After Downloading Updates to XP-SP3 BIG Problems Started....

[TuffKitten]

I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most know... I
just DON'T want most of the updates.

Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded updates to my
XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8 (which I annihilated as fast as I could...
that program STINKS!... I use Mozilla 99% of the time anyway so I don't even
know WHY I bothered downloading 8. Besides, there's nothing wrong with 7,
IMO).

As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3 my puter
immediately started acting demon possessed:

1) (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible ringing
sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is being held down
for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding", stops and exactly and
precisely one hour later starts again.

2) My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my folders at
least 50 or so times a day. Telling it "no" doesn't work. It just keeps
popping up like crazy. Can't turn it off.

3) I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the updates did
something to my registry. F-Secure kept telling me that Microsoft was
changing my registry and the pop up warnings from F-Secure just never seem to
stop. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled F-Secure and it still happens
so I know it's NOT an F-Secure issue.

4) Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in and
changing it back to F-Secure's firewall. I PAY to have F-Secure and resent
that Microsoft keeps changing it to their TOTALLY USELESS firewall. I'd like
to actually delete the darn thing with BCWipe but don't know where it is.

WHAT ON EARTH did the updates do???? Can someone help me. I cannot get ANY
WORK DONE with all that ringing and pop ups going on and unwanted
compression. It's ridiculous!

HELP!!!! PLEASE! Am I in the right forum??? If not, please advise!

Thank you SO much!

TuffKitten

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most
know... I just DON'T want most of the updates.

I don't think everyone would *know* that, as it seems a pretty personal
reason. On the thousands of machines I manage and/or help others with -
most are on fully automatic updates and few ever have issues with updates.

Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded
updates to my XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8 (which I
annihilated as fast as I could... that program STINKS!... I use
Mozilla 99% of the time anyway so I don't even know WHY I bothered
downloading 8. Besides, there's nothing wrong with 7, IMO).

Okay. Nice to know your opinion. ;-) I like Firefox, Opera, Internet
Explorer 7 and 8... Although each has their place and each has their needs
(demands on the system) and I would personally only recommend IE8 on
machines that have a bit of power behind them. Seems to work well on my
Vista x64 Laptop. ;-)

As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3
my puter immediately started acting demon possessed:

1) (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible
ringing sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is
being held down for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding",
stops and exactly and precisely one hour later starts again.

This sounds like a scheduled task, if you are accurately describing it.
Could also be some malware...

2) My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my
folders at least 50 or so times a day. Telling it "no" doesn't
work. It just keeps popping up like crazy. Can't turn it off.

Have you told it *yes* at least once? It needs to do this every so often or
the files will likely corrupt.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/filecorruption.mspx

3) I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the
updates did something to my registry. F-Secure kept telling me
that Microsoft was changing my registry and the pop up warnings
from F-Secure just never seem to stop. I've already uninstalled
and reinstalled F-Secure and it still happens so I know it's NOT an
F-Secure issue.

It may have caused the issue if you clicked "no" when you should have
clicked "yes". One of the reasons for the recommendations that you turn off
antivirus/etc software while installing updates.

System Restore is not the most reliable thing in the world in the first
place, certainly not a replacement for actual system backups.

The best information I have found on the Internet about System Restore in
Windows XP:
http://bertk.mvps.org/

Troubleshooting:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

4) Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in
and changing it back to F-Secure's firewall. I PAY to have
F-Secure and resent that Microsoft keeps changing it to their
TOTALLY USELESS firewall. I'd like to actually delete the darn
thing with BCWipe but don't know where it is.

I highly recommend SOHO users utilize just the integrated firewall, decent
(and frequently updated) antivirus, a NAT router if they have high-speed
internet (DSL, Cable, Satellite, etc.) and beyond that - common sense
covers the rest of necessary protection.

I would contact F-Secure to find out why their product cannot maintain its
hold on your system as you pay for. You can set the Windows Firewall
service to disabled.

WHAT ON EARTH did the updates do???? Can someone help me. I
cannot get ANY WORK DONE with all that ringing and pop ups going on
and unwanted compression. It's ridiculous!

Popups? You did not mention this before now.

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately)
with the following two applications (freeware versions are the ones
to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and
removing whatever they both find completely, you may
uninstall these products,if you wish.

HELP!!!! PLEASE! Am I in the right forum??? If not, please advise!

As good as any, I think.

Thank you SO much!

I'd recommend manually (after running the above two programs as suggested)
updating and cleaning up the Windows Update system and the Windows
Installer. It may help things a bit.

Reboot.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net stop wuauserv
--> Click OK.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\regsvr32 %SystemRoot%\system32\wups2.dll
--> Click OK.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemRoot%\system32\net start wuauserv
--> Click OK.

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
.... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Reboot.

Log on as an user with administrative rights and open Internet Explorer and
visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
(Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one. I would completely avoid the Optional
Hardware updates.

For further cleanup (in order)...

How to use Disk Cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848

Hopefully that will get you to a decent point.

 

[Tim Meddick]

TuffKitten,
Just to add one thing to the most complete answer by Shenan
Stanley; About turning off the Windows Firewall Service to do this you CAN
set the option 'off' in the 'Control Panel' > 'Windows Firewall' but
remember to also set the service to 'disabled' in 'Local Services' (found in
Start > Programs > Administrators Tools > Local Services)


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[TuffKitten]

hmmm.... some very interesting points you bring up.

On the ringing (scheduled task?) possibly being malware, F-Secure is
excellent at finding that stuff and annihilating it but I will turn F-Secure
off and try scanning with the two programs you recommended anyway. ALL
software companies CAN and DO have holes, of course.

On the Outlook Express, I tell it "yes" at least 50 times a day... it's the
only way to make it stop popping up like that every few minutes. I'd never
even seen that popup prior to installing these updates.

On the issue of not being able to restore, it NEVER even occurred to me to
turn off the security software prior to downloading the Windows updates
though NOW I remember other programs telling me to turn off at least the
firewall. So THAT's what that is. I bet you hit the nail right on the head.
Given that knowledge, I think I know what to do to tweak the system out of
that mess. I'm going to go to the website you recommend and read through it
first though.

F-Secure is fully integrated and provides every last pinch of protective
software for the whole computer. The fact that I didn't turn it off while
downloading updates is probably how Microsoft's firewall got in. I just
checked and F-Secure's is staying now. How, BTW, do you set the Windows
Firewall to be disabled?

The rest of what you wrote I can't yet comment on because I'm going to get
to things one at a time but wanted to write and thank you right away!

Your VERY LAST LINE in your response is something that has scared me a bit
HOWEVER, it could well be the cause of ALL these bugaboos. That is... I DID
download the Optional Hardware Updates... 2 of them. I don't remember what
they were called though else I'd go in and get them out.

I tried running a scan to see what MS updates I needed but only one was left
so I obviously downloaded every darn thing there. RATS!

Thanks a billion though. I'm going to get working on what you've advised.

BTW... That PopUp for compression occurred three times just while typing
this and three times I let it compress and it JUST popped up for a fouth time
a mere instant ago.

GGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

 

[TuffKitten]

Thank you Tim!

I shall DEFINITELY do that! That way it CAN'T come back in. Running two of
any same type products causes big fat problems... this I know. So I
appreciate the additional input!

Kitten

 

[TuffKitten]

UhOh... sounded easy enough but there isn't any "administrator tools" area
that is readily visible and a search didn't turn it up either. HUMBUG!

 

[Tim Meddick]

No problemo, glad to help, but please post back with an update and share if
all this has worked for you.


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

UhOh... sounded easy enough but there isn't any "administrator
tools" area that is readily visible and a search didn't turn it up
either. HUMBUG!

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
services.msc
--> Click OK.

 

[TuffKitten]

I will... I'm going through all the "gyrations" right now. Seems every
program finds and fixes something different! Oh how I wish I didn't download
all that stuff from Microsoft. Silly me! I should know better.

But I will definitely post back if the ringing every hour on the hour and
the pop ups and craziness finally halts!

Thanks again!

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most
know...
I just DON'T want most of the updates.

It is not a wise idea not to install all critical security updates.

AU can be configured such that it only notifies you of available updates
which you can then install manually via Windows Update website.

Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded updates to
my
XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8...<BLITHERSNIP>

As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3 my
puter
immediately started acting demon possessed:

What updates did you install?

1) (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible ringing
sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is being held
down
for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding", stops and exactly and
precisely one hour later starts again.

Some sort of timer/alarm?

2) My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my folders at
least 50 or so times a day. Telling it "no" doesn't work. It just keeps
popping up like crazy. Can't turn it off.

See this June 2008 discussion about this WinXP SP3-specific problem:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ss.general/browse_frm/thread/fcd35fbfa457fd6f

For reference, here's a current list of items known to cause this behavior
(which is NOT being seen by the vast majority of OE users) in "most often
seen" order

• Nero plug-in(s) including Nero Scout*;
• Windows (Desktop) Search is installed
[FIX: Uninstall the application or CONTROL PANEL | INDEXING OPTIONS |
MODIFY | Clear the check box for Outlook Express files (i.e., EML, NWS, &
DBX files)];
• IBM Rapid Access keyboard (driver) RAKDLL.DLL;
• Windows Live Mail is or had been installed;
• Various & sundry anti-virus applications (including Norton);
• Various & sundry anti-spyware applications;
• Various & sundry third-party firewalls;
• Any/all of the above running when WinXP SP3 was installed;
• Disk defragmentation, need for;
• Using Visual Basic DoCmd.SendObject command to create an email;
• Using any number third-party applications (e.g., accounting software;
FileMaker 6) to send emails by via Outlook Express;
• MailWasher; and/or
• Programatically opening EML files while OE is closed (e.g., creating a
New Message via Address Book).

===============
* IN RE Nero Scout, see Item 2.3 on page 8 here:
ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero8/scout/NeroScout_Enu.pdf

Also see http://www.nero.com/eng/support-faq.html?s=sub&t=Scout

3) I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the updates
did
something to my registry. F-Secure kept telling me that Microsoft was
changing my registry and the pop up warnings from F-Secure just never seem
to stop. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled F-Secure and it still
happens so I know it's NOT an F-Secure issue.

Sounds like you've got a hijackware problem.

4) Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in and
changing it back to F-Secure's firewall. I PAY to have F-Secure and
resent
that Microsoft keeps changing it to their TOTALLY USELESS firewall. I'd
like to actually delete the darn thing with BCWipe but don't know where it
is.

Another symptom of a hijackware problem.

<BLITHERSNIP>

 

[TuffKitten]

YIPES!

I've gone through ALL the recommendations here except for yours, which I
just read and the problems STILL exist.

I installed ALL of the updates (critical, hardware, and software except for
ONE).

Yes, that silly (IMO) Search Desktop thing got in and I want it gone. I
will follow your advisement and try to get rid of it.

No on the alarm/timer thing. Nothing in puter is set to do anything every
hour... at least nothing I set.

Your list of possible causes for the behaviour my puter is exhibiting makes
sense to me. If the basics that you provided don't work I'll just globally
turn off "hide files" and "read only" stuff and take it from there.

The puter is very functional just way too annoying to accomplish a good
day's work on it.

I'm going to print out your post and follow it to a tee. I'm not giving up
on fixing the puter. I KNOW it was something I did that afternoon with the
downloads. I just know it.

At least I think I know it... I doubt it's a coincidence though I DID just
get the puter back from H.P. for the third time a few weeks ago. They had
to, for the third time, replace the mother board.

Thanks for posting... I will report back!

Kitten

--

^*v*^<

I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most
know...
I just DON'T want most of the updates.

It is not a wise idea not to install all critical security updates.

AU can be configured such that it only notifies you of available updates
which you can then install manually via Windows Update website.

Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded updates to
my
XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8...<BLITHERSNIP>

As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3 my
puter
immediately started acting demon possessed:

What updates did you install?

1) (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible ringing
sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is being held
down
for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding", stops and exactly and
precisely one hour later starts again.

Some sort of timer/alarm?

2) My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my folders at
least 50 or so times a day. Telling it "no" doesn't work. It just keeps
popping up like crazy. Can't turn it off.

See this June 2008 discussion about this WinXP SP3-specific problem:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ss.general/browse_frm/thread/fcd35fbfa457fd6f

For reference, here's a current list of items known to cause this behavior
(which is NOT being seen by the vast majority of OE users) in "most often
seen" order

• Nero plug-in(s) including Nero Scout*;
• Windows (Desktop) Search is installed
[FIX: Uninstall the application or CONTROL PANEL | INDEXING OPTIONS |
MODIFY | Clear the check box for Outlook Express files (i.e., EML, NWS, &
DBX files)];
• IBM Rapid Access keyboard (driver) RAKDLL.DLL;
• Windows Live Mail is or had been installed;
• Various & sundry anti-virus applications (including Norton);
• Various & sundry anti-spyware applications;
• Various & sundry third-party firewalls;
• Any/all of the above running when WinXP SP3 was installed;
• Disk defragmentation, need for;
• Using Visual Basic DoCmd.SendObject command to create an email;
• Using any number third-party applications (e.g., accounting software;
FileMaker 6) to send emails by via Outlook Express;
• MailWasher; and/or
• Programatically opening EML files while OE is closed (e.g., creating a
New Message via Address Book).

===============
* IN RE Nero Scout, see Item 2.3 on page 8 here:
ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero8/scout/NeroScout_Enu.pdf

Also see http://www.nero.com/eng/support-faq.html?s=sub&t=Scout

3) I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the updates
did
something to my registry. F-Secure kept telling me that Microsoft was
changing my registry and the pop up warnings from F-Secure just never seem
to stop. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled F-Secure and it still
happens so I know it's NOT an F-Secure issue.

Sounds like you've got a hijackware problem.

4) Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in and
changing it back to F-Secure's firewall. I PAY to have F-Secure and
resent
that Microsoft keeps changing it to their TOTALLY USELESS firewall. I'd
like to actually delete the darn thing with BCWipe but don't know where it
is.

Another symptom of a hijackware problem.

<BLITHERSNIP>

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

NB: If you have no anti-virus application installed or the subscription has
expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows Update,
don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall Windows. A
Repair Install will NOT help!.

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan
(only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
logs in an appropriate forum, not here.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup, http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
or other appropriate forums.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

YIPES!

I've gone through ALL the recommendations here except for yours, which I
just read and the problems STILL exist.

I installed ALL of the updates (critical, hardware, and software except
for
ONE).

Yes, that silly (IMO) Search Desktop thing got in and I want it gone. I
will follow your advisement and try to get rid of it.

No on the alarm/timer thing. Nothing in puter is set to do anything every
hour... at least nothing I set.

Your list of possible causes for the behaviour my puter is exhibiting
makes
sense to me. If the basics that you provided don't work I'll just
globally
turn off "hide files" and "read only" stuff and take it from there.

The puter is very functional just way too annoying to accomplish a good
day's work on it.

I'm going to print out your post and follow it to a tee. I'm not giving
up
on fixing the puter. I KNOW it was something I did that afternoon with
the
downloads. I just know it.

At least I think I know it... I doubt it's a coincidence though I DID just
get the puter back from H.P. for the third time a few weeks ago. They had
to, for the third time, replace the mother board.

Thanks for posting... I will report back!

Kitten

^*v*^<

I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most
know...
I just DON'T want most of the updates.

It is not a wise idea not to install all critical security updates.

AU can be configured such that it only notifies you of available updates
which you can then install manually via Windows Update website.

Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded updates to
my
XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8...<BLITHERSNIP>

As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3 my
puter
immediately started acting demon possessed:

What updates did you install?

1) (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible ringing
sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is being held
down
for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding", stops and exactly and
precisely one hour later starts again.

Some sort of timer/alarm?

2) My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my folders at
least 50 or so times a day. Telling it "no" doesn't work. It just
keeps
popping up like crazy. Can't turn it off.

See this June 2008 discussion about this WinXP SP3-specific problem:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ss.general/browse_frm/thread/fcd35fbfa457fd6f

For reference, here's a current list of items known to cause this
behavior
(which is NOT being seen by the vast majority of OE users) in "most often
seen" order

• Nero plug-in(s) including Nero Scout*;
• Windows (Desktop) Search is installed
[FIX: Uninstall the application or CONTROL PANEL | INDEXING OPTIONS
|
MODIFY | Clear the check box for Outlook Express files (i.e., EML, NWS, &
DBX files)];
• IBM Rapid Access keyboard (driver) RAKDLL.DLL;
• Windows Live Mail is or had been installed;
• Various & sundry anti-virus applications (including Norton);
• Various & sundry anti-spyware applications;
• Various & sundry third-party firewalls;
• Any/all of the above running when WinXP SP3 was installed;
• Disk defragmentation, need for;
• Using Visual Basic DoCmd.SendObject command to create an email;
• Using any number third-party applications (e.g., accounting software;
FileMaker 6) to send emails by via Outlook Express;
• MailWasher; and/or
• Programatically opening EML files while OE is closed (e.g., creating
a
New Message via Address Book).

===============
* IN RE Nero Scout, see Item 2.3 on page 8 here:
ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero8/scout/NeroScout_Enu.pdf

Also see http://www.nero.com/eng/support-faq.html?s=sub&t=Scout

3) I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the updates
did
something to my registry. F-Secure kept telling me that Microsoft was
changing my registry and the pop up warnings from F-Secure just never
seem
to stop. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled F-Secure and it still
happens so I know it's NOT an F-Secure issue.

Sounds like you've got a hijackware problem.

4) Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in and
changing it back to F-Secure's firewall. I PAY to have F-Secure and
resent
that Microsoft keeps changing it to their TOTALLY USELESS firewall. I'd
like to actually delete the darn thing with BCWipe but don't know where
it
is.

Another symptom of a hijackware problem.

<BLITHERSNIP>

 

[TuffKitten]

WHOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!! P A BEAR! (just gotta scream & shout!)

It's fixed! I followed what you told me to do to a "T" and the crazy
ringing is GONE, the crazy popup notifications are GONE, the crazy
compression is GONE and my puter is all normal again!

Everyone here was so helpful but it was that one link to the discussion
board that did the final trick.

I'm so happy! It's fixed! It's fixed!

With Smiles Galore and much thanks to EVERYONE that helped me,

Kitten >^*v*^<
--

^*v*^<

YIPES!

I've gone through ALL the recommendations here except for yours, which I
just read and the problems STILL exist.

I installed ALL of the updates (critical, hardware, and software except for
ONE).

Yes, that silly (IMO) Search Desktop thing got in and I want it gone. I
will follow your advisement and try to get rid of it.

No on the alarm/timer thing. Nothing in puter is set to do anything every
hour... at least nothing I set.

Your list of possible causes for the behaviour my puter is exhibiting makes
sense to me. If the basics that you provided don't work I'll just globally
turn off "hide files" and "read only" stuff and take it from there.

The puter is very functional just way too annoying to accomplish a good
day's work on it.

I'm going to print out your post and follow it to a tee. I'm not giving up
on fixing the puter. I KNOW it was something I did that afternoon with the
downloads. I just know it.

At least I think I know it... I doubt it's a coincidence though I DID just
get the puter back from H.P. for the third time a few weeks ago. They had
to, for the third time, replace the mother board.

Thanks for posting... I will report back!

Kitten

--

^*v*^<

I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most
know...
I just DON'T want most of the updates.

It is not a wise idea not to install all critical security updates.

AU can be configured such that it only notifies you of available updates
which you can then install manually via Windows Update website.

Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded updates to
my
XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8...<BLITHERSNIP>

As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3 my
puter
immediately started acting demon possessed:

What updates did you install?

1) (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible ringing
sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is being held
down
for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding", stops and exactly and
precisely one hour later starts again.

Some sort of timer/alarm?

2) My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my folders at
least 50 or so times a day. Telling it "no" doesn't work. It just keeps
popping up like crazy. Can't turn it off.

See this June 2008 discussion about this WinXP SP3-specific problem:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ss.general/browse_frm/thread/fcd35fbfa457fd6f

For reference, here's a current list of items known to cause this behavior
(which is NOT being seen by the vast majority of OE users) in "most often
seen" order

• Nero plug-in(s) including Nero Scout*;
• Windows (Desktop) Search is installed
[FIX: Uninstall the application or CONTROL PANEL | INDEXING OPTIONS |
MODIFY | Clear the check box for Outlook Express files (i.e., EML, NWS, &
DBX files)];
• IBM Rapid Access keyboard (driver) RAKDLL.DLL;
• Windows Live Mail is or had been installed;
• Various & sundry anti-virus applications (including Norton);
• Various & sundry anti-spyware applications;
• Various & sundry third-party firewalls;
• Any/all of the above running when WinXP SP3 was installed;
• Disk defragmentation, need for;
• Using Visual Basic DoCmd.SendObject command to create an email;
• Using any number third-party applications (e.g., accounting software;
FileMaker 6) to send emails by via Outlook Express;
• MailWasher; and/or
• Programatically opening EML files while OE is closed (e.g., creating a
New Message via Address Book).

===============
* IN RE Nero Scout, see Item 2.3 on page 8 here:
ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero8/scout/NeroScout_Enu.pdf

Also see http://www.nero.com/eng/support-faq.html?s=sub&t=Scout

3) I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the updates
did
something to my registry. F-Secure kept telling me that Microsoft was
changing my registry and the pop up warnings from F-Secure just never seem
to stop. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled F-Secure and it still
happens so I know it's NOT an F-Secure issue.

Sounds like you've got a hijackware problem.

4) Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in and
changing it back to F-Secure's firewall. I PAY to have F-Secure and
resent
that Microsoft keeps changing it to their TOTALLY USELESS firewall. I'd
like to actually delete the darn thing with BCWipe but don't know where it
is.

Another symptom of a hijackware problem.

<BLITHERSNIP>

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[FIX: Uninstall [Windows Search] or CONTROL PANEL | INDEXING OPTIONS

| MODIFY | Clear the check box for Outlook Express files (i.e., EML, NWS,
&
DBX files)]

* Windows (Desktop) Search

Was the above the marvelous fix for all of the problems?

WHOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!! P A BEAR! (just gotta scream & shout!)

It's fixed! I followed what you told me to do to a "T" and the crazy
ringing is GONE, the crazy popup notifications are GONE, the crazy
compression is GONE and my puter is all normal again!

Everyone here was so helpful but it was that one link to the discussion
board that did the final trick.

I'm so happy! It's fixed! It's fixed!

With Smiles Galore and much thanks to EVERYONE that helped me,

Kitten >^*v*^<

^*v*^<

YIPES!

I've gone through ALL the recommendations here except for yours, which I
just read and the problems STILL exist.

I installed ALL of the updates (critical, hardware, and software except
for
ONE).

Yes, that silly (IMO) Search Desktop thing got in and I want it gone. I
will follow your advisement and try to get rid of it.

No on the alarm/timer thing. Nothing in puter is set to do anything
every
hour... at least nothing I set.

Your list of possible causes for the behaviour my puter is exhibiting
makes
sense to me. If the basics that you provided don't work I'll just
globally
turn off "hide files" and "read only" stuff and take it from there.

The puter is very functional just way too annoying to accomplish a good
day's work on it.

I'm going to print out your post and follow it to a tee. I'm not giving
up
on fixing the puter. I KNOW it was something I did that afternoon with
the
downloads. I just know it.

At least I think I know it... I doubt it's a coincidence though I DID
just
get the puter back from H.P. for the third time a few weeks ago. They
had
to, for the third time, replace the mother board.

Thanks for posting... I will report back!

Kitten

--

^*v*^<

TuffKitten wrote:
I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most
know...
I just DON'T want most of the updates.

It is not a wise idea not to install all critical security updates.

AU can be configured such that it only notifies you of available updates
which you can then install manually via Windows Update website.

Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded updates
to
my
XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8...<BLITHERSNIP>

As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3 my
puter
immediately started acting demon possessed:

What updates did you install?

1) (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible
ringing
sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is being held
down
for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding", stops and exactly and
precisely one hour later starts again.

Some sort of timer/alarm?

2) My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my folders at
least 50 or so times a day. Telling it "no" doesn't work. It just
keeps
popping up like crazy. Can't turn it off.

See this June 2008 discussion about this WinXP SP3-specific problem:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ss.general/browse_frm/thread/fcd35fbfa457fd6f

For reference, here's a current list of items known to cause this
behavior
(which is NOT being seen by the vast majority of OE users) in "most
often
seen" order

• Nero plug-in(s) including Nero Scout*;
• Windows (Desktop) Search is installed
[FIX: Uninstall the application or CONTROL PANEL | INDEXING OPTIONS
|
MODIFY | Clear the check box for Outlook Express files (i.e., EML, NWS,
&
DBX files)];
• IBM Rapid Access keyboard (driver) RAKDLL.DLL;
• Windows Live Mail is or had been installed;
• Various & sundry anti-virus applications (including Norton);
• Various & sundry anti-spyware applications;
• Various & sundry third-party firewalls;
• Any/all of the above running when WinXP SP3 was installed;
• Disk defragmentation, need for;
• Using Visual Basic DoCmd.SendObject command to create an email;
• Using any number third-party applications (e.g., accounting
software;
FileMaker 6) to send emails by via Outlook Express;
• MailWasher; and/or
• Programatically opening EML files while OE is closed (e.g., creating
a
New Message via Address Book).

===============
* IN RE Nero Scout, see Item 2.3 on page 8 here:
ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero8/scout/NeroScout_Enu.pdf

Also see http://www.nero.com/eng/support-faq.html?s=sub&t=Scout

3) I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the
updates
did
something to my registry. F-Secure kept telling me that Microsoft was
changing my registry and the pop up warnings from F-Secure just never
seem to stop. I've already uninstalled and reinstalled F-Secure and it
still happens so I know it's NOT an F-Secure issue.

Sounds like you've got a hijackware problem.

4) Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in and
changing it back to F-Secure's firewall. I PAY to have F-Secure and
resent
that Microsoft keeps changing it to their TOTALLY USELESS firewall.
I'd
like to actually delete the darn thing with BCWipe but don't know where
it is.

Another symptom of a hijackware problem.

<BLITHERSNIP>

 

[smlunatick]

WHOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!  P A BEAR!   (just gotta scream & shout!)

It's fixed!  I followed what you told me to do to a "T" and the crazy
ringing is GONE, the crazy popup notifications are GONE, the crazy
compression is GONE and my puter is all normal again!

Everyone here was so helpful but it was that one link to the discussion
board that did the final trick.

I'm so happy!  It's fixed!  It's fixed!

With Smiles Galore and much thanks to EVERYONE that helped me,

Kitten >^*v*^<
--

^*v*^<

I've gone through ALL the recommendations here except for yours, which I
just read and the problems STILL exist.

I installed ALL of the updates (critical, hardware, and software exceptfor
ONE).  

Yes, that silly (IMO) Search Desktop thing got in and I want it gone.  I
will follow your advisement and try to get rid of it.

No on the alarm/timer thing.  Nothing in puter is set to do anything every
hour... at least nothing I set.

Your list of possible causes for the behaviour my puter is exhibiting makes
sense to me.  If the basics that you provided don't work I'll just globally
turn off "hide files" and "read only" stuff and take it from there.

The puter is very functional just way too annoying to accomplish a good
day's work on it.

I'm going to print out your post and follow it to a tee.  I'm not giving up
on fixing the puter.  I KNOW it was something I did that afternoon with the
downloads.  I just know it.  

At least I think I know it... I doubt it's a coincidence though I DID just
get the puter back from H.P. for the third time a few weeks ago.  They had
to, for the third time, replace the mother board.

Thanks for posting... I will report back!

Kitten

--

TuffKitten wrote:
I don't have automatic updates turned on, for reasons I'm sure most
know...
I just DON'T want most of the updates.
It is not a wise idea not to install all critical security updates.
AU can be configured such that it only notifies you of available updates
which you can then install manually via Windows Update website.
Anyway, on Thursday or Friday (the 23rd or 24th) I downloaded updates to
my
XP SP3 as well as that idiotic IE8...<BLITHERSNIP>
As my problem goes, after downloading the updates for Windows XPSP3my
puter
immediately started acting demon possessed:
What updates did you install?
1)   (WORST PROBLEM!) Every hour on the hour it makes a horrible ringing
sound for about 10 or so seconds which sounds like a key is being held
down
for an extremely long time, then makes a "ding", stops and exactly and
precisely one hour later starts again.
Some sort of timer/alarm?
2)   My Outlook Express suddenly wants me to compress all my folders at
least 50 or so times a day.  Telling it "no" doesn't work.  It just keeps
popping up like crazy.  Can't turn it off.
See this June 2008 discussion about this WinXP SP3-specific problem:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.genera....
For reference, here's a current list of items known to cause this behavior
(which is NOT being seen by the vast majority of OE users) in "most often
seen" order
  • Nero plug-in(s) including Nero Scout*;
  • Windows (Desktop) Search is installed
     [FIX: Uninstall the application or CONTROL PANEL | INDEXING OPTIONS |
MODIFY | Clear the check box for Outlook Express files (i.e., EML, NWS, &
DBX files)];
  • IBM Rapid Access keyboard (driver) RAKDLL.DLL;
  • Windows Live Mail is or had been installed;
  • Various & sundry anti-virus applications (including Norton);
  • Various & sundry anti-spyware applications;
  • Various & sundry third-party firewalls;
  • Any/all of the above running when WinXP SP3 was installed;
  • Disk defragmentation, need for;
  • Using Visual Basic DoCmd.SendObject command to create an email;
  • Using any number third-party applications (e.g., accounting software;
FileMaker 6) to send emails by via Outlook Express;
  • MailWasher; and/or
  • Programatically opening EML files while OE is closed (e.g., creating a
New Message via Address Book).
===============
* IN RE Nero Scout, see Item 2.3 on page 8 here:
ftp://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/nero8/scout/NeroScout_Enu.pdf
Also seehttp://www.nero.com/eng/support-faq.html?s=sub&t=Scout
3)   I cannot "restore to a previous date" assumedly because the updates
did
something to my registry.  F-Secure kept telling me that Microsoft was
changing my registry and the pop up warnings from F-Secure just never seem
to stop.  I've already uninstalled and reinstalled F-Secure and it still
happens so I know it's NOT an F-Secure issue.
Sounds like you've got a hijackware problem.
4)   Microsoft keeps putting THEIR firewall in and I keep going in and
changing it back to F-Secure's firewall.  I PAY to have F-Secure and
resent
that Microsoft keeps changing it to their TOTALLY USELESS firewall. I'd
like to actually delete the darn thing with BCWipe but don't know where it
is.
Another symptom of a hijackware problem.
<BLITHERSNIP>

Now, take your two hands and push yourself away from your PC. Take
time off from sitting in front of your PC since your "racked" your
brain and scanned the Internet looking for possible solutions. Do not
get frustrated and spend some time away from it. I know from
experience!! I finally fixed my PC this past April 25 (I started March
29!)

I would now suggest you get yourself another drive and some type of
disk cloning software. Clone your stable hard drive, either to the
new drive or as an image file.