An earlier thread mentioned the Conficker worm, how it is affecting Vista,
and that the threat has changed. I have two symptoms of the worm - Windows
Update no longer works (when I load it goes to a blank windows explorer
screen, which I have force quit through Task Manager), and Windows Defender
no longer works. I have used multiple Conficker removal tools (BD, F Smart,
MS Removal) and none of these have found anything wrong. Any ideas if this is
Conficker adapting or if its something else?

Has KB958644 been installed ?
Is a firewall enabled ?

IF the answer to the 2 questions is yes, then the system most likely is
not infected with Conficker.
One other infection vector would have been to attach an infected USB
thumb or external drive.

Using Internet Explorer, can the system be scanned here ?
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

IF the system can be scanned and nothing was detected, for the blank
Windows Update applet and the non-functioning Defender issue, see this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2009]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============



DRK wrote:

> An earlier thread mentioned the Conficker worm, how it is affecting Vista,
> and that the threat has changed. I have two symptoms of the worm - Windows
> Update no longer works (when I load it goes to a blank windows explorer
> screen, which I have force quit through Task Manager), and Windows Defender
> no longer works. I have used multiple Conficker removal tools (BD, F Smart,
> MS Removal) and none of these have found anything wrong. Any ideas if this is
> Conficker adapting or if its something else?

Neither of those problems is a known effect of Conficker.

"DRK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:C95F5096-45ED-4AEB-8347-(E-Mail Removed)...
> An earlier thread mentioned the Conficker worm, how it is affecting Vista,
> and that the threat has changed. I have two symptoms of the worm - Windows
> Update no longer works (when I load it goes to a blank windows explorer
> screen, which I have force quit through Task Manager), and Windows
> Defender
> no longer works. I have used multiple Conficker removal tools (BD, F
> Smart,
> MS Removal) and none of these have found anything wrong. Any ideas if this
> is
> Conficker adapting or if its something else?

Where do you glean your information from?

conficker.c most certainly DOES prevent Window updates! It is one of the
major indicators.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"GTS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uY%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Neither of those problems is a known effect of Conficker.
>
> "DRK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:C95F5096-45ED-4AEB-8347-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> An earlier thread mentioned the Conficker worm, how it is affecting
>> Vista,
>> and that the threat has changed. I have two symptoms of the worm -
>> Windows
>> Update no longer works (when I load it goes to a blank windows explorer
>> screen, which I have force quit through Task Manager), and Windows
>> Defender
>> no longer works. I have used multiple Conficker removal tools (BD, F
>> Smart,
>> MS Removal) and none of these have found anything wrong. Any ideas if
>> this is
>> Conficker adapting or if its something else?
>

http://www.microsoft.com/security/po...in32/Conficker


"GTS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uY%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Neither of those problems is a known effect of Conficker.
>
> "DRK" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:C95F5096-45ED-4AEB-8347-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> An earlier thread mentioned the Conficker worm, how it is affecting
>> Vista,
>> and that the threat has changed. I have two symptoms of the worm -
>> Windows
>> Update no longer works (when I load it goes to a blank windows explorer
>> screen, which I have force quit through Task Manager), and Windows
>> Defender
>> no longer works. I have used multiple Conficker removal tools (BD, F
>> Smart,
>> MS Removal) and none of these have found anything wrong. Any ideas if
>> this is
>> Conficker adapting or if its something else?
>