of the OS (given where you are posting - a Windows Vista _____
> Edition with SP2 integrated DVD would be required) and then updating the
> OS to its necessary state (current updates.) Still would suggest the
> latest hardware device drivers in your case - as some of your problem
> could be out-of-date drivers of other items (chipset, etc.)
>
> Finally - the end-all solution I alluded to - an all-out format and
> install clean of the OS and just the things you need.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>