Serious problem after installing current XP updates

[Anthony Buckland]

Looking through the last 400 or so postings here, I don't see any
other mention of this, so it may have to do with my individual
software and hardware.

Anyway, earlier today I installed the current basket of Windows
XP (Media Center Edition) updates, namely
KB971633
KB961371
The July Malicious Software Removal Tool
KB973346
(may the fleas of a thousand camels do their thing if I got one
of those numbers wrong).

Although a restart was not required, I followed my usual practice
and did one anyway. The system would no longer load. The most
specific explanation I could get was that
\Windows\System32\Config\System
was missing (not corrupted, but missing).

Restoring that single file from a July 10 Acronis True Image backup
(to the Secure Zone) led to only a minor improvement, so I guess
maybe other files were affected.

Has anyone else had problems with this set of updates?

Meanwhile, I've successfully restored my whole C: partition to its
July 10 state, updated my virus definitions and Outlook Express
files (the latter from a separate backup last made earlier today),
and gotten back in business.

It's at times like this that frequent backup with a reliable program,
plus really frequent backup of changing data files, proves itself to
be a Great Big Good Idea. And the alternative too horrible to
contemplate.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[crosspost to Windows Update]

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is related
to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB961371).

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through
your usual support contacts.

 

[JS]

Smart move, now you know the value
of an image backup before installing any
updates, Microsoft or otherwise.

Since you can always revert back you have a couple of choices.

1) Install one update at a time using the 'Custom' option on the
Windows Update site until you find the culprit.

2) Go for the whole enchilada again.

Either way I would hold off on rebooting until
all CPU and disk activity has come to a halt and
your 'System Idle' process in Task Manager is at
99% and then reboot.

 

[SabreFox]

Ya know, I have had the same problem. This update destroyed my Network
adapter and my virtual adapter no longer functions. I am glad to see people
are in teh same boat as me as I am trying to use my restore point and I will
not install this update because I don't want a repeat.

[crosspost to Windows Update]

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is related
to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB961371).

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through
your usual support contacts.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net

Looking through the last 400 or so postings here, I don't see any
other mention of this, so it may have to do with my individual
software and hardware.

Anyway, earlier today I installed the current basket of Windows
XP (Media Center Edition) updates, namely
KB971633
KB961371
The July Malicious Software Removal Tool
KB973346
(may the fleas of a thousand camels do their thing if I got one
of those numbers wrong).

Although a restart was not required, I followed my usual practice
and did one anyway. The system would no longer load. The most
specific explanation I could get was that
\Windows\System32\Config\System
was missing (not corrupted, but missing).

Restoring that single file from a July 10 Acronis True Image backup
(to the Secure Zone) led to only a minor improvement, so I guess
maybe other files were affected.

Has anyone else had problems with this set of updates?

Meanwhile, I've successfully restored my whole C: partition to its
July 10 state, updated my virus definitions and Outlook Express
files (the latter from a separate backup last made earlier today),
and gotten back in business.

It's at times like this that frequent backup with a reliable program,
plus really frequent backup of changing data files, proves itself to
be a Great Big Good Idea. And the alternative too horrible to
contemplate.

 

[Anteaus]

No, but I'm preparing a rollout of the last 'patch tuesday' items just now,
so I'll keep an eye out for these. (with the exception of MSRT which we don't
use) Will post here if anything untoward seen.

 

[Anteaus]

Just done all except MSRT on a test computer, and no problems seen. Maybe you
were unlucky, or there was an incomptibility with some other software.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

If you need assistance, please begin your own new thread.

Ya know, I have had the same problem. This update destroyed my Network
adapter and my virtual adapter no longer functions. I am glad to see
people
are in teh same boat as me as I am trying to use my restore point and I
will
not install this update because I don't want a repeat.

<snip>

 

[Anthony Buckland]

Smart move, now you know the value
of an image backup before installing any
updates, Microsoft or otherwise.

Since you can always revert back you have a couple of choices.

1) Install one update at a time using the 'Custom' option on the
Windows Update site until you find the culprit.
...

I took this option (971633 and 961371 together first, then 973346
(Killbits) by itself, finally 890830 (MSRT) by itself), and the problem
went away. I restarted after each partial update, with no problem.
Maybe the moment I chose to restart before had some influence.
Maybe the diddling (binary) digit of destiny got me before

In any case, thanks to all for their suggestions. I usually think of
Windows Update as a pretty robust process. I recently backed
my wife's system (XP Home) out to February to cure an unrelated
problem, and you can imagine the number of updates that
triggered, all done in one swell foop with no problems.
(Here again, by the way, is a good reason to have a My Documents
backup independent of the full partition backup; with it I could put
her in the position of having lost only two days of incoming mail, which
Telus promptly retransmitted to her. I keep the Outlook Express
files and Address Book in My Documents for just this reason.)

 

[Anthony Buckland]

[crosspost to Windows Update]

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY
in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is
related
to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB961371).

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available
through
your usual support contacts.

...

Thanks. As you can see from my other posting today, the problem went
away on a repeat, piecemeal update, but I'm going to keep this info
handy for possible future use.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[crosspost to Windows Update]

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY
in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated
with
security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is
related
to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB961371).

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available
through
your usual support contacts.

Thanks. As you can see from my other posting today, the problem went
away on a repeat, piecemeal update, but I'm going to keep this info
handy for possible future use.

YW.

I suppose you're referring to this post which you did not crosspost to
Windows Update newsgroup:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/af0b09be571441c1

 

[JS]

You're welcome.

Note: I make it a habit to create an Image Backup prior to installing
any "Patch Tuesday" update(s) and also wait to see what problems other
users are having before installing. Also most .NET Framework updates
usually do not immediately finish installing after the 'Reboot' button
appears so wait a minute or two for all disk drive activity to settle down
and then reboot.

 

[Polka]

Hi
I use Vista & downloaded the following:
KB961371; KB905866; KB969693; KB973346; KB971933; KB890830

which resulted in a continuous 'status' problem.
not sure if it's same as yu but I cannot cancel either dialogue boxes & asks
me to find an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package
'status.msi' in the browser box/drop down menu - no such path exists
........& I cannot work out which download this is related to.
- I tried installing a new Acrobat prog. but it 'sensed' Microsoft Word'
appln was still open & asked to close it - nothing was on the PC bar the
above message - so I'm guessing it's related to MW

I run Vista/MO 2007.

trust someone can help
thanks
Polka

[crosspost to Windows Update]

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is related
to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g., KB961371).

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through
your usual support contacts.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net

Looking through the last 400 or so postings here, I don't see any
other mention of this, so it may have to do with my individual
software and hardware.

Anyway, earlier today I installed the current basket of Windows
XP (Media Center Edition) updates, namely
KB971633
KB961371
The July Malicious Software Removal Tool
KB973346
(may the fleas of a thousand camels do their thing if I got one
of those numbers wrong).

Although a restart was not required, I followed my usual practice
and did one anyway. The system would no longer load. The most
specific explanation I could get was that
\Windows\System32\Config\System
was missing (not corrupted, but missing).

Restoring that single file from a July 10 Acronis True Image backup
(to the Secure Zone) led to only a minor improvement, so I guess
maybe other files were affected.

Has anyone else had problems with this set of updates?

Meanwhile, I've successfully restored my whole C: partition to its
July 10 state, updated my virus definitions and Outlook Express
files (the latter from a separate backup last made earlier today),
and gotten back in business.

It's at times like this that frequent backup with a reliable program,
plus really frequent backup of changing data files, proves itself to
be a Great Big Good Idea. And the alternative too horrible to
contemplate.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Assuming you (Polka) are not Anthony Buckland, please begin a new thread in
the appropriate newsgroup about your specific problems. State your IE
version and full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; Vista SP2) in your first
post.

Hi
I use Vista & downloaded the following:
KB961371; KB905866; KB969693; KB973346; KB971933; KB890830

which resulted in a continuous 'status' problem.
not sure if it's same as yu but I cannot cancel either dialogue boxes &
asks
me to find an alternate path to a folder containing the installation
package
'status.msi' in the browser box/drop down menu - no such path exists
.......& I cannot work out which download this is related to.
- I tried installing a new Acrobat prog. but it 'sensed' Microsoft Word'
appln was still open & asked to close it - nothing was on the PC bar the
above message - so I'm guessing it's related to MW

I run Vista/MO 2007.

trust someone can help
thanks
Polka

[crosspost to Windows Update]

Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=6527

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY
in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated
with
security updates. When you call, clearly state that your problem is
related to a Security Update and cite the update's KB number (e.g.,
KB961371).

For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary
for security update support issues, visit the International Support Web
site: http://support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx

For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available
through
your usual support contacts.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.net

Looking through the last 400 or so postings here, I don't see any
other mention of this, so it may have to do with my individual
software and hardware.

Anyway, earlier today I installed the current basket of Windows
XP (Media Center Edition) updates, namely
KB971633
KB961371
The July Malicious Software Removal Tool
KB973346
(may the fleas of a thousand camels do their thing if I got one
of those numbers wrong).

Although a restart was not required, I followed my usual practice
and did one anyway. The system would no longer load. The most
specific explanation I could get was that
\Windows\System32\Config\System
was missing (not corrupted, but missing).

Restoring that single file from a July 10 Acronis True Image backup
(to the Secure Zone) led to only a minor improvement, so I guess
maybe other files were affected.

Has anyone else had problems with this set of updates?

Meanwhile, I've successfully restored my whole C: partition to its
July 10 state, updated my virus definitions and Outlook Express
files (the latter from a separate backup last made earlier today),
and gotten back in business.

It's at times like this that frequent backup with a reliable program,
plus really frequent backup of changing data files, proves itself to
be a Great Big Good Idea. And the alternative too horrible to
contemplate.