IT Guru Needed

[The Moo]

I have obviously taken my off the ball but have discovered tonight that the bulk of my Windows Automatic Updates on our desktop which runs Vista are showing as unsuccesful since the middle of last year. I use Iola software to keep the PC running OK and it says system is good.

PC can be a bit slow to start sometimes but otherwise OK. Did a check online which suggested downloading some other repair software which has found approx 4000 registry errors requiring repair plus other things to resolve. Confused as this conflicts with Iola.

Any suggestions of things I might try to get updates on track again?

 

[andicole0]

I would install a thing called Windows 7 (or 8 ).

Andi.

 

[mmm-five]

All desktops slow down gradually. How long have you had it with the same Vista build on it?

The only thing I use - other than Microsoft Security - is CCleaner.

I just run it once a month or so to clean out the registry (keeping a backup) and to dispose of temporary/cache files. I'm running Windows 7 though.

What I have done in the past on XP was an annual rebuild, copying all my data to an eternal drive, reinstalling Windows, my apps me finally copying the data back.

 

[Stuart Truman]

I don't know Lola as a tool, but my team used WSUS which worked fine and was free. They used to run a pilot deployment on a pool of guinea pig systems then deploy once sure it worked. I'm no longer in IT so will put my hands up to being out of touch now

 

[twist944]

I think the op is referring to one machine...rather than multiple. WSUS is used to manage updates on multiple machines.

Firstly, have you actually got any free space on your C drive?

If you have,It sounds to me like something has got corrupt somewhere, maybe the updates directory/library itself on your machine. How competent are you with computers?

 

[Stuart Truman]

Good point, well presented. I mis-read it as multiple machines. It's late, I'm tired

 

[The Moo]

It is a standalone Dell desktop. There is 199 GB of free space on the OS (C) Drive.

I was seriously thinking about loading Windows 7/8 in order to run latest version of Microsoft Office. The other day I went to run a program from the Microsoft site to check the machine's compatibility (though I am sure it is) and even that failed to download!

Got to thinking then that if I tried to download a new operating system that would result in a massive fail?

Obviously I do not have an in depth knowledge of computing, but I am happy to try most things if I have a decent set of instructions to follow!

 

[Stuart Truman]

Just to make sure you haven't got some piece of malware on it, download and run rkill from bleepingcomputer.com. Then without rebooting it rescan it for malware using your tool of choice

Assume its not exhibiting any signs of fault like beep codes on start, or fans running full tilt indicating overheating?

Also how much ram does it have, and does it have a suitable size swap file?

 

[twist944]

This may not be the error you are getting but if you try the first 3 steps on this that will eliminate it being the update store as the fault. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Windows-Update-error-80070002

 

[The Moo]

twist

Thanks for the advice. Tried the above. Problem still occurs. I note now that all earlier failed updates have disappeared from the log. Presumably I will not be able to get these if I can ever get the updates running or was that always the case?

I am currently going through a clean boot and troubleshooting sequence on Services and Start Up Items which I found on Microsoft Support.

 

[twist944]

When it checks for updates it does a scan of your machine to see what you already have installed. We have cleared the update store so it doesn't actually know what it has or doesn't have at the minute, and won't until we can work out what is wrong :|

Once you have finished what you are working through you could also try running an sfc scan which will check the os for missing/corrupt files. Run command prompt as administrator, type sfc /scan now, press enter.

Let me know if you get anywhere with either.

 

[twist944]

I have just stumbled across this as well, it gives quite a few troubleshooting steps to run through in better words than mine

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2509997

 

[nightyard]

i'd start with removing all the pointless start up programs you've probably got by typing in "msconfig" in run then deselecting everything you don't want to run.


but overall...GET RID OF THAT VISTA, worst thing to come from microsoft apart from the zune

win 7 or 8

 

[Stuart Truman]

but overall...GET RID OF THAT VISTA, worst thing to come from microsoft apart from the zune

win 7 or 8

Perhaps you're too young to remember the disaster that was "Windows Me". Vista became known as "Windows Me Too"

 

[mmm-five]

but overall...GET RID OF THAT VISTA, worst thing to come from microsoft apart from the zune

win 7 or 8

Perhaps you're too young to remember the disaster that was "Windows Me". Vista became known as "Windows Me Too"

Windows Millenium Edition.

Don't think Vista was much better than Windows 3.0 personally - only ever used GEM or Mac System 6/7 before that. That's why I always leap-frog every other Windows version, so missed Vista and went straight to Windows 7, and will skip Windows 8 and go straight to 9 when that arrives as it'll have fixed whatever was wrong in 8.

 

[The Moo]

When it checks for updates it does a scan of your machine to see what you already have installed. We have cleared the update store so it doesn't actually know what it has or doesn't have at the minute, and won't until we can work out what is wrong :|

Once you have finished what you are working through you could also try running an sfc scan which will check the os for missing/corrupt files. Run command prompt as administrator, type sfc /scan now, press enter.

Let me know if you get anywhere with either.

I tried all of the troubleshooting sequences that I found on Microsoft Community site, of which there is no shortage, to no avail. I ran the SFC scan you suggested and in the command prompt it immediately brought up a load of text which mean't absolutely nothing to me. (Not at the PC right now so can't tell you what it said)

Really losing the will to live with it now and speaking to friends at the weekend they suggest (as others on here have) that given that the opertating system has been running for approaching six years it would be a good idea to reinstall it and start afresh and that it is relatively easy to do.

I have got disk copies of the operating system, Microsoft office SB 2007, printer drivers and other drivers as supplied by Dell.

I was thinking of doing this with a view to upgrading (by downloading) to Windows 7 when I know Vista is stable and running properly.

Alternatively I suppose it would be just as easy to get a copy of Windows 7 and start afresh.

Does this sound like a plan....What could possibly go wrong?

All new territory for me so any pointers gratefully accepted.

 

[twist944]

Just ensure you have a backup of all your personal files.... Fresh install of either is pretty simple.

If you are unsure though - I would make use of something like this http://www.geeksquad.co.uk/services/tech-support/tech-support-solo as you can get them to do it all for you and then cancel.

 

[andicole0]

It might be difficult to take a backup of data from the PC if it won't boot first but Windows 7 should do an upgrade from Vista and retain everything you have. It won't do that from previous versions of Windows. You may however want to consider installing Windows 7 on a new disk having removed the old one, then when the PC is up and running put the old disk back in as a second drive then using explorer copy any personal data back to the new drive.

Andi.

 

[twist944]

It does boot....

I'm sure this is being complicated more than it needs to be.

 

[andicole0]

It does boot....

I'm sure this is being complicated more than it needs to be.

In which case run Windows Easy Transfer from the Start menu, accessories, system tools and save the result, install Windows, if the upgrade works and has saved everything for you you should be fine. If it has a problem and only installs Win 7 then run Easy transfer to get your data back. Do not format the disk if you have left the Easy Transfer data file on it. With a bit of luck Vista will he dumped in a Windows.old folder and Win 7 will be nice and fresh for you.

Andi.