Vista updater closes down open applications without a warning prom

On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater suddenly
closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then it
restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I had open
do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is permanently lost.
The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the OS or system
at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging session at my local
newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without warning as the
machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps were shut down
with all state information lost permanently. This only occurs on the new
laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy, does not restart
without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want it to be a great
operating system, but it really has a long way to go before it is solid: for
example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and must now close," to
paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't work as well in Vista as
they did in XP Pro SP2.

This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many years
of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out user data
is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the updater restart warning prompts are set to
'on' and that a message box without command buttons popped up identifying
Windows Update as initiating the restart process...sorry if my incompleteness
created any confusion. Again, there was no way for the user to shut down
open apps manually before the Vista Windows Update restart process
ensued...imagine the worst kind of surprise data wipeout as I was typing data
into IE7.

BTW, this new laptop seems to have some sort of built-in delay as I enter
keystrokes...despite the fact that this is a new dual-core Pentium with 2Gig
of RAM and 4 Gig of ReadyBoost, I, as a slow 40wpm typist, can easily outpace
the thing...perhaps I've just got a $399 lemon...the newer the PC, the slower
it will be! ;-)



"PC Programmer" wrote:

> On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater suddenly
> closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then it
> restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I had open
> do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is permanently lost.
> The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the OS or system
> at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging session at my local
> newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without warning as the
> machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps were shut down
> with all state information lost permanently. This only occurs on the new
> laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy, does not restart
> without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want it to be a great
> operating system, but it really has a long way to go before it is solid: for
> example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and must now close," to
> paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't work as well in Vista as
> they did in XP Pro SP2.
>
> This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many years
> of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
> production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out user data
> is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.

And if you configure Automatic Updates to the "Notify Only" option...?

See
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...16bb91033.mspx
and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow...pdate/FAQ.mspx

PS: I think you got what you paid for.
--
~PA Bear


PC Programmer wrote:
> Oh, I forgot to mention that the updater restart warning prompts are set
> to
> 'on' and that a message box without command buttons popped up identifying
> Windows Update as initiating the restart process...sorry if my
> incompleteness created any confusion. Again, there was no way for the
> user
> to shut down open apps manually before the Vista Windows Update restart
> process ensued...imagine the worst kind of surprise data wipeout as I was
> typing data into IE7.
>
> BTW, this new laptop seems to have some sort of built-in delay as I enter
> keystrokes...despite the fact that this is a new dual-core Pentium with
> 2Gig
> of RAM and 4 Gig of ReadyBoost, I, as a slow 40wpm typist, can easily
> outpace the thing...perhaps I've just got a $399 lemon...the newer the PC,
> the slower it will be! ;-)
>
>> On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater suddenly
>> closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then it
>> restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I had
>> open do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is
>> permanently
>> lost. The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the OS
>> or system at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging session
>> at
>> my local newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without warning
>> as the machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps
>> were
>> shut down with all state information lost permanently. This only occurs
>> on the new laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy, does
>> not restart without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want it to
>> be a great operating system, but it really has a long way to go before it
>> is solid: for example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and must
>> now close," to paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't work
>> as well in Vista as they did in XP Pro SP2.
>>
>> This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many
>> years
>> of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
>> production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out user
>> data is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.

Thanks for your reply and the links...yes, I thought of that...and, from the
link:

"Windows Update will remind you if you need to restart your PC to continue
installing an update and give you the opportunity to "restart now" or give
you the option to postpone the restart" In other words, it shouldn't matter
what setting you have WU on, it ought to prompt you to restart.

Yup, I got what I paid for! Even when set to the automatic mode, Win Update
should give the above option...the thing still does a reboot on its own when
in "notify" mode...and all open apps and their attendant data are trashed.
Symantec's bloatware and HP's typical crapware were recently uninstalled; I'm
thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the machine.
Now, I've turned the updater completely off--I'll wait and see if the
updater process shows up despite this.

It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
needs to write better code.

Once again, thank you for the links

PC Programmer





"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> And if you configure Automatic Updates to the "Notify Only" option...?
>
> See
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...16bb91033.mspx
> and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow...pdate/FAQ.mspx
>
> PS: I think you got what you paid for.
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
>
> PC Programmer wrote:
> > Oh, I forgot to mention that the updater restart warning prompts are set
> > to
> > 'on' and that a message box without command buttons popped up identifying
> > Windows Update as initiating the restart process...sorry if my
> > incompleteness created any confusion. Again, there was no way for the
> > user
> > to shut down open apps manually before the Vista Windows Update restart
> > process ensued...imagine the worst kind of surprise data wipeout as I was
> > typing data into IE7.
> >
> > BTW, this new laptop seems to have some sort of built-in delay as I enter
> > keystrokes...despite the fact that this is a new dual-core Pentium with
> > 2Gig
> > of RAM and 4 Gig of ReadyBoost, I, as a slow 40wpm typist, can easily
> > outpace the thing...perhaps I've just got a $399 lemon...the newer the PC,
> > the slower it will be! ;-)
> >
> >> On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater suddenly
> >> closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then it
> >> restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I had
> >> open do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is
> >> permanently
> >> lost. The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the OS
> >> or system at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging session
> >> at
> >> my local newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without warning
> >> as the machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps
> >> were
> >> shut down with all state information lost permanently. This only occurs
> >> on the new laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy, does
> >> not restart without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want it to
> >> be a great operating system, but it really has a long way to go before it
> >> is solid: for example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and must
> >> now close," to paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't work
> >> as well in Vista as they did in XP Pro SP2.
> >>
> >> This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many
> >> years
> >> of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
> >> production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out user
> >> data is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.
>
>

> Symantec's bloatware...were recently uninstalled;
> I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
> machine.

Download/run this removal tool, reboot, then see if the behavior persists:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed now? What
anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
(if any)?

Are you currently running Vista or Vista SP1? <=just a question, not a
recommendation or suggestion!

If SP1, did it come preinstalled on the machine, did you install it via
Windows Update, or did you install it manually?


> It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
> needs to write better code.

Doubtful, but perhaps Symantec & HP do. Or you need a more robust machine.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


PC Programmer wrote:
> Thanks for your reply and the links...yes, I thought of that...and, from
> the
> link:
>
> "Windows Update will remind you if you need to restart your PC to continue
> installing an update and give you the opportunity to "restart now" or give
> you the option to postpone the restart" In other words, it shouldn't
> matter
> what setting you have WU on, it ought to prompt you to restart.
>
> Yup, I got what I paid for! Even when set to the automatic mode, Win
> Update
> should give the above option...the thing still does a reboot on its own
> when
> in "notify" mode...and all open apps and their attendant data are trashed.
> Symantec's bloatware and HP's typical crapware were recently uninstalled;
> I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
> machine. Now, I've turned the updater completely off--I'll wait and see if
> the updater process shows up despite this.
>
> It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
> needs to write better code.
>
> Once again, thank you for the links
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>> And if you configure Automatic Updates to the "Notify Only" option...?
>>
>> See
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...16bb91033.mspx
>> and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow...pdate/FAQ.mspx
>>
>> PS: I think you got what you paid for.
>>
>> PC Programmer wrote:
>>> Oh, I forgot to mention that the updater restart warning prompts are set
>>> to
>>> 'on' and that a message box without command buttons popped up
>>> identifying
>>> Windows Update as initiating the restart process...sorry if my
>>> incompleteness created any confusion. Again, there was no way for the
>>> user
>>> to shut down open apps manually before the Vista Windows Update restart
>>> process ensued...imagine the worst kind of surprise data wipeout as I
>>> was
>>> typing data into IE7.
>>>
>>> BTW, this new laptop seems to have some sort of built-in delay as I
>>> enter
>>> keystrokes...despite the fact that this is a new dual-core Pentium with
>>> 2Gig
>>> of RAM and 4 Gig of ReadyBoost, I, as a slow 40wpm typist, can easily
>>> outpace the thing...perhaps I've just got a $399 lemon...the newer the
>>> PC,
>>> the slower it will be! ;-)
>>>
>>>> On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater
>>>> suddenly
>>>> closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then it
>>>> restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I had
>>>> open do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is
>>>> permanently
>>>> lost. The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the
>>>> OS
>>>> or system at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging session
>>>> at
>>>> my local newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without
>>>> warning
>>>> as the machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps
>>>> were
>>>> shut down with all state information lost permanently. This only
>>>> occurs
>>>> on the new laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy,
>>>> does
>>>> not restart without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want it
>>>> to
>>>> be a great operating system, but it really has a long way to go before
>>>> it
>>>> is solid: for example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and
>>>> must
>>>> now close," to paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't
>>>> work
>>>> as well in Vista as they did in XP Pro SP2.
>>>>
>>>> This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many
>>>> years
>>>> of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
>>>> production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out
>>>> user
>>>> data is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> > Symantec's bloatware...were recently uninstalled;
> > I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
> > machine.
>
> Download/run this removal tool, reboot, then see if the behavior persists:
> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039

Ran it, as I've encountered Symantec/Norton issues on my new PCs before.
The words Symantec and molasses are synonyms in the software world.

>
> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed now? What
> anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall
> (if any)?

Avast AV and Win Firewall.

>
> Are you currently running Vista or Vista SP1? <=just a question, not a
> recommendation or suggestion!
>
> If SP1, did it come preinstalled on the machine, did you install it via
> Windows Update, or did you install it manually?

SP1 preinstalled...
>
>
> > It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
> > needs to write better code.
>
> Doubtful, but perhaps Symantec & HP do. Or you need a more robust machine.

Don't think it is hardware because a buttonless dialog appears identifying
Win Update as my apps are shutdown with sudden and unexpected data loss. It
could indeed be a third-party process playing out of its sandbox, as it
were--some preinstalled crapware may be breaking Vista processes and
dependencies...I'll try Darik's Boot and Nuke and do a clean rebuild next.

Even if the immediate culprit turns out to be a third-party process, no good
modern OS lets running apps get out of control. You'd never see this from
IBM's OS/400, for example.

Thanks again for your help and have a great day!

PC Programmer
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
>
> PC Programmer wrote:
> > Thanks for your reply and the links...yes, I thought of that...and, from
> > the
> > link:
> >
> > "Windows Update will remind you if you need to restart your PC to continue
> > installing an update and give you the opportunity to "restart now" or give
> > you the option to postpone the restart" In other words, it shouldn't
> > matter
> > what setting you have WU on, it ought to prompt you to restart.
> >
> > Yup, I got what I paid for! Even when set to the automatic mode, Win
> > Update
> > should give the above option...the thing still does a reboot on its own
> > when
> > in "notify" mode...and all open apps and their attendant data are trashed.
> > Symantec's bloatware and HP's typical crapware were recently uninstalled;
> > I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
> > machine. Now, I've turned the updater completely off--I'll wait and see if
> > the updater process shows up despite this.
> >
> > It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
> > needs to write better code.
> >
> > Once again, thank you for the links
> >
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >> And if you configure Automatic Updates to the "Notify Only" option...?
> >>
> >> See
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...16bb91033.mspx
> >> and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow...pdate/FAQ.mspx
> >>
> >> PS: I think you got what you paid for.
> >>
> >> PC Programmer wrote:
> >>> Oh, I forgot to mention that the updater restart warning prompts are set
> >>> to
> >>> 'on' and that a message box without command buttons popped up
> >>> identifying
> >>> Windows Update as initiating the restart process...sorry if my
> >>> incompleteness created any confusion. Again, there was no way for the
> >>> user
> >>> to shut down open apps manually before the Vista Windows Update restart
> >>> process ensued...imagine the worst kind of surprise data wipeout as I
> >>> was
> >>> typing data into IE7.
> >>>
> >>> BTW, this new laptop seems to have some sort of built-in delay as I
> >>> enter
> >>> keystrokes...despite the fact that this is a new dual-core Pentium with
> >>> 2Gig
> >>> of RAM and 4 Gig of ReadyBoost, I, as a slow 40wpm typist, can easily
> >>> outpace the thing...perhaps I've just got a $399 lemon...the newer the
> >>> PC,
> >>> the slower it will be! ;-)
> >>>
> >>>> On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater
> >>>> suddenly
> >>>> closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then it
> >>>> restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I had
> >>>> open do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is
> >>>> permanently
> >>>> lost. The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the
> >>>> OS
> >>>> or system at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging session
> >>>> at
> >>>> my local newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without
> >>>> warning
> >>>> as the machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps
> >>>> were
> >>>> shut down with all state information lost permanently. This only
> >>>> occurs
> >>>> on the new laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy,
> >>>> does
> >>>> not restart without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want it
> >>>> to
> >>>> be a great operating system, but it really has a long way to go before
> >>>> it
> >>>> is solid: for example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and
> >>>> must
> >>>> now close," to paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't
> >>>> work
> >>>> as well in Vista as they did in XP Pro SP2.
> >>>>
> >>>> This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many
> >>>> years
> >>>> of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
> >>>> production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out
> >>>> user
> >>>> data is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.
>
>

Since Vista SP1 came preinstalled, you do not qualify for free Vista
SP1-specific compatibility support. Please contact HP Support for further
assistance with this matter, if need be.

Good luck.


PC Programmer wrote:
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>> Symantec's bloatware...were recently uninstalled;
>>> I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
>>> machine.
>>
>> Download/run this removal tool, reboot, then see if the behavior
>> persists:
>> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039
>
> Ran it, as I've encountered Symantec/Norton issues on my new PCs before.
> The words Symantec and molasses are synonyms in the software world.
>
>>
>> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed now? What
>> anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
>> firewall
>> (if any)?
>
> Avast AV and Win Firewall.
>
>>
>> Are you currently running Vista or Vista SP1? <=just a question, not a
>> recommendation or suggestion!
>>
>> If SP1, did it come preinstalled on the machine, did you install it via
>> Windows Update, or did you install it manually?
>
> SP1 preinstalled...
>>
>>
>>> It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
>>> needs to write better code.
>>
>> Doubtful, but perhaps Symantec & HP do. Or you need a more robust
>> machine.
>
> Don't think it is hardware because a buttonless dialog appears identifying
> Win Update as my apps are shutdown with sudden and unexpected data loss.
> It
> could indeed be a third-party process playing out of its sandbox, as it
> were--some preinstalled crapware may be breaking Vista processes and
> dependencies...I'll try Darik's Boot and Nuke and do a clean rebuild next.
>
> Even if the immediate culprit turns out to be a third-party process, no
> good
> modern OS lets running apps get out of control. You'd never see this from
> IBM's OS/400, for example.
>
> Thanks again for your help and have a great day!
>
> PC Programmer
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>>
>> PC Programmer wrote:
>>> Thanks for your reply and the links...yes, I thought of that...and, from
>>> the
>>> link:
>>>
>>> "Windows Update will remind you if you need to restart your PC to
>>> continue
>>> installing an update and give you the opportunity to "restart now" or
>>> give
>>> you the option to postpone the restart" In other words, it shouldn't
>>> matter
>>> what setting you have WU on, it ought to prompt you to restart.
>>>
>>> Yup, I got what I paid for! Even when set to the automatic mode, Win
>>> Update
>>> should give the above option...the thing still does a reboot on its own
>>> when
>>> in "notify" mode...and all open apps and their attendant data are
>>> trashed.
>>> Symantec's bloatware and HP's typical crapware were recently
>>> uninstalled;
>>> I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
>>> machine. Now, I've turned the updater completely off--I'll wait and see
>>> if
>>> the updater process shows up despite this.
>>>
>>> It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
>>> needs to write better code.
>>>
>>> Once again, thank you for the links
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>> And if you configure Automatic Updates to the "Notify Only" option...?
>>>>
>>>> See
>>>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...16bb91033.mspx
>>>> and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow...pdate/FAQ.mspx
>>>>
>>>> PS: I think you got what you paid for.
>>>>
>>>> PC Programmer wrote:
>>>>> Oh, I forgot to mention that the updater restart warning prompts are
>>>>> set
>>>>> to
>>>>> 'on' and that a message box without command buttons popped up
>>>>> identifying
>>>>> Windows Update as initiating the restart process...sorry if my
>>>>> incompleteness created any confusion. Again, there was no way for the
>>>>> user
>>>>> to shut down open apps manually before the Vista Windows Update
>>>>> restart
>>>>> process ensued...imagine the worst kind of surprise data wipeout as I
>>>>> was
>>>>> typing data into IE7.
>>>>>
>>>>> BTW, this new laptop seems to have some sort of built-in delay as I
>>>>> enter
>>>>> keystrokes...despite the fact that this is a new dual-core Pentium
>>>>> with
>>>>> 2Gig
>>>>> of RAM and 4 Gig of ReadyBoost, I, as a slow 40wpm typist, can easily
>>>>> outpace the thing...perhaps I've just got a $399 lemon...the newer the
>>>>> PC,
>>>>> the slower it will be! ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>>> On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater
>>>>>> suddenly
>>>>>> closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I
>>>>>> had
>>>>>> open do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is
>>>>>> permanently
>>>>>> lost. The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the
>>>>>> OS
>>>>>> or system at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging
>>>>>> session
>>>>>> at
>>>>>> my local newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without
>>>>>> warning
>>>>>> as the machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps
>>>>>> were
>>>>>> shut down with all state information lost permanently. This only
>>>>>> occurs
>>>>>> on the new laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy,
>>>>>> does
>>>>>> not restart without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> be a great operating system, but it really has a long way to go
>>>>>> before
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> is solid: for example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and
>>>>>> must
>>>>>> now close," to paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't
>>>>>> work
>>>>>> as well in Vista as they did in XP Pro SP2.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many
>>>>>> years
>>>>>> of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
>>>>>> production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out
>>>>>> user
>>>>>> data is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.

Thank you for your help...I really appreciate it!



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> Since Vista SP1 came preinstalled, you do not qualify for free Vista
> SP1-specific compatibility support. Please contact HP Support for further
> assistance with this matter, if need be.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> PC Programmer wrote:
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>> Symantec's bloatware...were recently uninstalled;
> >>> I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
> >>> machine.
> >>
> >> Download/run this removal tool, reboot, then see if the behavior
> >> persists:
> >> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039
> >
> > Ran it, as I've encountered Symantec/Norton issues on my new PCs before.
> > The words Symantec and molasses are synonyms in the software world.
> >
> >>
> >> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed now? What
> >> anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party
> >> firewall
> >> (if any)?
> >
> > Avast AV and Win Firewall.
> >
> >>
> >> Are you currently running Vista or Vista SP1? <=just a question, not a
> >> recommendation or suggestion!
> >>
> >> If SP1, did it come preinstalled on the machine, did you install it via
> >> Windows Update, or did you install it manually?
> >
> > SP1 preinstalled...
> >>
> >>
> >>> It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
> >>> needs to write better code.
> >>
> >> Doubtful, but perhaps Symantec & HP do. Or you need a more robust
> >> machine.
> >
> > Don't think it is hardware because a buttonless dialog appears identifying
> > Win Update as my apps are shutdown with sudden and unexpected data loss.
> > It
> > could indeed be a third-party process playing out of its sandbox, as it
> > were--some preinstalled crapware may be breaking Vista processes and
> > dependencies...I'll try Darik's Boot and Nuke and do a clean rebuild next.
> >
> > Even if the immediate culprit turns out to be a third-party process, no
> > good
> > modern OS lets running apps get out of control. You'd never see this from
> > IBM's OS/400, for example.
> >
> > Thanks again for your help and have a great day!
> >
> > PC Programmer
> >> --
> >> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> >> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> >> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> >> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
> >>
> >>
> >> PC Programmer wrote:
> >>> Thanks for your reply and the links...yes, I thought of that...and, from
> >>> the
> >>> link:
> >>>
> >>> "Windows Update will remind you if you need to restart your PC to
> >>> continue
> >>> installing an update and give you the opportunity to "restart now" or
> >>> give
> >>> you the option to postpone the restart" In other words, it shouldn't
> >>> matter
> >>> what setting you have WU on, it ought to prompt you to restart.
> >>>
> >>> Yup, I got what I paid for! Even when set to the automatic mode, Win
> >>> Update
> >>> should give the above option...the thing still does a reboot on its own
> >>> when
> >>> in "notify" mode...and all open apps and their attendant data are
> >>> trashed.
> >>> Symantec's bloatware and HP's typical crapware were recently
> >>> uninstalled;
> >>> I'm thinking that some part of these pesky critters still resides on the
> >>> machine. Now, I've turned the updater completely off--I'll wait and see
> >>> if
> >>> the updater process shows up despite this.
> >>>
> >>> It all comes down to good code vs. bad code, in the final analysis. MS
> >>> needs to write better code.
> >>>
> >>> Once again, thank you for the links
> >>>
> >>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>>> And if you configure Automatic Updates to the "Notify Only" option...?
> >>>>
> >>>> See
> >>>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...16bb91033.mspx
> >>>> and http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow...pdate/FAQ.mspx
> >>>>
> >>>> PS: I think you got what you paid for.
> >>>>
> >>>> PC Programmer wrote:
> >>>>> Oh, I forgot to mention that the updater restart warning prompts are
> >>>>> set
> >>>>> to
> >>>>> 'on' and that a message box without command buttons popped up
> >>>>> identifying
> >>>>> Windows Update as initiating the restart process...sorry if my
> >>>>> incompleteness created any confusion. Again, there was no way for the
> >>>>> user
> >>>>> to shut down open apps manually before the Vista Windows Update
> >>>>> restart
> >>>>> process ensued...imagine the worst kind of surprise data wipeout as I
> >>>>> was
> >>>>> typing data into IE7.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> BTW, this new laptop seems to have some sort of built-in delay as I
> >>>>> enter
> >>>>> keystrokes...despite the fact that this is a new dual-core Pentium
> >>>>> with
> >>>>> 2Gig
> >>>>> of RAM and 4 Gig of ReadyBoost, I, as a slow 40wpm typist, can easily
> >>>>> outpace the thing...perhaps I've just got a $399 lemon...the newer the
> >>>>> PC,
> >>>>> the slower it will be! ;-)
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> On my new Compaq Vista laptop, Vista's Windows automatic updater
> >>>>>> suddenly
> >>>>>> closes down all my open applications without a warning prompt, then
> >>>>>> it
> >>>>>> restarts the computer on its own. When it restarts, all the apps I
> >>>>>> had
> >>>>>> open do not reopen and all the data I had entered into them is
> >>>>>> permanently
> >>>>>> lost. The computer is a few weeks old with no tweaks performed on the
> >>>>>> OS
> >>>>>> or system at all. IE7, for example, was open during a blogging
> >>>>>> session
> >>>>>> at
> >>>>>> my local newspaper's website: all my blog was wiped out without
> >>>>>> warning
> >>>>>> as the machine suddenly rebooted...without warning! Three other apps
> >>>>>> were
> >>>>>> shut down with all state information lost permanently. This only
> >>>>>> occurs
> >>>>>> on the new laptop...my desktop Vista machine, albeit slow and buggy,
> >>>>>> does
> >>>>>> not restart without a prompt. I am not just trashing Vista: I want
> >>>>>> it
> >>>>>> to
> >>>>>> be a great operating system, but it really has a long way to go
> >>>>>> before
> >>>>>> it
> >>>>>> is solid: for example, IE7 is constantly "encountering a problem and
> >>>>>> must
> >>>>>> now close," to paraphrase its own error message. Things just don't
> >>>>>> work
> >>>>>> as well in Vista as they did in XP Pro SP2.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> This is no newbie; I've got a degree in Windows programming with many
> >>>>>> years
> >>>>>> of corporate development experience in VB and C++. I've rarely seen
> >>>>>> production software with a bug this serious: to spuriously wipe out
> >>>>>> user
> >>>>>> data is unforgivable as any professional developer will tell you.
>
>

PC Programmer wrote:

> Even if the immediate culprit turns out to be a third-party process, no good
> modern OS lets running apps get out of control. You'd never see this from
> IBM's OS/400, for example.

Apples and oranges, I'm afraid. I'd love to see a PC OS with proper application
segregation, etc., etc., but to the best of my knowledge there isn't one;
certainly, Windows ain't it.

Harry.

--
Boycott Beijing 2008 http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=174

"Harry Johnston [MVP]" wrote:

> PC Programmer wrote:
>
> > Even if the immediate culprit turns out to be a third-party process, no good
> > modern OS lets running apps get out of control. You'd never see this from
> > IBM's OS/400, for example.
>
> Apples and oranges, I'm afraid. I'd love to see a PC OS with proper application
> segregation, etc., etc., but to the best of my knowledge there isn't one;
> certainly, Windows ain't it.

OS/400 is very good at forcing applications to behave themselves...and it
runs on hardware far less powerful than some of today's modern PCs--you can
still pick up an AS/400 on Ebay. I've used it for years...even wrote RPG
triggers on it! It runs literally for years without a restart or crash!
DB2 is part of that OS...it's the best DB in the world. It's the path
Microsoft should have taken: a Microsoft version of OS/400 would have killed
Linux and Apple by now. Perhaps 'Midori' is in the works in recognition of
what I've just said: Microsoft may, at long last, get dependency issues
under control.

I'm surprised IBM stays out of the PC market as it has the tools to dominate
there if it gets its marketing act together. OS/400 would sweep all other
competitors away within five years...it just works astonishingly well!

Yes, let's boycott Beijing...check out Amnesty International sometime on the
matter of human rights in China and Tibet.


Thanks for your reply and have a great day!
>
> Harry.
>
> --
> Boycott Beijing 2008 http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=174
>