System Restore & Automatic Updates not functioning

[floringeorge2001]

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop with Windows XP Professional SP3, Avast
antivirus, Spyware Doctor, Comodo Firewall Pro, Spybot Search & Destroy,
Norton Security Scan and starting few days ago I accidentally noticed the
following:

1. the Automatic Updates feature is not operational. When going into the
Windows Security Center, I noticed that the Automatic Updates feature is
turned off. When I clicked on the "Turn on Automatic Updates" tab I get the
following message : "We're sorry.The Security Center could not change your
Automatic Updates settings. To try changing these settings yourself , go to
System in Control Panel. On the Automatic Updates tab, select Automatic
(recommended), and then click OK ". Then I went to the System - Automatic
Updates : I noticed that the "Turn off Automatic Updates" tab is
checked/ticked and that this tab and all the other tabs [ "Automatic
(recommended) " , "Download updates for me , but let me choose when to
install them" and " Notify me but don't automatically download or install
them" ] are not active - that is the headings of the respective tabs are
translucent, and therefore I can not check/tick any of the three tabs for
turning on the automatic updates.
Please note that there was no alert notifying me that the Automatic Updates
is turned off !!
2. I tried to do a system restore using several earlier dates but it failed.
(cannot restore the comp[uter to the specified date)
3. The letters "i" and "l" of the name of files within the folders appear
with BROWN color.

I did full scans using Avast, Spyware Doctor, Spybot Search and Destroy and
Norton Security Scan but no virus or spyware were detected. I should add that
so far I managed to successfully download and install manually all the
updates using the Microsoft Update web site. Also, a couple of weeks ago I
started to use Windows Steady State but 3-4 days ago I decided to remove it
because it takes to much time to do the changes when restarting the computer.
I also used Systernal Rootkit revealer but nothing significant was detected.
I should add that I successfully manually updated my computer using
Microsoft Update and Windows update websites.
I would appreciate a solution to my two problems :
1. I can not turn on the Automatic updates in the Windows XP Security Center
2. Failure of Windows XP System Restore to restore my laptop to earlier dates.
Thanks !

 

[Andrew E.]

Open (manually) windows or microsoft update,click on the button,"turn on
auto update".Also,why all the 3rd party junk,where on the web do you
browse.....

 

[floringeorge2001]

i'm sorry Andrew but I did not quite understand your answer. What do you mean
exactly by " Open (manually) windows or microsoft update " ? Did you mean
the windows or microsoft update websites?
I also do not see the meaning of yiur last phrase "Also,why all the 3rd
party junk,where on the web do you browse..." !?

Open (manually) windows or microsoft update,click on the button,"turn on
auto update". Also,why all the 3rd party junk,where on the web do you
browse.....

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop with Windows XP Professional SP3, Avast
antivirus, Spyware Doctor, Comodo Firewall Pro, Spybot Search & Destroy,
Norton Security Scan and starting few days ago I accidentally noticed the
following:

1. the Automatic Updates feature is not operational. When going into the
Windows Security Center, I noticed that the Automatic Updates feature is
turned off. When I clicked on the "Turn on Automatic Updates" tab I get the
following message : "We're sorry.The Security Center could not change your
Automatic Updates settings. To try changing these settings yourself , go to
System in Control Panel. On the Automatic Updates tab, select Automatic
(recommended), and then click OK ". Then I went to the System - Automatic
Updates : I noticed that the "Turn off Automatic Updates" tab is
checked/ticked and that this tab and all the other tabs [ "Automatic
(recommended) " , "Download updates for me , but let me choose when to
install them" and " Notify me but don't automatically download or install
them" ] are not active - that is the headings of the respective tabs are
translucent, and therefore I can not check/tick any of the three tabs for
turning on the automatic updates.
Please note that there was no alert notifying me that the Automatic Updates
is turned off !!
2. I tried to do a system restore using several earlier dates but it failed.
(cannot restore the comp[uter to the specified date)
3. The letters "i" and "l" of the name of files within the folders appear
with BROWN color.

I did full scans using Avast, Spyware Doctor, Spybot Search and Destroy and
Norton Security Scan but no virus or spyware were detected. I should add that
so far I managed to successfully download and install manually all the
updates using the Microsoft Update web site. Also, a couple of weeks ago I
started to use Windows Steady State but 3-4 days ago I decided to remove it
because it takes to much time to do the changes when restarting the computer.
I also used Systernal Rootkit revealer but nothing significant was detected.
I should add that I successfully manually updated my computer using
Microsoft Update and Windows update websites.
I would appreciate a solution to my two problems :
1. I can not turn on the Automatic updates in the Windows XP Security Center
2. Failure of Windows XP System Restore to restore my laptop to earlier dates.
Thanks !

 

[Captain America]

i'm sorry Andrew but I did not quite understand your answer. What do you mean
exactly by " Open (manually) windows or microsoft update " ? Did you mean
the windows or microsoft update websites?
I also do not see the meaning of yiur last phrase "Also,why all the 3rd
party junk,where on the web do you browse..." !?

Open (manually) windows or microsoft update,click on the button,"turn on
auto update". Also,why all the 3rd party junk,where on the web do you
browse.....

I have a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop with Windows XP Professional SP3, Avast
antivirus, Spyware Doctor, Comodo Firewall Pro, Spybot Search & Destroy,
Norton Security Scan and starting few days ago I accidentally noticed the
following:

1. the Automatic Updates feature is not operational. When going into the
Windows Security Center, I noticed that the Automatic Updates feature is
turned off. When I clicked on the "Turn on Automatic Updates" tab I get the
following message : "We're sorry.The Security Center could not change your
Automatic Updates settings. To try changing these settings yourself , go to
System in Control Panel. On the Automatic Updates tab, select Automatic
(recommended), and then click OK ". Then I went to the System - Automatic
Updates : I noticed that the "Turn off Automatic Updates" tab is
checked/ticked and that this tab and all the other tabs [ "Automatic
(recommended) " , "Download updates for me , but let me choose when to
install them" and " Notify me but don't automatically download or install
them" ] are not active - that is the headings of the respective tabs are
translucent, and therefore I can not check/tick any of the three tabs for
turning on the automatic updates.
Please note that there was no alert notifying me that the Automatic Updates
is turned off !!
2. I tried to do a system restore using several earlier dates but it failed.
(cannot restore the comp[uter to the specified date)
3. The letters "i" and "l" of the name of files within the folders appear
with BROWN color.

I did full scans using Avast, Spyware Doctor, Spybot Search and Destroy and
Norton Security Scan but no virus or spyware were detected. I should add that
so far I managed to successfully download and install manually all the
updates using the Microsoft Update web site. Also, a couple of weeks ago I
started to use Windows Steady State but 3-4 days ago I decided to remove it
because it takes to much time to do the changes when restarting the computer.
I also used Systernal Rootkit revealer but nothing significant was detected.
I should add that I successfully manually updated my computer using
Microsoft Update and Windows update websites.
I would appreciate a solution to my two problems :
1. I can not turn on the Automatic updates in the Windows XP Security Center
2. Failure of Windows XP System Restore to restore my laptop to earlier dates.
Thanks !
Normaly you want to be able to choose which automatic updates, just in case you get a website that is not secure. so it's not a bad option.

You can restore System Restore through help and support now. It is no longer
apart of the operating system. A help assistant through your connection or
remote access runs that program for you when you ask or need. Task scheduler
might operate it periodicaly when your into the settings. Not recommended
through task scheduler because then it's like your working backwards with
system restore. It will restore your computer to an earlier time and you will
have lost all the work you have done up until your current point.