Help: Automatic Updates fails to start

[DragonsXPS]

Automatic Updates reports every time that it starts it reports the following
error: Could not start the Automatic Updates service on Local Computer
Error 1058: The Service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or
because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

before it reported a similar error, such as that mmcndmgr.dll is missing,
after showing that there was a script error.

also, it kept disabling itself after switched I to automatic or manual.

whats more is that windows onecare had been detecting malicious software
like crazy and there was one in particular that onecare requested the
computer to be restarted in order to be removed.

What can i do to fix this? I tried system restore but that did no good.

The Operating System that occured on this is Windows XP Media Center Edition
2005

 

[Mick Murphy]

Download, install, update and scan with the 2 Programs below.
If you get a prob downloading them, through the malware stopping it, do
everything in Safe Mode with Networking.
All info below.

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

Download, install, and update.

Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot
the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow
key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D
while in Safe Mode.

If unable to install above Programs in Normal Mode:
Sometimes Trojans, Viruses, Malware, etc stop you installing and/or updating
Programs to remove them.
If that happens, reboot into Safe Mode with Networking (from F8 list of
Startup Options), and install, update and scan from there.