Updates broke the network!

[Noctaire]

Over the weekend, one of my clients had a box roll through the auto-updates.
There were 4 updates that came down (can't recall the KB numbers offhand,
but these were the latest from Microsoft). When the client came in on
Monday, he was no longer able to access the network from his applications
without the applications hanging.

The symptom is fairly straightforward and reproducible every time -- open
Word, then open the file open dialog and begin navigating to a network
resource. As soon as you click on a share (not the system, just the
individual share) OR if you click a mapped drive, Word hangs. This happens
with pretty much every Windows app we tried.

As soon as I uninstalled the latest round of updates, everything worked.
Naturally, I forgot to turn off the auto-install updates feature so
everything broke again this morning (LOL) but as soon as I went in and
re-uninstalled the updates, everything worked again.

There's something peculiar about this particular workstation; it's the only
one that I know of that suffered the issue out of 8 or 9 at this office and
several hundred others that I manage. So there's no doubt this is something
unique. He's running ample anti-spyware and anti-virus (Windows OneCare,
Windows Defender, McAfee) and I'm finding no other issues with the box.

Anyone have any insight? I'll be pulling up the details on these updates
later today but thought I'd see if maybe anyone else experienced the issue
or had a thought first. (No sense reinventing the wheel.)

TIA....

James

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Perhaps the following will explain & resolve your issue:

Problems in Windows Explorer or the Windows shell
after you install security update MS06-015
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165

Easy Fix: Visit http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm and scroll
down to Item No. 383 "Hewlett-Packard's Share-to-Web software - Fix (MS06-015)"
to download a registry fix.

Note: You may need to temporarily disable your antivirus program
in order to safely run the scripted fix.

Also, review the following:

MS06-013: Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912812

Internet Explorer ActiveX compatibility patch for Mshtml.dll
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917425/


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| Over the weekend, one of my clients had a box roll through the auto-updates.
| There were 4 updates that came down (can't recall the KB numbers offhand,
| but these were the latest from Microsoft). When the client came in on
| Monday, he was no longer able to access the network from his applications
| without the applications hanging.
|
| The symptom is fairly straightforward and reproducible every time -- open
| Word, then open the file open dialog and begin navigating to a network
| resource. As soon as you click on a share (not the system, just the
| individual share) OR if you click a mapped drive, Word hangs. This happens
| with pretty much every Windows app we tried.
|
| As soon as I uninstalled the latest round of updates, everything worked.
| Naturally, I forgot to turn off the auto-install updates feature so
| everything broke again this morning (LOL) but as soon as I went in and
| re-uninstalled the updates, everything worked again.
|
| There's something peculiar about this particular workstation; it's the only
| one that I know of that suffered the issue out of 8 or 9 at this office and
| several hundred others that I manage. So there's no doubt this is something
| unique. He's running ample anti-spyware and anti-virus (Windows OneCare,
| Windows Defender, McAfee) and I'm finding no other issues with the box.
|
| Anyone have any insight? I'll be pulling up the details on these updates
| later today but thought I'd see if maybe anyone else experienced the issue
| or had a thought first. (No sense reinventing the wheel.)
|
| TIA....
|
| James

 

[kurttrail]

Over the weekend, one of my clients had a box roll through the
auto-updates. There were 4 updates that came down (can't recall the
KB numbers offhand, but these were the latest from Microsoft). When
the client came in on Monday, he was no longer able to access the
network from his applications without the applications hanging.

The symptom is fairly straightforward and reproducible every time --
open Word, then open the file open dialog and begin navigating to a
network resource. As soon as you click on a share (not the system,
just the individual share) OR if you click a mapped drive, Word
hangs. This happens with pretty much every Windows app we tried.

As soon as I uninstalled the latest round of updates, everything
worked. Naturally, I forgot to turn off the auto-install updates
feature so everything broke again this morning (LOL) but as soon as I
went in and re-uninstalled the updates, everything worked again.

There's something peculiar about this particular workstation; it's
the only one that I know of that suffered the issue out of 8 or 9 at
this office and several hundred others that I manage.
http://microscum.kurttrail.com/postsp2/index.htm#kb908531

So there's no
doubt this is something unique. He's running ample anti-spyware and
anti-virus (Windows OneCare, Windows Defender, McAfee) and I'm
finding no other issues with the box.

Actually he is not running "ample anti-spyware and anti-virus." Windows
NoOneCares and Windows Surrender are both Beta products that are meant
to be used in testing environments only. Betas should NEVER be used on
mission critical systems!

Anyone have any insight? I'll be pulling up the details on these
updates later today but thought I'd see if maybe anyone else
experienced the issue or had a thought first. (No sense reinventing
the wheel.)

Yep, read the link I gave you.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."

 

[Noctaire]

Great -- makes figuring this one out pretty durn easy. Turns out the
client is running an HP Scanner on the box.

Thanks, Carey!

 

[All Things Mopar]

Today Noctaire commented courteously on the subject at hand

Over the weekend, one of my clients had a box roll through
the auto-updates. There were 4 updates that came down
(can't recall the KB numbers offhand, but these were the
latest from Microsoft). When the client came in on Monday,
he was no longer able to access the network from his
applications without the applications hanging.

The symptom is fairly straightforward and reproducible
every time -- open Word, then open the file open dialog and
begin navigating to a network resource. As soon as you
click on a share (not the system, just the individual
share) OR if you click a mapped drive, Word hangs. This
happens with pretty much every Windows app we tried.

As soon as I uninstalled the latest round of updates,
everything worked. Naturally, I forgot to turn off the
auto-install updates feature so everything broke again this
morning (LOL) but as soon as I went in and re-uninstalled
the updates, everything worked again.

There's something peculiar about this particular
workstation; it's the only one that I know of that suffered
the issue out of 8 or 9 at this office and several hundred
others that I manage. So there's no doubt this is
something unique. He's running ample anti-spyware and
anti-virus (Windows OneCare, Windows Defender, McAfee) and
I'm finding no other issues with the box.

Anyone have any insight? I'll be pulling up the details on
these updates later today but thought I'd see if maybe
anyone else experienced the issue or had a thought first.
(No sense reinventing the wheel.)

I hope you fix this, but I'm curious: how'd you allow
/clients/ to set AU to "automatic"? Your experience is quite
common - go to bed with everying A-OK and wake up to dead
system(s). Dpending on how you charge for your services, lack
of due diligence that causes damage may cause you some
financial and legal woes, which coulda/shoulda been easily
preventable.

 

[Guest]

Windows automatic updates are terrible!! They have crashed my computer along
with a number of people i know. They have all had the exact same problem with
them. They slowed down by computer terribly, wouldn't run many applications,
and caused general problems. I couldn't even open "my computer" and other
such folders. I have just got my computer up and running again and had to
uninstall EVERY windows update, and run a full system test and diagnostics
test to ensure safety of my computer. These problems only happened when the
updates were installed and i know of at least 4 other people this has
happened!! Why are windows allowed to release these updates when they ruin
your computer?!?!?!?! If you want my opinion, DO NOT install windows updates
again. It will only result in problems!

 

[All Things Mopar]

Today =?Utf-8?B?aWFpbjExNA==?= commented courteously on the
subject at hand

Windows automatic updates are terrible!!

then, why do you use them? turn the blinking thing off, or at
least to "notify". use the update center to get those you think
you want and ignore the rest.

They have crashed

my computer along with a number of people i know. They have
all had the exact same problem with them. They slowed down
by computer terribly, wouldn't run many applications, and
caused general problems. I couldn't even open "my computer"
and other such folders. I have just got my computer up and
running again and had to uninstall EVERY windows update,
and run a full system test and diagnostics test to ensure
safety of my computer. These problems only happened when
the updates were installed and i know of at least 4 other
people this has happened!! Why are windows allowed to
release these updates when they ruin your computer?!?!?!?!
If you want my opinion, DO NOT install windows updates
again. It will only result in problems!

it is your computer, not bill the gates, so practice "safe
computing" with him as well as the purveyors of malware and you
won't suffer the slings of his arrow further. oh, and be sure to
do regular backups of your system, including simple precautions
like setting your own rp before doing anything with your system.

 

[Noctaire]

I hope you fix this, but I'm curious: how'd you allow

/clients/ to set AU to "automatic"? Your experience is quite
common - go to bed with everying A-OK and wake up to dead
system(s). Dpending on how you charge for your services, lack
of due diligence that causes damage may cause you some
financial and legal woes, which coulda/shoulda been easily
preventable.

Although I manage my clients' networks/systems, they are still owned by the
client. I advise them on various matters and let them decide which
direction is best to take. In some cases, I have them on a monthly
maintenance plan that includes remote support. On the rare occasion
something breaks, I typically remote in and fix it.

In each case, I ensure there is data redundancy and appropriate backup
measures. Automatic updates seldom cause grief, believe it or not, as
they're critical updates only and if something does go wrong then it's
simple to back the update out (as was done in this case). I maintain 24
hour availability so my clients get quick resolution of any issues that DO
crop up and there's only been 1 case in 7 years where one of my clients
actually suffered down time due to an issue and that was a virus that was
network-capable (they just wouldn't leave the blasted boxes down until we
cleared them).

I'm fortunate to deal primarily with small to medium sized businesses, and
that's a different world from the larger organizations. Most of these
business handle their own basic IT needs, coming to me for the more
difficult things that require greater technical expertise.

Of course, it's also good to maintain a solid contract that clearly outlines
expectations and limitations on both sides.

James

 

[Noctaire]

Windows automatic updates are terrible!! They have crashed my computer

along
with a number of people i know. They have all had the exact same problem
with
them. They slowed down by computer terribly, wouldn't run many
applications,
and caused general problems. I couldn't even open "my computer" and other
such folders. I have just got my computer up and running again and had to
uninstall EVERY windows update, and run a full system test and diagnostics
test to ensure safety of my computer. These problems only happened when
the
updates were installed and i know of at least 4 other people this has
happened!! Why are windows allowed to release these updates when they ruin
your computer?!?!?!?! If you want my opinion, DO NOT install windows
updates
again. It will only result in problems!

I can't say that I've ever had any significant problems with Microsoft
patches. Of course, Microsoft can't test for EVERY environment but in
general, their patches are well tested. Occasionally, one may break
something but the fix is usually quick to come along or the update can
simply be backed out.

I've found that much depends on the installation as well. For users that
have a bazillion apps installed there is a significantly higher probability
of something breaking for obvious reasons. The same can be said for users
that have various spyware and similar apps installed.

<Shrug> To each his own.

 

[Guest]

I don't use the updates or have them turned on, but i went away and when i
came back someone had obviously installed them, which obviously isn't anythin
to do with windows/microsoft, but it still doesn't explain why microsoft can
release updates that cock up people's systems! i don't know anybody that
appreciates the updates!! Since buying a new windows computer, i wish i had
have stuck with appleâ„¢. They're far better!!

 

[All Things Mopar]

Today =?Utf-8?B?aWFpbjExNA==?= commented courteously on the
subject at hand

I don't use the updates or have them turned on, but i went
away and when i came back someone had obviously installed
them, which obviously isn't anythin to do with
windows/microsoft, but it still doesn't explain why
microsoft can release updates that cock up people's
systems! i don't know anybody that appreciates the
updates!! Since buying a new windows computer, i wish i had
have stuck with appleâ„¢. They're far better!!

are these people your clients? i assume, then, that your
contract doesn't allow you to stop them from screwomg
themselves, so you couldn't/wouldn't put any safeguards in place
to prevent this.

i am no great fan of m$, but i will say that doing "enough
testing" in the world of software is an oxymoron. when combined
with greed, fear, and incompetence, it is indeed a recipe for
disaster on a global scale. an erran app will simply stop you
doing useful work in one area, but a "malicious" o/s developer
will render you completely incapable of working at all.

good luck, whatever you need/want to do here ...

 

[All Things Mopar]

Today Noctaire commented courteously on the subject at hand

Although I manage my clients' networks/systems, they are
still owned by the client. I advise them on various
matters and let them decide which direction is best to
take. In some cases, I have them on a monthly maintenance
plan that includes remote support. On the rare occasion
something breaks, I typically remote in and fix it.

In each case, I ensure there is data redundancy and
appropriate backup measures. Automatic updates seldom
cause grief, believe it or not, as they're critical updates
only and if something does go wrong then it's simple to
back the update out (as was done in this case). I maintain
24 hour availability so my clients get quick resolution of
any issues that DO crop up and there's only been 1 case in
7 years where one of my clients actually suffered down time
due to an issue and that was a virus that was
network-capable (they just wouldn't leave the blasted boxes
down until we cleared them).

I'm fortunate to deal primarily with small to medium sized
businesses, and that's a different world from the larger
organizations. Most of these business handle their own
basic IT needs, coming to me for the more difficult things
that require greater technical expertise.

Of course, it's also good to maintain a solid contract that
clearly outlines expectations and limitations on both
sides.

well, James, assuming you live in the U.S., the last time I

checked, the First Amendment gives citizens the right to be
stupid, and it gives you your livelihood rescuing them! <grin>

as to big vs small businesses, I know of no big ones who allow
Bill the Gates to swoop in on their
dozens/hundreds/thousands/tens of thousands of PCs and muck
things up. Updates are fully evaluated, tested, and released
across corporate networks. Or not.

 

[Noctaire]

well, James, assuming you live in the U.S., the last time I

checked, the First Amendment gives citizens the right to be
stupid, and it gives you your livelihood rescuing them! <grin>

Bread and butter....

as to big vs small businesses, I know of no big ones who allow
Bill the Gates to swoop in on their
dozens/hundreds/thousands/tens of thousands of PCs and muck
things up. Updates are fully evaluated, tested, and released
across corporate networks. Or not.

And that would be one of the many differences between larger and smaller
organizations. There are many resource differences, standardized
installations, and different needs between the two that what works well in
one seldom works well in another. I've worked in both atmospheres and
handle each differently as according to their needs. In the end, I've found
small-medium business much easier to work with in general. Sure, there are
battles to be fought (like paying for decent AV & AS software, or a
firewall) but they also tend to be more flexible.

James

 

[All Things Mopar]

Today Noctaire commented courteously on the subject at hand

And that would be one of the many differences between
larger and smaller organizations. There are many resource
differences, standardized installations, and different
needs between the two that what works well in one seldom
works well in another. I've worked in both atmospheres and
handle each differently as according to their needs. In
the end, I've found small-medium business much easier to
work with in general. Sure, there are battles to be fought
(like paying for decent AV & AS software, or a firewall)
but they also tend to be more flexible.

Yes, certainly. A Mom & Pop store can hardly do the same
things as the full weight of a multi-national's IT department
for standardization, user and system-level tech support, or
internal/external information security.

Like you, I've been around. I did custom software development
for Apple ][s and time-and-material tech support a generation
ago and managed first a supervisor-size group then later a
large department full of CAD and PC support people for 7
years, in concert with thousands of engineering and corporate
IT-types. It is indeed a different world.

Someplace between doing your own tech support and huge staffs
which are both good and bad, is where the rest of the world
is, and therein, lies the tale in this part of the thread, I
think.

I also agree about flexibility, although part and parcel of
standardization is zealot-like rigidity with anyone trying to
change approved software and hardware, including the hardware
and software mavens running amok at times. When that becomes
counter-productive, some IT management folks heads need to
roll, of course, but the rest of the time, rigidity often is
synonomous with stability and control, which is less expensive
to support and results in much less lost productivity due to
knee-jerk reactions and ill-advised solutions without ample
testing.

Natually, when major system(s) goes down during the day, it
calls for 911 speed and /tested/ emergency processes, then you
take everything down at 6:00, and nobody goes home until the
team finds and fixes all the causes, including the root cause,
finally bringomg it back up again, piece by piece to be ready
at 8:00 the next morning.

Interesting, BTW, to relive the halcyon (albeit, frustrating)
dayss of my early and mid-career. For the record, I am retired
after 33 years at Chrysler's engineering centers in a wide
variety of jobs and management positions, some bad but most
very good.

 

[Rock]

I don't use the updates or have them turned on, but i went away and when i
came back someone had obviously installed them, which obviously isn't anythin
to do with windows/microsoft, but it still doesn't explain why microsoft can
release updates that cock up people's systems! i don't know anybody that
appreciates the updates!! Since buying a new windows computer, i wish i had
have stuck with appleâ„¢. They're far better!!

Your post makes no sense. If automatic updates was off then they
couldn't have been installed. So if they did run then you did have AU
set to automatically download and install. It doesn't have to be that
way. Turn off AU, go to WU monthly, select the updates you want and
download, install them one at a time. Take responsibility for your
system.