User Access and Windows Update

[Jennifer1717]

Yesterday my computer automatically dowloaded the new windows update which
requires the computer to be restarted. The computer restarted and now
appears to be a brand new computer. The user is set to owner instead of my
account name and my account is no where to be found. All of my documents,
pictures, installed programs (MS Office, Itunes, etc)...everything is gone,
even my user account is gone.

Please help!

 

[peter]

Since all XP updates are unique to the individual systems, mine for example
needed 11 updates, it is hard to determine
exactly which update caused the problem. I would suggest you go to "System
Restore" and activate a restore point before the updates.
If none are available get back to us.
If you restore to a point in time before the updates and all comes back
download the updates one by one creating a restore point in between.
Then when you find the offending update post the name of the update here..
in the same thread.

peter

 

[Jennifer1717]

I did check for the last possible restore point and the only one available
was after the computer restarted after the update. Any ideas what I can do
now?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware application(s)? What third-party
firewall (if any)?

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.

 

[Jennifer1717]

I have Norton, but I thnk my subscription ran out a few months ago. I don't
have a thrid party firewall. Do you think I could have downloaded a virus
during the update?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

...Do you think I could have downloaded a virus during the update?

No, I think your computer had been infected already, long before Automatic
Updates installed (or attempted to install) updates the other day, Jennifer.

Since your "Norton" subscription expired "a few months ago," back-up any
personal data (any of which could also be "infected"), then do a format &
clean install of Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place
upgrade) will NOT fix this!

cf. http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1 or SP2 fully patched (after a clean
install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b