Hi,

My wife has a Gateway MT 6839B computer.
Windows Vista Home Premium,
2Gb memory
Intel Core 2 T5300@1.73GHz
32-bit.

The computer has worked perfectly for 18 months, but now has decided to spend its life trying to download updates, and most of them failing.

The computer spends most of its life with a screen that says something like 'Loading and configuring update 3 of 3 0%, do not switch your computer off'

Eventually the computer restarts and then provides the message that the updates failed and inviting us to download and install updates.

If my wife disregards this advice and tries to do some work them after about 30 mins the machine shuts down and starts downloading updates all over again.

Anyone got any ideas as this is really irritating behaviour, that makes the computer unusable.

Kind regards

Martin

Unfortunately, you did not give us any clues as to what program, file, or driver is trying to get updated so we have little to go on. I recommend for a start you purge the hard drives of clutter using Windows (XP or Vista) Disk Cleanup, ATF Cleaner or CCleaner. If using CCleaner, uncheck option to install Yahoo toolbar during installation. Before first use, go to Options > Settings > Advanced and ensure Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours is unchecked.

Note: Know your site credentials (user name and password) for sites you frequent before cleaning; you may have to login again at next visit.

Download and install Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM) then scan as follows:

Check for updates before scanning,
Select Perform quick scan > Scan,
When complete, click OK, then Show Results,
Ensure all is selected, and click Remove Selected,
When complete, save the log in Notepad to a convenient place for future reference.

Do the same for all computers on your network (everything on your side of the Internet "gateway" device - typically a Cable or DSL modem).

If that does not clear it, then I recommend you post a HijackThis log, following these HijackThis Procedures.

Keep us posted.

Thanks for your help Digerati,

Apologises for not getting back sooner.

The problem we have is that now the computer will not start at all so I cannot do as you say.

The computer kept on saying it was downloading updates and then trying to install them and rebooting.

My wife crashed the machine (held down the start button) because it was trying for about the fifth time to so called update MS Windows.

Unfortunately it now just gets as far as the screen that says Microsoft corporation and a green loading bar just above the words and that is as far as we can go.

I have tried starting in safe mode but it still hangs at this point.

What can I try next please?

Kind regards

martin

My wife crashed the machine (held down the start button) because it was trying for about the fifth time to so called update MS Windows.

"Crashed" sounds a bit harsh. She forced the system to shutdown - which was probably the only option left.

The problem we have is that now the computer will not start at all so I cannot do as you say.

So what exactly does it do now? And do you have the original installation disks?

Hi,

I took rather drastic action. I removed the HD and put in an enclosure to back up the latest files etc to my desk top machine.

I then tried to restore the machine using the original installation discs but it would not go past the first bit iechecking files - I left it for 2.5 hours so called restoring/checking files so I stopped the machine and tried a full reload of the original installation discs - still no change.

In desparation I then put the HD back into the enclosure and reformatted it on my desktop machine.

Once the HD was reformatted I was able to load Vista OK. Still some strange anomalies - the SD reader wont work and the AV software is working OK but Windows reports that it is nor turned on.

It has now uploaded some 70 updates and is working OK.

It is now 12:30 here in the UK so I am going to take the dog for a walk and then go to bed and think what to do next, tomorrow.

Generally the reload seems 95% successful!

After a reboot the AV software is working OK.

Kind regards

Maritn

I took rather drastic action. I removed the HD and put in an enclosure to back up the latest files etc to my desk top machine.

Smart move!

It sound like you are moving along. A program that might do well for you when it appears Windows Update is done is Secunia PSI. I like it because it will verify you have all the latest updates, and in most cases, will lead you to the update, if it finds one lacking (without trying to make you buy something). I don't keep it running full time as they want, but do run it manually every couple weeks.

Keep us posted.

Many thanks for that Digerati,

I think one of the greatest strengths of DAL is that when something goes wrong it is great to have some moral support.

In some ways this is better support than the actual advice (which is brilliant) as often I find it is perserverance that finally wins through.

Many thanks again, and a great Year 2009.

Martin Deady

PS Will donate!

Many thanks again, and a great Year 2009.

You are welcome, and same to you!