This topic contains 5 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by 
Team Black-Cat 16 years, 7 months ago.
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OK all you computer guru’s, I know there’s a lot of you out there, so here’s a Riddler puzzle for you. 😀
On January 23rd I accepted an automatic update from Microsoft (KB890830) Windows malicious software removal tool) The very next time I started my computer and every time since, it takes nearly 5-7 minutes before I am able to go on-line. It never has taken more than 2 minutes in the past. The computer just seems to stall durring start-up. I also get a pop-up bubble telling me my computer may not be safe because my firewall is turned off. This bubble goes away after about a minute when the firewall kicks back in.
So, a couple days ago I finally got around to removing that specific update, which solved the problem until yesterday when I booted up. The PC has been rebooted a dozen times since then and the issue was gone. But, somehow since then, the option got changed for my computer to download updates automatically without telling me first, and of course, it downloaded it again and the problem came back.
I went to remove the program, along with the other 4 updates I got. Problem is, it’s not listed now, and neither is another one. Both of these updates are listed as “succeeded” on the windows update page online. I know they are in my computer because that problem is back.
Calling Dell support was useless, they referred me to windows update problem solver (or whatever it’s called) and they would very much like to charge me $60 to help fix their software malfunction.
Since then, I’ve removed every update I received from December forward, hoping the automatic update would re-list. I could then download it again so my computer would recognize that it’s there, and then I could remove it once again. This hasn’t worked. Both update KB890830 and KB958687 still do not show up in my software removal tool. And they both still show as downloaded and functional on windows update page.
Any suggestions???
Jay, the first step to solving this is to find out what processes are tying up the machine. Open up Task Manager (Cntl-Alt-Del) when you are stuck and look at the processes tab. Click the “CPU” heading a couple times to sort by CPU percentage and note what process is highest. If it is anything other than System Idle Process, note the process (it will be an .exe name) and get back to me. What you don’t want to do is start removing updates, as once installed, they tend to leave stuff behind which makes removal impossible (without a complete Windows reinstall).
As a preview, you likely have one of four issues:
1. An incomplete or half installed update which needs reinstallation.
2. Some sort of automatic update function (typically for a virus scanner) gone bad and cycling.
3. A print queue problem where something is stuck and continually trying to print.
4. Malware/spyware trying to sell you fake malware removers.1 is the most likely culprit, which means a manual visit to windowsupdate.com.
If you have system restore enabled, you can easily put the system back to the state it was at a given time. If it’s malware, the files will still be on your system, and will need to be found and deleted. If it’s just a bad update, this would be the easiest fix.
Still, the best place to start is following DeeJay’s advice. Open Task Manager right after re-starting the computer while the offending process is still running.
Our IT guy really recommends Malware Bytes in order to get rid of malware and other nasties. It’s free and very effective.
@Team Black-Cat wrote:
If you have system restore enabled, you can easily put the system back to the state it was at a given time. If it’s malware, the files will still be on your system, and will need to be found and deleted. If it’s just a bad update, this would be the easiest fix.
Still, the best place to start is following DeeJay’s advice. Open Task Manager right after re-starting the computer while the offending process is still running.
Don’t know why I didn’t think of that.
It took care of the problem, but before I did it, I took Daves advice on boot-up to see what the issue was. My AVG (anti-virus) looked like it was stuck in a loop. What it was doing I don’t know. But after doing a system restore, the problem is solved.
I re-downloaded all the updates but the one giving me the hassle and everything is good.
Now, I’ve shut off automatic updates completely because it seems those updates cause more problems than they solve. This is not the first, but more like the 20th issue I’ve had in the past with updates. Seems every time I get one, it slows the system down.
I think Bill Gates has his people write this stuff into software, just so he can sell more computers. I really do believe that! Either that or he has some of the worst programmers out there. IMHO
Why these problems don’t happen with Apple, I’ll never know.
I’m glad that solved your problem, but I will disagree that the update from MS was the cause. It just makes an easy target for techs to take pot shots at. I’m not saying they haven’t caused problems, just not as often as some like to think they do. I would still use a good maleware/spyware detection program. I haven’t tried the one Buy_The_Tie mentioned, but that would probably do well.
Either way, you could probably approve just the “rollup” fixes as they come out and skip the individual ones.
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