DO NOT DO THE NEW WINDOWS XP UPDATES!!!

[MowGreen]

Will you explain to her that rootkits can not be detected by routine
antivirus scans, Russ ?

The affected HD will not allow the CD player to load Windows.
A new HD does because it does NOT have the rootkit present whose
"functionality" was crippled by KB977165, thus making booting from CD
*inoperative*.

That's a pretty clear indication that a rootkit is present on the dead
HD and explains why the CD player would not load Windows after the
update was applied.

I'm done trying to convince her.

https://consumersecuritysupport.mic...tymalware&ct=phonets&supportLinkphonets=Phone


MowGreen
================
* -343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

banthecheck.com
"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

i do not have malware on my computer. Im a programs manager for a company, i
deal with the program aspect, and ive never had any problems with my
computer, i take really good care of it, i run a virus scan a couple times a
day, and i assure you, that i did not have any viruses at least until i did
the windows update, because before i did the update i scanned and everything
was good. and now since the update i can not open windows, im stuck at the
safe mode screen, which never ends and my pc keeps restarting, and i cant
boot from disk, when i do i get the bsod. with a long error message.

It is *never* possible to be sure you are not infected with malware,
for the following reasons:

1. Some anti-virus programs are much better than others.

2. No anti-virus program is perfect.

3. There are new viruses all the time, and you are always vulnerable
to viruses that hit the field *after* you last did an update to your
anti-virus program. The anti-virus programs are always a step behind
the latest new viruses.

4. Some types of viruses (most rootkits) aren't caught by any of the
standard anti-virus programs.

Moreover, you say you run an anti-virus program, but you say nothing
about any programs that detect other types of malware, such as
spyware.

 

[MowGreen]

Correction on the previously posted variant of Alureon -

Win32/Alureon.A
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Threat/Encyclopedia/Entry.aspx?Name=Virus:Win32/Alureon.A

" When the infecting trojan is run, it infects a system driver, usually
'atapi.sys'. It has also been observed to infect 'iastor.sys' but other
system drivers may also be targeted.

Hides files and disk sectors

The system driver detected as Virus:Win32/Alureon.A is infected by the
addition of code, whose function is to load a part of the Alureon
rootkit. The Alureon rootkit is a component that gives Alureon the
ability to avoid detection; it is created by the same Alureon trojan
that infects the system driver.

The rootkit loaded by Virus:Win32/Alureon.A has the ability to avoid
behavior blockers, which allows it to perform its malicious routines
uninterrupted. It can also hide files and disk sectors. "


MowGreen
================
* -343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

banthecheck.com
"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked

 

[Daave]

If that is the case, you need to use a different keyboard.

 

[Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]]

MowGreen,

Well, when someone claims an update Killed the HD
it's hard to convince of anything....

And it's not a conspiracy from Microsoft.

And this is not global, other wise I'd have a TON of people calling me.
(Everyone single of my clients.)
And I wouldn't have any sleep for the last 3 days...
(And I'd be calling MS also.)

As of now I'm still sleeping at nights....
(So it doesn't affect all PC's)

That being said.....
We still need to go back to the fix.
(Of trying to boot off a CD)
Which doesn't seem to be possible?
????
Which is why I suggest a Local IT Professional to help get the boot to CD...
Then we can move on...
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
MCP, MCPS, MCNPS, SBSC
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

 

[shawn]

Even your name is in all caps which makes you even more that annoying.

 

[shawn]

I wish there was a way it could fry my hard drive.. these PC's are so old at
work and need replacing.

an update won't FRY your hard drive
If you put that Hard drive on another PC
you will be able to see the data on there
If you can not READ data off of that hard drive
This was not an Update that caused it
It was a hard drive failure
Sorry
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
MCP, MCPS, MCNPS, SBSC
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

okay.. i found out.. the UPDATE ... fried my hard drive.. thats why i
cant
boot from disk.. that sucks.. and microsoft wont pay for it... i tested a
different harddrive.. and it works.. because it doesnt have that update
on
it.and that update isnt on it.. so it works.. im pissed..

 

[Russ SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]]

That reminds me

When I was a PC manager at Intel
And people were running out of HD space
(Back in the 500MB Hard Drive Days)

Since Intel would not pay for "UPGRADES"

I told the person to issue a Support call and say
"My Hard Drive is Making Noises and I'm worried about it dying"

Then I could have the Tech put in a bigger hard drive

Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
MCP, MCPS, MCNPS, SBSC
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

I wish there was a way it could fry my hard drive.. these PC's are so old
at work and need replacing.

an update won't FRY your hard drive
If you put that Hard drive on another PC
you will be able to see the data on there
If you can not READ data off of that hard drive
This was not an Update that caused it
It was a hard drive failure
Sorry
Russ

--
Russell Grover - SBITS.Biz [SBS-MVP]
MCP, MCPS, MCNPS, SBSC
Microsoft Certified Small Business Specialist
24hr SBS Remote Support - www.SBITS.Biz
Question or Second Opinion - www.PersonalITConsultant.com
Free Trial Microsoft Online Services - www.Microsoft-Online-Services.com

okay.. i found out.. the UPDATE ... fried my hard drive.. thats why i
cant
boot from disk.. that sucks.. and microsoft wont pay for it... i tested
a
different harddrive.. and it works.. because it doesnt have that update
on
it.and that update isnt on it.. so it works.. im pissed..

:

I WANTED TO TELL EVERYONE & ASK THEM PLEASE DO NOT DO THE NEW WINDOWS
XP
UPDATES!!! THEY ARE MORE HARM THAN GOOD.. THEY SAY ITS NEW SECURITY
UPDATES..
IM SORRY BUT NO. THEY DON'T FIX YOUR COMPUTER, THEY MESS IT UP.. AFTER
DOWNLOADING, AND INSTALLING( I HAD TO SHUT DOWN, TO COMPLETE THE
UPDATE) I
DID... AND NOW MY COMPUTER WONT OPEN WINDOWS.. IT TAKES ME TO THE BLACK
SCREEN, THAT SAYS "START IN SAFE MODE, lAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIG.. OR
START
NORMALLY" IVE TRIED EVERY OPTION, WINDOWS WONT OPEN.. THE LAST UPDATES
MESS
UP YOUR COMPUTER, IF YOU TRY TO OPEN WINDOWS, YOU CANT. AND EVEN IF YOU
DO
SET A RESTORE POINT.. IT WONT DO ANY GOOD.. BECAUSE YOU WONT EVEN GET
TO GO
BACK TO THAT RESTORE POINT. ALL YOU'LL SEE IS THAT LITTLE BLACKSCREEN.
NO
MATTER WHAT YOU DO.. THEN YOULL BE SITTING HERE ON THE PHONE WITH
MICROSOFT
FOR 5 HRS AND NOTHING WILL COME FROM THAT, YOU WILL HAVE LOST ALL
YOUR
INFORMATION, AND POSSIBLY FRYED YOUR HARDDRIVE.. SO FOR THOSE PEOPLE
WHINING
THAT THEIR UPDATES WONT INSTALL.. DONT WHINE. YOURE ONE OF THE LUCKY
ONES..
EVERYONE IN MY TOWN THAT HAD WINDOWS XP.. THEIR COMPUTER HAS CRASHED
AFTER
THE UPDATE.. SO FEEL LUCKY!!!! AND PLEASE.. DO NOT DOWNLOAD OR INSTALL
THE
UPDATES.. IF YOU DO.. AND IT MESSES UP YOUR COMPUTER. SORRY BUT I
WARNED YOU.

 

[ANGELKISSES420]

Its funny,, people say it wasnt the update. the update wouldnt cause the
problem that i couldnt boot from disk unless i was infected. but its funny,
because no matter what xp disk i tried to boot from, it would not boot... but
yet i put vista or 7 in, and it would boot. so therefore it wasnt a hardware
issue, it wasnt me not having my bios settings correct. im a very careful
person, i have antivirus, and programs to check for malware & spyware &
adware, and i run multiple scans daily, yet there was nothing there. im still
pretty convinced that it was a bad update, and am going to be. considering i
know alot of people personally that have this problem.

 

[Mark Adams]

Its funny,, people say it wasnt the update. the update wouldnt cause the
problem that i couldnt boot from disk unless i was infected. but its funny,
because no matter what xp disk i tried to boot from, it would not boot... but
yet i put vista or 7 in, and it would boot. so therefore it wasnt a hardware
issue, it wasnt me not having my bios settings correct. im a very careful
person, i have antivirus, and programs to check for malware & spyware &
adware, and i run multiple scans daily, yet there was nothing there. im still
pretty convinced that it was a bad update, and am going to be. considering i
know alot of people personally that have this problem.

Well, at this point if you haven't installed Vista or 7; slave the drive
into another computer or put it in a USB enclosure and copy the data off.
Then use the hard drive maker's utilities to check the condition of the
drive, and then copy the entire drive to zeros. Try booting the XP disk
again. If it still won't boot, but the Vista and 7 disks do, the problem is
in the optical drive and/or the XP CD itself. Also, you never answered the
question someone else posted whether or not the machine would boot the XP CD
without a hard drive installed; that would certainly answer a lot.

 

[Twayne]

In

Its funny,, people say it wasnt the update. the update wouldnt cause
the problem that i couldnt boot from disk unless i was infected. but
its funny, because no matter what xp disk i tried to boot from, it
would not boot... but yet i put vista or 7 in, and it would boot. so
therefore it wasnt a hardware issue, it wasnt me not having my bios
settings correct. im a very careful person, i have antivirus, and
programs to check for malware & spyware & adware, and i run multiple
scans daily, yet there was nothing there. im still pretty convinced
that it was a bad update, and am going to be. considering i know alot
of people personally that have this problem.

I wonder if that disk would boot another PC? Sounds to me like a bad disk.

As for problems with updates, there were two inthe past IIRC but they were
some time ago and were quickly corrected. In fact, they were pre-SP3.
I'm also not sure I see the connection between updates and booting from
an XP disk. Somehow any useful information that might have been part of the
post has disappeared and wasn't re-referenced or repeated.

HTH,

Twayne