Windows update problem

**Warprosper** · 07-14-10, 01:09 PM

In the case of a Hijack in addition to what Jakt said you can

Go to this location

C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\

Open the hosts.lm file with notepad and post the contents here. Lets look and see if the virus messed with that.

**WileECyte** · 07-14-10, 01:31 PM

In my experience. Modern-day malware employs too many tricks to be effectively removed by any program, no matter how comprehensive it claims to be. With the advent of rootkits and other techniques of hiding code, you are never really sure if you get rid of 100% of the malware. You're often better served doing a full re-load and be done with it.

**QuickLightning** · 07-14-10, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by WileECyte

In my experience. Modern-day malware employs too many tricks to be effectively removed by any program, no matter how comprehensive it claims to be. With the advent of rootkits and other techniques of hiding code, you are never really sure if you get rid of 100% of the malware. You're often better served doing a full re-load and be done with it.

I support this. If my computer is ever acting funny or giving me problems I just wipe it clean. Everything I need is either on DVDs, my external HD or Steam.

You can spend days dealing with this junk and still not clean it up... or just give yourself a fresh clean install in a single afternoon.

**yayupp** · 07-15-10, 11:50 AM

I want to see if I can track this thing down and fix it. Fresh install is the easy way out, and maybe the only solution. But, let's see what we can find

edit: I had part of the log posted, planned on putting the rest in the next post, but it's not working. I'll send bunni a PM.

**WileECyte** · 07-15-10, 12:07 PM

It's not just the easy way out, it's the best way out. Malware/viruses are much more complex than they were. Antivirus/malware software is doing a worse job detecting them, and a worse job removing them. At work, we don't even bother expending any effort to save a workstation that's been infected. Quicker and safer solution to rebuild.

**laggyNgroovy** · 07-15-10, 06:17 PM

I have seen before when IE just can't get to the Windows Update site, though usually it gives errors. ONe thing to try is the following program

http://wiki.lunarsoft.net/wiki/Dial-a-fix

I've been using it a lot around my job lately for some reason. Well, actually, IE8 installing on top of IE7 (and possibly the way they are being delivered) are having some serious issues.

Anyway, give that a shot, it is small, free, and runs relatively fast and you can run it from a USB key if you want to try it on another PC. The web page is fairly descriptive in what its doing.

**yayupp** · 08-01-10, 06:19 PM

Well I ended up doing a fresh install. I had to take the HDD out and stick it in my desktop to make a backup of it.

**Rumble** · 08-01-10, 11:28 PM

I have customers with this problem all the time. I simply run rkill, then malwarebytes. Windows update resumes working 99% of the time. If it doesn't a complete reinstall is usually the only fix.

**HeavyG** · 08-02-10, 04:47 AM

Reinstalling an OS is like putting a pet down. It sucks, but sometimes it is just the best thing to do.

**Viktor_Olin** · 08-02-10, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Rumble

I have customers with this problem all the time. I simply run rkill, then malwarebytes. Windows update resumes working 99% of the time. If it doesn't a complete reinstall is usually the only fix.

I was not familiar with rkill; it looks like a potentially very useful utility. Have you had personal experience that it works as advertised when Malwarebytes alone did not?