XP Pro SP2 updates fail

Since malware attacked and cleaned I can no longer get windows updates. The
updates are found and then install with a message that simply says unale to
successfully install.....failed. The updates do not show up in the history.
Please help me with some ideas. There are no more malwares on the computer
using MS Antispyware Beta.

Some malware apps and viruses change the local hosts file so you can't
reach Windows update and virus definition web sites. If you're on XP
look in

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

and look at the file called "hosts." Open it with a tex editor, it
shouldn't have anything other than the following

----------------------------------------------

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host
name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

--------------------------------------------

and if any lines reference anything.microsoft.com delete them.

If you find suspicious hosts entries, delete them and then reboot (or
type nbtstat -R from the command line) and see if that helps.

I have sent you an email with the files. Perhaps you can help me....


"" wrote:

> Some malware apps and viruses change the local hosts file so you can't
> reach Windows update and virus definition web sites. If you're on XP
> look in
>
> C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
>
> and look at the file called "hosts." Open it with a tex editor, it
> shouldn't have anything other than the following
>
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> # Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
> #
> # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
> #
> # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
> # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
> # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host
> name.
> # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
> # space.
> #
> # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
> # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
> #
> # For example:
> #
> # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
> # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
>
> 127.0.0.1 localhost
>
> --------------------------------------------
>
> and if any lines reference anything.microsoft.com delete them.
>
> If you find suspicious hosts entries, delete them and then reboot (or
> type nbtstat -R from the command line) and see if that helps.
>
>

http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/updtcl.htm
Windows Update Checklist

KDJ_TU wrote:
> Since malware attacked and cleaned I can no longer get windows
> updates. The updates are found and then install with a message that
> simply says unale to successfully install.....failed. The updates do
> not show up in the history. Please help me with some ideas. There are
> no more malwares on the computer using MS Antispyware Beta.

"KDJ_TU" wrote:

> Since malware attacked and cleaned I can no longer get windows updates. The
> updates are found and then install with a message that simply says unale to
> successfully install.....failed. The updates do not show up in the history.
> Please help me with some ideas. There are no more malwares on the computer
> using MS Antispyware Beta.

The .bak file is a backup of your main hosts file. None of those
entries should matter for windows update, but it looks to me like you
had some serious problems. Check the other poster's website about
Windows updates.