Windows Update SD2.0 has created numerous problems

Hi Pam,

It's still not putting up the box, though, that asks me what I want it do. Instead it's automatically opening the folder to view the contents. How can I fix this?

The above is in Help and Support on the Start menu: enter "autoplay" in the search box.

Regards - Charles

 

I followed your instructions, and it simply won't put the box up to prompt me after the disc spins up. Every time, no matter what kind of disc I put in the drive, it opens the CD and shows the files. I tried a plug and play game CD, and all it did was open the folder and show the files again. That game should have automatically started playing. Any other suggestions?

 

Hi Pam,

I'm out of gas for tonight, if you want to continue on the sound problem, follow the steps below, I'll be back tomorow.

Go here: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm

Click on S

Scroll down to Sounds

System Sounds are missing

Restore System Defualt Sounds (line 6)

Click on the url

On the new page, click on line 6

Save the file to your hard drive and double click to run.

There are also many troubleshooting steps to try.

Regards - Charles

 

You and me both. I'm pooped. Thanks for all the help and patience. ....Pam

 

New Problems have appeared!

I tinkered around a bit more and managed to get the Microsoft autoplay repair tool to finally work. The drives seem to be working properly now. But, as usual, I have another problem that's cropped up. I uninstalled Roxio Easy Media Creator 7, but now Windows Installer keeps trying to reinstall it every time I start the computer. I've tried to uninstall as well as reinstall from the CD, but every time the installation (or uninstall) gets interrupted by the message that Windows is unable to find the certificate file. I click OK, then another box says that there was a problem with authenticating my version and that I should be sure that that my system is set to the current date. The Roxio program came bundled with my DVD drive, so Roxio won't offer any support. Any suggestions? Also - the "no sound device" problem still exists.
Sorry I was not available yesterday. Thanks ....Pam

 

Hi Pam,

For your problem with Roxio/Windows Installer:

Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks, Charles. I'll try that this afternoon and will post back soon. I have to go out of town for Easter and will be back Monday afternoon, but I wish I could get this thing right before I leave. It's become an obsession, and I'm ready to throw it out of the window. I wish I could say that the other problems are solved, but shortly after I made that last post, I decided to try the CD and DVD drives. They're right back like they were! Not working! AAAAAHHHHH! I'm so disgusted!

 

Hi Pam,

I went back to one of your earlier posts and think what you ought to do at this point is to go into Add/Remove and remove (uninstall) the MS updates represented by Windows Update SD2 which is the starting point of your problems - can't hurt.

I don't know what they are by the numbers, so go by the date. Only the "criticals" will have Add/Remove entries.

If you don't see them in Add/Remove, tick "show updates" at the top of the Add/Remove page.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Charles,
I just now got through running that installer cleanup utility. It appears to have done the trick, and you don't know how much I appreciate your sending me that link!! I've been busy preparing for company to come in this evening, so I haven't yet begun to try to repair the CD/DVD drives again and might not have the time until the first of the week. If I do have time, though, I'll post back with what's going on. Thanks again, Pam

 

All Seems Well

Hi Charles,
Sorry I've been unable to post back until now, but I think I've finally got this thing running right with your generous help and expertise. I removed the installed updates and didn't really notice any changes, but I did notice that when I ran the autofix tool for the CD/DVD drives that it said that a service of some sort was not running. It wouldn't continue from that point. I went to the control panel and checked the running services and started that particular one. The autofix then worked to the point that the computer would recognize that a CD was in the drive, but the pop-up asking me what I wanted Windows to do still wasn't there. I started looking at other services and noticed that a lot of them weren't started, so I powered up the laptop and did a comparison. Sure enough, those services were running on the laptop, so I started those same services on this computer and set them to retry if they didn't start automatically on the first try. I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing, but something worked, and that pop-up menu that is supposed to appear when I insert a CD actually began working.
I now have only one more concern, and it's not a big one. I set automatic updates to notify me but not to download or install the updates. I picked out of couple of them to download, but when I clicked "download ", as far as I can tell, it did nothing. I restarted the computer and checked the installed updates, and they weren't there. Now when I click on the yellow shield on the task bar, it brings up the rest of the updates that I did not tell it to download. Where did the others go, and how do I get them to install? I hesitate to let it do the updates automatically for fear that my problems will return. Thanks again for your help and patience. ....Pam

 

Hi Pam,

Give it some time, remember that there are two "acts" here - one to download and one to install. In C:\Windows\ if you scroll down to notepad files starting with KB + number - those are the updates that are installed. I don't remember where the "holding tank" for the updates are at the moment, but I'll find out. I don't do updates using WU at all, I down load the stand alone setup files from the MS's Update Catalog site accessable from the left panel under Administrator options > under Update multiple operating systems > Windows update Catalog.

Is the Security Center Shield running in the tray? If so, it should tell you when its ready to update.

Stay away from KB908531 patch for windows explorer, MS has acknowledged that its causing problems, especially for those that are runnning HP software, cameras, and scanners. I think they are on the verge of announcing that they will re issue a "fixed" patch.

Regards - Charles

 

Problem with msoft recent security update kb908531

You are not alone. Just an fyi for others who may have been as frustrated as I. After install of latest "patch" spypot, adaware, backup jobs etc. would not run. I could bring up the start screens but when I tried to do a scan they would just hang. Same thing with my backup job.

Finally, from helpful web sites like this one, the light bulb went on. I Uninstalled the patch (despite all the dire warnings) using standard install and remove programs process. Everything is working again. I think I'll wait until Msoft gets their act together and puts out a more solid version of this set of 4 patches. Since many folks may not feel comfortable with messing in the registry as suggested to solve some of the issues. Uninstalling the patch will do fine for now.
Good luck

 

Hello nwterry and welcome

The MS advisory on this is that the patch KB908531 is a problem with HP software and scanners/cameras. Are you running HP software?

Regards - Charles

 

As always, many thanks to Charles for his assistance and solid advice. Now -would nwterry please list those four patches by number from Microsoft if possible? I want to avoid them like the plague. I've had almost two weeks of computer misery, and I attribute it all to Windows Updates.
Regards to all. .....Pam

 

Hi Pam,

They are listed here:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=53440 in the General Security section of Windows BBS.

Regards - Charles

 

Charles, thanks for passing on the info re exact patch numbers to Pam. Sorry I did not get a chance to reply sooner. To answer your question, I do have a lot of HP gear and do understand the "workaround ".

Looking at this problem from a more customer focused frame of reference I would guess that at least 80% of the users are probably leery about messing with the registry to implement the workaround. They should not have to do that just because they have HP products using the upload to web software.

That is why I suggested uninstalling the patches for now. Assuming they are running all other current patches and the usual safeguards including firewall and virus protection software etc. Then, at such time as more suitable patches are released they can reinstall.

Regards, Terry