Vista Windows update problem

A new ACER laptop will not update Windows Vista Premium.
The owner states that it crashes every time he tries.
I tried it and it gave me the BSOD, but it restarted before I could read the error code.
I then changed the settings so that it would not auto-restart on crash,
but when I tried the update again, it did not crash that time so that I did not get an error code.
It indicated that it was updating, the cute little pulsing line was running, but after 25 minutes it
had not downloaded any bytes over a DSL connection.
I was able to independently update the Windows Defender and the antivirus, and all other Internet
activity seemed to work just fine.

I have reviewed a number of posts on failing updates, but I don't have quick access to the machine
to either check these out or to report back right away. Any suggestions appreciated, I may get the
owner to leave the machine with me for awhile after he cools down.

Background.
This PC was sold by OfficeMax, but they refuse to honor any support.
It has totally failed on the owner twice and had to be send back to ACER for repair (At least he has
an extended warrantee @ $150).
The owner is about to hire a lawyer and sue either or both Acer and OfficeMax for problems with the
PC even though I was able to fix all of his basic problems, except the update issue. I just want to
be cautious that I don't get into the lawsuit too.

Try a format & reinstall, Richard.
--
~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/

Richard in AZ wrote:
> A new ACER laptop will not update Windows Vista Premium.
> The owner states that it crashes every time he tries.
> I tried it and it gave me the BSOD, but it restarted before I could read
> the error code.
> I then changed the settings so that it would not auto-restart on crash,
> but when I tried the update again, it did not crash that time so that I
> did
> not get an error code. It indicated that it was updating, the cute little
> pulsing line was running, but after 25 minutes it had not downloaded any
> bytes over a DSL connection.
> I was able to independently update the Windows Defender and the antivirus,
> and all other Internet activity seemed to work just fine.
>
> I have reviewed a number of posts on failing updates, but I don't have
> quick access to the machine to either check these out or to report back
> right away. Any suggestions appreciated, I may get the owner to leave the
> machine with me for awhile after he cools down.
>
> Background.
> This PC was sold by OfficeMax, but they refuse to honor any support.
> It has totally failed on the owner twice and had to be send back to ACER
> for repair (At least he has an extended warrantee @ $150).
> The owner is about to hire a lawyer and sue either or both Acer and
> OfficeMax for problems with the PC even though I was able to fix all of
> his
> basic problems, except the update issue. I just want to be cautious that
> I
> don't get into the lawsuit too.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
news:ePKC$...
| Try a format & reinstall, Richard.

That is not one of my options. This owner is about to take the computer and throw it through
OfficeMax's store window. It has been to Acer twice for repair and he wants it fixed now or a new
one. He has paid the DSL service twice to come set him up. He is a PC novice with very short fuse.

| --
| ~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/
|
| Richard in AZ wrote:
| > A new ACER laptop will not update Windows Vista Premium.
| > The owner states that it crashes every time he tries.
| > I tried it and it gave me the BSOD, but it restarted before I could read
| > the error code.
| > I then changed the settings so that it would not auto-restart on crash,
| > but when I tried the update again, it did not crash that time so that I
| > did
| > not get an error code. It indicated that it was updating, the cute little
| > pulsing line was running, but after 25 minutes it had not downloaded any
| > bytes over a DSL connection.
| > I was able to independently update the Windows Defender and the antivirus,
| > and all other Internet activity seemed to work just fine.
| >
| > I have reviewed a number of posts on failing updates, but I don't have
| > quick access to the machine to either check these out or to report back
| > right away. Any suggestions appreciated, I may get the owner to leave the
| > machine with me for awhile after he cools down.
| >
| > Background.
| > This PC was sold by OfficeMax, but they refuse to honor any support.
| > It has totally failed on the owner twice and had to be send back to ACER
| > for repair (At least he has an extended warrantee @ $150).
| > The owner is about to hire a lawyer and sue either or both Acer and
| > OfficeMax for problems with the PC even though I was able to fix all of
| > his
| > basic problems, except the update issue. I just want to be cautious that
| > I
| > don't get into the lawsuit too.
|

Sounds like a great idea. Hopefully he purchased the machine with a credit
card and can successfully Contest the charge, as it sounds like OfficeMax
and Acer might be putting an infinite number of hurdles in front of him.
--
~PA Bear

Richard in AZ wrote:
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <> wrote in message
> news:ePKC$...
>> Try a format & reinstall, Richard.
>
> That is not one of my options. This owner is about to take the computer
> and throw it through OfficeMax's store window. It has been to Acer twice
> for repair and he wants it fixed now or a new one. He has paid the DSL
> service twice to come set him up. He is a PC novice with very short fuse.
>
>> --
>> ~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/
>>
>> Richard in AZ wrote:
>>> A new ACER laptop will not update Windows Vista Premium.
>>> The owner states that it crashes every time he tries.
>>> I tried it and it gave me the BSOD, but it restarted before I could read
>>> the error code.
>>> I then changed the settings so that it would not auto-restart on crash,
>>> but when I tried the update again, it did not crash that time so that I
>>> did
>>> not get an error code. It indicated that it was updating, the cute
>>> little
>>> pulsing line was running, but after 25 minutes it had not downloaded any
>>> bytes over a DSL connection.
>>> I was able to independently update the Windows Defender and the
>>> antivirus,
>>> and all other Internet activity seemed to work just fine.
>>>
>>> I have reviewed a number of posts on failing updates, but I don't have
>>> quick access to the machine to either check these out or to report back
>>> right away. Any suggestions appreciated, I may get the owner to leave
>>> the
>>> machine with me for awhile after he cools down.
>>>
>>> Background.
>>> This PC was sold by OfficeMax, but they refuse to honor any support.
>>> It has totally failed on the owner twice and had to be send back to ACER
>>> for repair (At least he has an extended warrantee @ $150).
>>> The owner is about to hire a lawyer and sue either or both Acer and
>>> OfficeMax for problems with the PC even though I was able to fix all of
>>> his
>>> basic problems, except the update issue. I just want to be cautious
>>> that
>>> I
>>> don't get into the lawsuit too.