annoying message after startup

Only after a restart I get a message that reads: "Could not run
C:\windows\system32\winupdate.exe. specified in the registry. Make sure the
file exists on your computer or remove the reference to it in the registry"
I can't find it on the computer, or in the registry.
I am using Windows Vista home basic.
After I click OK, or close the window, all is well...until I do a restart.

Need to know how to get rid of it, or what it means

Thank you

[we saw your first post]

michaelj wrote:
> Only after a restart I get a message that reads: "Could not run
> C:\windows\system32\winupdate.exe. specified in the registry. Make sure
> the
> file exists on your computer or remove the reference to it in the
> registry"
> I can't find it on the computer, or in the registry.
> I am using Windows Vista home basic.
> After I click OK, or close the window, all is well...until I do a restart.
>
> Need to know how to get rid of it, or what it means
>
> Thank you

This isn't really windowsupdate. It's most likely some remnant of a virus
that may have been cleaned (the file that is).
I would run regedit and search for winupdate.exe and remove any reference
to it, then run a complete virus scan.

Eddie Bowers
Security Support
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

SDBot-variant infection. See OP's first thread.

Eddie Bowers [MSFT] wrote:
> This isn't really windowsupdate. It's most likely some remnant of a virus
> that may have been cleaned (the file that is).
> I would run regedit and search for winupdate.exe and remove any reference
> to it, then run a complete virus scan.
>
> Eddie Bowers
> Security Support
> Microsoft Corporation
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.