Automatic Updates on, but system thinks it's off

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jonathan Sachs
  • Start date Start date
J

Jonathan Sachs

I hope someone can help me identify a baffling problem that my partner
just encountered.

The computer is a Dell running Windows XP with SP2. When it is
started, one of the processes in the system tray opens a balloon which
reports that it cannot apply updates because Automatic Updates is
turned off.

We click the balloon to turn Automatic Updates on, and Windows opens
an error box which says something like, "I am sorry. My attempt to
turn on Automatic Updates has failed. To turn Automatic Updates on,
open the Control Panel's System icon and select the Automatic Updates
tab."

When we do that, we find that we cannot turn Automatic Updates on
because it already IS on. If we turn it off, then turn it back on,
then reboot, the same thing happens again.
 
You have to change a registry entry to accomplish
this. The entry is in the file association entry. Open the file
association for the extention you want to search and add the "Content Type"
with a REG_SZ of text/plain. I believe that will do it.

You can create a .reg file for this also

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.YOUREXTENTION]
@="txtfile"
"PerceivedType"="text"
"Content Type"="text/plain"

This will add to the entry and then windows search will search it for text
entries.


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[X-post to WU NG]

There's a very strong possibility that you have a Vundo infection, which is
usually accompanied by ZLOB and/or SDBot infections, all of which are
protected by a rootkit.

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run additional checks for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis
log to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

===

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

Support for Windows Update:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates.
 
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