reboot
Fri Jul 04 03:44:01 PDT 2008
I did try disabling Zone Alarm Pro with no apparent effect, but if I
encounter a similar problem that's an option I can re-explore.
I've been using AVG since the day I got this PC, with that being a
relatively short time ago (March) I'm guessing AVG was around ver.7.5 then,
changing to ver.8 later on. I must admit to having had a few problems with
ver.7.5 initially, mostly with updating both the engine and the virus files
and did have to do a reinstall twice. However the next version seemed a lot
more stable. I've never had any other kind of anti-v on this PC other than
AVG, and no Norton or McAfee products of any kind.
(Cross-posted at AumHa forums)
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> Thanks for your feedback. If AVG Free was working properly (or properly
> installed), that should not have happened.
>
> Were you running AVG 7.5 or AVG 8.x? (AVG 8.1.135 was released recently.)
>
> Was AVG the only anti-virus application installed?
>
> Was a Norton or McAfee application ever installed on the machine?
>
> What anti-virus application is installed now?
> --
> ~PA Bear
>
> reboot wrote:
> > Thanks, PA Bear. I've posted a HJT log over at AumHa forums, but in the
> > meantime ...
> >
> > UPDATE:
> >
> > I've finally gotten a result with Windows Update. I had tried to rename
> > the
> > Software Distribution folder - no success. Windows Update froze up when I
> > tried to look at installed updates. After rebooting and switching Updates
> > off in Services, then rebooting and checking again, switching it off again
> > and rebooting, it finally stopped. *Then* I was able to amend the
> > Software
> > Distribution folder, and it was successful. However, Windows
> > still.wouldn't.update! I had disabled, (or so I thought) AVG (free)
> > Anti-virus, but I decided to uninstall it completely. Guess what?
> > Windows
> > started to update itself after rebooting.
> >
> > So obviously using 'exit' in AVG anti-v, and removing it from the systems
> > tray, isn't enough. I couldn't find any way in the new version of
> > suspending services, so I had no other choice but to uninstall it. I feel
> > pretty foolish at the minute and could kick myself for not uninstalling
> > sooner. I'm wondering now about using AVG in the future. I may switch to
> > Kaspersky. However, recommendations from your good selves on a good,
> > reliable anti-v (free or paid) would be very welcome.
> >
> > Many thanks for all your help :)
> >
> > (Cross-posted at AumHa forums)
> >
> >
> > "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >>> Well, I've had some help from a friend who builds PC's and he's baffled.
> >>
> >> Get another opinion:
> >>
> >>> Repost:
> >>>> When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
> >>>> (
http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to
> >>>> use.
> >>>> It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware
> >>>> with
> >>>> assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
> >>>>
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
> >>>>
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
> >>>>
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for
> >>>> review
> >>>> by an expert in such matters, not here.**
> >>
> >> reboot wrote:
> >>> Well, I've had some help from a friend who builds PC's and he's baffled.
> >>> There are no trojans/virus/malware messing with my system and he's ran a
> >>> system scan and everything comes back ok. He's heard of this problem
> >>> with
> >>> Vista, but none of those apply to me because I do not get an error
> >>> message
> >>> of any kind, and my windows update window isn't greyed out/blank, it
> >>> looks
> >>> as it always did - however, it remains on 'searching for updates' even
> >>> if
> >>> left for hours. Windows standalone installer does exactly the same, so
> >>> I
> >>> can't manually download updates.
> >>>
> >>> In conclusion, this girl is still bamboozled. Thanks again for your
> >>> help,
> >>> PA Bear. If I ever find a fix I'll post and let y'all know, and I'll
> >>> keep
> >>> watching this forum.
> >>>
> >>> Regards :)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> YW.
> >>>>
> >>>> All of that testing does NOT mean that the machine's 100% clean. None
> >>>> of
> >>>> those applications can detect and remove the most recent Vundo-, ZLOB-,
> >>>> and
> >>>> SDBot-variants...or the rootkit protecting them all. (Symantec's
> >>>> FixVundo's been worthless for almost 2 years now.)
> >>>>
> >>>> Repost:
> >>>>> When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
> >>>>> (
http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to
> >>>>> use.
> >>>>> It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware
> >>>>> with
> >>>>> assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
> >>>>>
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
> >>>>>
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
> >>>>>
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for
> >>>>> review
> >>>>> by an expert in such matters, not here.**
> >>>>
> >>>> NB: It might not be a hijackware problem but given recent & similar
> >>>> posts
> >>>> here, you'd best rule it out.
> >>>> --
> >>>> ~PA Bear
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> reboot wrote:
> >>>>> Firstly, many thanks for your prompt reply, PA Bear :)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I've scanned my PC with avg (anti-v and malware), stinger, Panda
> >>>>> Online,
> >>>>> WindowsLive Onecare, Defender and malicious tool remover and Spyhunter
> >>>>> and
> >>>>> have found absolutely nothing. I've uninstalled/reinstalled Service
> >>>>> Pack
> >>>>> 1
> >>>>> and the problem still exists. I'm still not getting any kind of error
> >>>>> message, just the installer sitting constantly at searching for
> >>>>> updates,
> >>>>> the
> >>>>> same thing happens if I manually download updates, they sit at
> >>>>> 'searching'
> >>>>> for hours. The last two things I downloaded from update around the
> >>>>> middle
> >>>>> of April were Defender updates and an update for windows junkmail
> >>>>> filter.
> >>>>> I'm totally bamboozled. Could I be infected and none of the above
> >>>>> trojan/anti-v software is picking it up?? Incidentally, I tried to
> >>>>> run
> >>>>> Symantec's FixVundo, but it just closes itself down.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
> >>>>>> Judging from similar posts here in the past month or so, the behavior
> >>>>>> is
> >>>>>> may be due to a Vundo-ZLOB-SDBot infection, all of which is protected
> >>>>>> by
> >>>>>> a
> >>>>>> rootkit.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
> >>>>>>
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Run a thorough check for hijackware, including posting your
> >>>>>> hijackthis
> >>>>>> log
> >>>>>> to an appropriate forum.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Checking for/Help with Hijackware
> >>>>>>
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
> >>>>>>
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
> >>>>>>
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
> >>>>>>
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
> >>>>>>
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
> >>>>>>
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
> >>>>>>
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
> >>>>>>
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
> >>>>>>
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
> >>>>>>
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
> >>>>>> (
http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to
> >>>>>> use.
> >>>>>> It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware
> >>>>>> with
> >>>>>> assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
> >>>>>>
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
> >>>>>>
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
> >>>>>>
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for
> >>>>>> review
> >>>>>> by an expert in such matters, not here.**
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in
> >>>>>> admitting
> >>>>>> this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable
> >>>>>> and
> >>>>>> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> ==========================================
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
> >>>>>> https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Support for Windows Update:
> >>>>>>
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> For home users, no-charge support is available by calling
> >>>>>> 1-866-PCSAFETY
> >>>>>> in
> >>>>>> the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
> >>>>>> subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated
> >>>>>> with
> >>>>>> security updates.
> >>>>>> --
> >>>>>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> >>>>>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> >>>>>> AumHa VSOP & Admin
http://aumha.net
> >>>>>> DTS-L
http://dts-l.net/
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> reboot wrote:
> >>>>>>> Hi all. I've searched for an answer to my question but haven't
> >>>>>>> found
> >>>>>>> one
> >>>>>>> yet, so please forgive me if the answer is on the forum and I've
> >>>>>>> missed
> >>>>>>> it.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Anyhoo, I'm using Vista Home Premium and have not been able to
> >>>>>>> update
> >>>>>>> since
> >>>>>>> April. I try to search for updates and the update box just sits at
> >>>>>>> 'searching'. I've tried manually installing updates - same thing,
> >>>>>>> the
> >>>>>>> windows installer doesn't do anything. I'm using Zone Alarm Pro as
> >>>>>>> my
> >>>>>>> firewall, and no amount of uninstalling/reinstalling of either it or
> >>>>>>> my
> >>>>>>> antivirus makes a difference. Does anyone know of a solution? I've
> >>>>>>> searched Google and Microsoft and cannot find a solution.
>
>