I got burned by Windows Update, should I just avoid it?

what was the link did U use, are you sure it was Microsoft windows update date site ?. I would recommend AVAST to remove root kit.

I had a very similar experience about six months ago when my Windows XP Pro crashed on me. After several hundred dollars and letting them into my computer for 41 hours it seemed every time one of their help 'experts' got into my computer they created more problems then they solved.

Perhaps, like you say, MS's programmers are good at what they do, but you have to admit, in view of the mostly incompetent staff MS has for their online help, MS could care less whether, or not, they satisfy their customers - that's the problem with a world monopoly.

I had the same experience but it was from new! I was told I had not got permission to rename a folder and loads of other things. I got some relief by turing off "User account control" but still could NOT rename a folder. There is no malware, Spybot and C Cleaner work with AVG to keep everything clean and the machine works fine. So I "Googled" for a forum with a discussion of this. Got it and used the fix (involved making an entry in DOS) and everything is now fine. It was not an update that did it, though I did have an update some years back that stopped internet completely till I rolled it back. . . . Alan

Leo you gave a good advice in your article. Back-up is one way forward. The other is to set your computer to be informed when update are available
for downloading and installing. This is one way to see and read what is going to be installed.End User may not be interested or understand every thing but it will help to understand some sectioin of the updates. When in doubt, make note of KB Number hide questionable update and look-up
on MS Site

Being a Support Tech I run into this problem frequently, however, I seriously doubt it was caused by the MS Update. Malware was probably the problem before you did that. I have found that a good solution that works MOST of the time with XP is to create a new user account. Then copy the My Documents, Favorites, and destop folders to the new user's account under Docs & Settings, then delete the old user's account and files in Control panel.

perhaps some day I will find out why I get security updates for windows Works 9 but they fail consistently and the icon an program are on /in the machine but still they fail.although not really needed they're part of the important updates.just something else to tick one off.

I dont think it was caused by MS Update, you may had it before you did the updates. I remember getting root it, its one nasty virus. Malwarebytes and Avast helped to fix the computer

I continually get "updates available" from windows. The list may include up to 20-30 "important updates," but usually almost all "fail." I then get a message stating that the changes are not accepted and the system is reverting to previous settings.

What is a good Backup program that will:
1) Creat a complete image file on a separate attached drive, (Say an eSATA 1TB attached external drive)
2) Perform the Backup automatically (Say every other day at 03:00 am
2) Operate TOTALLY unattended. i.e. perform the regular image copy every other day, month after month, with no human intervention.

II use Acronis for what you describe. I do once a month or so clean up the backup hard drive as backups accumulate.

20-Oct-2010

When re-installing a back-up under circumstances where malware dictates such an option, is a precurser, reformat necessary? Also is any boot-up programme required to facilitate the re-installation of a total back-up?

It depends entirely on the software used to perform the backup. In general if you're restoring an image, then a reformat isn't technically required (though it also doesn't hurt). Most backup programs that restore images will provide or allow you to create a bootable CD or USB that you would use to preform the restore.

20-Oct-2010