My Vista Home Basic has stopped uploading Important Updates (they always
Fail) but still downloads Office Updates automatically, I am now unable to
download from the Internet (the file downloads but isn't stored anywhere),
and my security centre won't allow me to turn my Firewall on.

I've tried chkdsk but it comes up with nothing.

Does anyone have any suggestions for any of these problems?

xistens_pet wrote:

> My Vista Home Basic has stopped uploading Important Updates (they always
> Fail) but still downloads Office Updates automatically, I am now unable to
> download from the Internet (the file downloads but isn't stored anywhere),
> and my security centre won't allow me to turn my Firewall on.
>
> I've tried chkdsk but it comes up with nothing.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions for any of these problems?

It sounds very much like your computer is infected, possibly with the very
popular Conficker worm.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...-24-hours.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...earch&aq=f&oq=

Of course, it could certainly be some other malware too.

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode. Please see the special Notes regarding using
Multi_AV in Vista.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

You can also check to see if there are targeted removal steps for your
malware here:
Bleeping Computer removal how-to's -
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html
Or here: Malwarebytes malware removal guides - http://tinyurl.com/5xrpft

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums
listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT
POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

If you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair
shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be
aware that not all local shops are skilled at removing malware and even if
they are, your computer may be so infested that Windows will need to be
clean-installed. If possible, have all your data backed up before you take
the machine into a shop.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ