Windows 2000 Pro automatic update issue

This past friday Windows automatic update downloaded and installed an update.
As usual, the annoying popup kept asking me to restart my computer. When I
clicked the "restart now" button my computer performed a normal reboot.

This is where the problems began. When the Windows desktop appeared it was
the blank blue screen instead of my wallpaper. A small "DOS" style window
opened and performed some type of operation and then closed. Next several of
my software programs began their new install setup programs! At this point I
was perplexed as to what was going on.

When the reboot was complete all my desktop icons were gone and none of my
startup software was loaded or showing in the tray. The only desktop icons
were those that show after a fresh Windows install.

My built in wireless network lost all it's stored system information. In
order to connect I had to re-enter the connection info.

Both web browsers (IE and Netscape) lost all user info including favorites
and bookmarks.

Most of my software programs cannot be started. Microsoft Office, Yahoo
Messenger, etc... I keep getting registry entry errors.

It seems this update really screwed up my system. Has anyone else
encountered this problem? Or maybe someone knows which update(s) were
offered last week (3/12 - 3/16)? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I have just the same problem. There must be a lot other people with the same
problem. How can we fix this ?


"OMG!!!" wrote:

> This past friday Windows automatic update downloaded and installed an update.
> As usual, the annoying popup kept asking me to restart my computer. When I
> clicked the "restart now" button my computer performed a normal reboot.
>
> This is where the problems began. When the Windows desktop appeared it was
> the blank blue screen instead of my wallpaper. A small "DOS" style window
> opened and performed some type of operation and then closed. Next several of
> my software programs began their new install setup programs! At this point I
> was perplexed as to what was going on.
>
> When the reboot was complete all my desktop icons were gone and none of my
> startup software was loaded or showing in the tray. The only desktop icons
> were those that show after a fresh Windows install.
>
> My built in wireless network lost all it's stored system information. In
> order to connect I had to re-enter the connection info.
>
> Both web browsers (IE and Netscape) lost all user info including favorites
> and bookmarks.
>
> Most of my software programs cannot be started. Microsoft Office, Yahoo
> Messenger, etc... I keep getting registry entry errors.
>
> It seems this update really screwed up my system. Has anyone else
> encountered this problem? Or maybe someone knows which update(s) were
> offered last week (3/12 - 3/16)? Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
>

(cross-post added to Win2000 General)
"OMG!!!" <OMG!!!@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:06629212-66F0-42C0-854F-...
> This past friday Windows automatic update downloaded and installed an update.
> As usual, the annoying popup kept asking me to restart my computer. When I
> clicked the "restart now" button my computer performed a normal reboot.
>
> This is where the problems began. When the Windows desktop appeared it was
> the blank blue screen instead of my wallpaper. A small "DOS" style window
> opened and performed some type of operation and then closed. Next several of
> my software programs began their new install setup programs! At this point I
> was perplexed as to what was going on.
>
> When the reboot was complete all my desktop icons were gone and none of my
> startup software was loaded or showing in the tray. The only desktop icons
> were those that show after a fresh Windows install.


That's usually a sign that explorer.exe (e.g. Desktop, Taskbar, and Start menu)
isn't running. Use Task Manager to check and also try restarting it from there.
(E.g. press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and then use TM's New Task... button
or its File, New Task (Run...) command.


>
> My built in wireless network lost all it's stored system information. In
> order to connect I had to re-enter the connection info.
>
> Both web browsers (IE and Netscape) lost all user info including favorites
> and bookmarks.
>
> Most of my software programs cannot be started. Microsoft Office, Yahoo
> Messenger, etc... I keep getting registry entry errors.
>
> It seems this update really screwed up my system. Has anyone else
> encountered this problem? Or maybe someone knows which update(s) were
> offered last week (3/12 - 3/16)? Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks!


BTW posting in WU NG for help diagnosing these symptoms is a bit like
running down the steet chasing a delivery truck hoping that you will get some
help with a new appliance it just delivered... ; }


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---

Sounds like the profile is/was corrupt. If the profile is corrupt, you can
rename the profile(while logged on as local admin), then when the user logs
on again a new profile will be created from the image in \default user. You
can then copy over the items you need from the renamed profile. Copy the
folder contents not the folders themselves. When your sure you have all you
need, you can delete the renamed profile(s). Use the import function of your
e-mail software. Don't overwrite ntuser.dat

User-specific settings for software such as MS Office are stored in the user
hive portion of the registry and are in most cases unrecoverable without
expert registry skills so you're probably left with completing the user
specific application setup.


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Robert Aldwinckle" wrote:
> (cross-post added to Win2000 General)
> "OMG!!!" <OMG!!!@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:06629212-66F0-42C0-854F-...
>> This past friday Windows automatic update downloaded and installed an
>> update.
>> As usual, the annoying popup kept asking me to restart my computer. When
>> I
>> clicked the "restart now" button my computer performed a normal reboot.
>>
>> This is where the problems began. When the Windows desktop appeared it
>> was
>> the blank blue screen instead of my wallpaper. A small "DOS" style
>> window
>> opened and performed some type of operation and then closed. Next
>> several of
>> my software programs began their new install setup programs! At this
>> point I
>> was perplexed as to what was going on.
>>
>> When the reboot was complete all my desktop icons were gone and none of
>> my
>> startup software was loaded or showing in the tray. The only desktop
>> icons
>> were those that show after a fresh Windows install.
>
>
> That's usually a sign that explorer.exe (e.g. Desktop, Taskbar, and
> Start menu)
> isn't running. Use Task Manager to check and also try restarting it
> from there.
> (E.g. press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and then use TM's New Task... button
> or its File, New Task (Run...) command.
>
>
>>
>> My built in wireless network lost all it's stored system information. In
>> order to connect I had to re-enter the connection info.
>>
>> Both web browsers (IE and Netscape) lost all user info including
>> favorites
>> and bookmarks.
>>
>> Most of my software programs cannot be started. Microsoft Office, Yahoo
>> Messenger, etc... I keep getting registry entry errors.
>>
>> It seems this update really screwed up my system. Has anyone else
>> encountered this problem? Or maybe someone knows which update(s) were
>> offered last week (3/12 - 3/16)? Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks!
>
>
> BTW posting in WU NG for help diagnosing these symptoms is a bit like
> running down the steet chasing a delivery truck hoping that you will get
> some
> help with a new appliance it just delivered... ; }
>
>
> HTH
>
> Robert Aldwinckle
> ---
>
>