XP Locks on Shutdown & Can't Run WIndows Update

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Guest

"Please Help!

When I shutdown XP Home (or Restart) the system locks on the "Windows
Shutting Down" screen - Always (100%). In addition, if I click on the
"Windows Update" button under "Start" - IE loads with the correct URL and
than locks - I have to execute a Ctrl-Alt-Del to recover. Along with the IE
lock-up, if instead I go to "Control Panel - Security Center", I have access
(can click and pull up the pop ups) to "Internet Options" and "Windows
Firewall", but when I click on "Automatic Updates" - Nothing happens!!

I have a feeling the three issues are related in that they seem to have
started all at the same time. Any help on this would greatly be appreciated.
 
Jim said:
"Please Help!

When I shutdown XP Home (or Restart) the system locks on the "Windows
Shutting Down" screen - Always (100%). In addition, if I click on the
"Windows Update" button under "Start" - IE loads with the correct URL
and
than locks - I have to execute a Ctrl-Alt-Del to recover. Along with
the IE lock-up, if instead I go to "Control Panel - Security Center",
I have access (can click and pull up the pop ups) to "Internet
Options" and "Windows Firewall", but when I click on "Automatic
Updates" - Nothing happens!!

I have a feeling the three issues are related in that they seem to
have
started all at the same time. Any help on this would greatly be
appreciated.
Click to expand...

Here is a great shutdown troubleshooter:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

Very often shutdown problems are caused by programs and/or processes
running in the background that are refusing to exit gracefully. More
often than not, those programs are malware. Run through these malware
troubleshooting/removal steps:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke
 
GREAT post Malke! Your inputs will be extermily helpful. I do use on a
weekly/daily basis Spybot, Ad-Aware as well as SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard,
AVG Free and Norton Antivirus to boot.

But after much nashing of teeth I was able to figure out and fix this
particular problem. Solution: Through AOL, I had enabled IE Internet access
control to protect/monitor the kids. Went back into AOL and swithed it off
and like magic everything works perfectly. What is so confusing was that
after having signed on, it was blocking (by locking up) only secure sites and
affecting Windows Automatic Updates button. Go figure.

Again - Thanks for all your input. I will print and use in the future.
Best regards.

Jim
Tucson, AZ
 
Jim said:
GREAT post Malke! Your inputs will be extermily helpful. I do use on
a weekly/daily basis Spybot, Ad-Aware as well as SpywareBlaster,
SpywareGuard, AVG Free and Norton Antivirus to boot.

But after much nashing of teeth I was able to figure out and fix this
particular problem. Solution: Through AOL, I had enabled IE Internet
access
control to protect/monitor the kids. Went back into AOL and swithed
it off
and like magic everything works perfectly. What is so confusing was
that after having signed on, it was blocking (by locking up) only
secure sites and
affecting Windows Automatic Updates button. Go figure.

Again - Thanks for all your input. I will print and use in the
future. Best regards.
Click to expand...

Thanks for letting us know the issue. It will help others in the future.
I'm glad you got it fixed, and thanks for letting me know.

Malke
 
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