Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately)
> with the following two applications (freeware versions are the ones
> to use for this):
>
> SuperAntiSpyware
> http://www.superantispyware.com/
>
> MalwareBytes
> http://www.malwarebytes.com/
>
> After performing a full scan with one and then the other and
> removing whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall
> these products,
> if you wish.
>
> Download and run the MSRT manually:
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx
>
> Reboot.
>
> Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s".
> May be three or four matches.
>
> Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
> ( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/d...displaylang=en
>
> and...
>
> Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here
> (x86): http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
> ... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to
> the root of the C:\ drive, do the following:
>
> Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.
>
> Start button --> RUN and type in:
> %SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
> --> Click OK.
>
> (If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and
> click on NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...
>
> Reboot.
>
> Then follow the instructions here:
>
> How do I reset Windows Update components?
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
>
> and..
>
> Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet
> Explorer and visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select
> to do a CUSTOM scan... (Every time you are about to click on
> something while at these web pages - first press and hold down the
> CTRL key while you click on it. You can release the CTRL key after
> clicking each time.)
>
> Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority
> updates (deselect any others) and install it.
>
> Reboot again.
>
> If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than
> 3-5 at a time.
>
> The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I
> recommend against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office
> Live" ones for
> now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also
> - I do not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at
> this time.
>
> Come back - let us know if that worked.
> ... Really - come back and let everyone know if that worked.

tango13 wrote:
> Hi Stanley,
> to be 100% clear.
> after calling services.msc i tried to start these 2 services
> (automatic update service or the intelligent
> background transmission service). allways message comes back
> "file not found -error 2-"
>
> also a manula net start wuauserv gives failure.
>
> registering the services or looking for missing DLL files (which
> were listed in the download page of the MS update service software)
> does not help.
> if this additional info does change your instructions , please
> respond otherwise i will execute them.....
>
> thanks thomas

( I wonder if I should swap my last name/first name instead of putting it
like everyone else - or if the last name referral thing is just more common
than I know about. ;-) )

Nothing changes. You need to cleanup your system. It sounds to me like you
were infected and infested. You may think you are clean - and the actual
infection/infestation *may* be gone (and thus the first three scans may find
nothing, but they wouldn't hurt) and I still suggest (strognly) you search
your registry for %fystem (specifically %fystemRoot% - changing it to
%SystemRoot%.) It's not the first time I have seen this on a system -
firsthand with customers or through the newsgroups. Maybe I am wrong - so
be it - but doing the search certainly does you no harm. *grin*

Doing the extra scans will not harm your computer. In fact - nothing I
suggested will harm your computer. You'll notice it is a pretty good ways
in before I suggest any DLL registration. This cleanup is standard for me
whether or not they report issues with the updating system in Windows XP -
usually before i do any other updates.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html