Windows Update Hangs

[ralphs]

I am running Windows XP SP3 with all updates up through yesterday (May 27).

Starting today when I select Tools|Windows Update, IE7 shows one green bar
in the completion window in the status bar and then hangs. It requires Task
Manager to close it.

The machine has SpywareBlaster, Spybot, AdAware, AVG 8 Free Edition and
Windows Defender on it. AVG's email and LinkScanner are disabled.

What can I do to fix or at least diagnose this problem?

 

[Eduardo Cerejo]

I am running Windows XP SP3 with all updates up through yesterday (May 27).

Starting today when I select Tools|Windows Update, IE7 shows one green bar
in the completion window in the status bar and then hangs. It requires Task
Manager to close it.

The machine has SpywareBlaster, Spybot, AdAware, AVG 8 Free Edition and
Windows Defender on it. AVG's email and LinkScanner are disabled.

What can I do to fix or at least diagnose this problem?

Looks like you have too many "tools" that actually do exactly the same
thing starting at the same time. In fact you only need one of them
installed and that is AVG 8 ( I believe it checks for virus and spyware)
the rest you can dump. I'm just wondering what makes you install all
that junk?

 

[MrGib]

Yep....I have been getting that as well. Is MS updating just Windows or are
they combining Office updates with? I had 'em combined up and the Ofc upd's
did NOT jive with just the Win updt. Dropped all but Win updt and it finally
got back to 'normal'. Is your modem/connection speed still good after the
upgd? Good luck, man!

 

[TaurArian]

Ignore the title -

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by
using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


|I am running Windows XP SP3 with all updates up through yesterday (May 27).
|
| Starting today when I select Tools|Windows Update, IE7 shows one green bar
| in the completion window in the status bar and then hangs. It requires Task
| Manager to close it.
|
| The machine has SpywareBlaster, Spybot, AdAware, AVG 8 Free Edition and
| Windows Defender on it. AVG's email and LinkScanner are disabled.
|
| What can I do to fix or at least diagnose this problem?
|
|
|

 

[ralphs]

Looks like you have too many "tools" that actually do exactly the same

thing starting at the same time. In fact you only need one of them
installed and that is AVG 8 ( I believe it checks for virus and spyware)
the rest you can dump. I'm just wondering what makes you install all that
junk?

Because "all of that junk" works and for years have been stable without
interfering with things such as the Windows Update process. The jury is
still out on how and how well AVG 8 works.

I would have appreciated a useful answer to my question.

.. Ed

 

[ralphs]

Yep....I have been getting that as well. Is MS updating just Windows or
are
they combining Office updates with? I had 'em combined up and the Ofc
upd's
did NOT jive with just the Win updt. Dropped all but Win updt and it
finally
got back to 'normal'. Is your modem/connection speed still good after
the
upgd? Good luck, man!

Microsoft Office is not installed on this machine. Cable speed is several
meg and varies with the whims of Comcast but doesn't seem to be effected by
Windows Update.

"Good luck, man!"
Thank you!

 

[ralphs]

Ignore the title -

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft
Update, or by
using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco

Thanks for trying but this does not apply. The XP installation has not been
repaired and the mentioned message has not been shown. The symptom is that
Internet Explorer just hangs.

 

[ralphs]

Looks like you have too many "tools" that actually do exactly the same
thing starting at the same time. In fact you only need one of them
installed and that is AVG 8 ( I believe it checks for virus and spyware)
the rest you can dump. I'm just wondering what makes you install all that
junk?

Removed AVG 8 and rebooted. IE7 Tools|Windows Update works.
Restored AVG 8 and rebooted. IE7 Tools|Windows Update hangs.

 

[ralphs]

I am running Windows XP SP3 with all updates up through yesterday (May 27).

Starting today when I select Tools|Windows Update, IE7 shows one green bar
in the completion window in the status bar and then hangs. It requires
Task Manager to close it.

The machine has SpywareBlaster, Spybot, AdAware, AVG 8 Free Edition and
Windows Defender on it. AVG's email and LinkScanner are disabled.

I should have mentioned that it is also running the latest free version of
ZoneAlarm.

I removed AVG Free Antivirus version 8 and rebooted. The problem
dissapeared.

I then installed AVG 8 and rebooted. The problem returned.

This seems to be related to an AVG update from the last couple of days.
Before that Windows Update was not a problem.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I should have mentioned that it is also running the latest free version of
ZoneAlarm.

I removed AVG Free Antivirus version 8 and rebooted. The problem
dissapeared.

I then installed AVG 8 and rebooted. The problem returned.

This seems to be related to an AVG update from the last couple of days.
Before that Windows Update was not a problem.

Doubtful: I've got AVG v8.0 installed here and cannot reproduce.

Did you install WinXP SP3 via Windows Update or manually? When did you
install SP3? Were Spybot Tea Timer, Ad-Aware Pro Ad-Watch, AVG AV,
Defender, and/or ZA Free running when you installed SP3?

 

[Nonny]

Removed AVG 8 and rebooted. IE7 Tools|Windows Update works.
Restored AVG 8 and rebooted. IE7 Tools|Windows Update hangs.

Thassa clue.

 

[ralphs]

Doubtful: I've got AVG v8.0 installed here and cannot reproduce.

Did you install WinXP SP3 via Windows Update or manually? When did you
install SP3? Were Spybot Tea Timer, Ad-Aware Pro Ad-Watch, AVG AV,
Defender, and/or ZA Free running when you installed SP3?
-----------------------------------------------

Did you install WinXP SP3 via Windows Update or manually?

IE7's Tools|Windows Update initiated manually.

When did you install SP3?

The day after it was released to auto update, NOT when it was first
available.

Were Spybot Tea Timer, Ad-Aware Pro Ad-Watch, AVG AV, Defender, and/or ZA
Free running when you installed SP3?

I do not like Tea Timer and it is not installed on my machine.

Ad-Aware Free, Spybot, AVG 7.5, Windows Defender (AKA Giant) and ZoneAlarm
were running as they were with SP1 and with SP2 and, as with those other
two, SP3 happily installed without incident.

All of the spyware, anti-virus and Windows Update are checked daily for
updates and if any are available they are applied. Same for Firefox, Opera,
Adobe reader, Google Earth and Google Sketchup. ZoneAlarm is checked about
once a week and updated when a week has passed without big complaints from
people on the web.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

IE7's Tools|Windows Update initiated manually.


The day after it was released to auto update, NOT when it was first
available.


I do not like Tea Timer and it is not installed on my machine.

Ad-Aware Free, Spybot, AVG 7.5, Windows Defender (AKA Giant) and ZoneAlarm
were running as they were with SP1 and with SP2 and, as with those other
two, SP3 happily installed without incident.

<snip>

I'd suspect ZA myself.

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

 

[ralphs]

I'd suspect ZA myself.

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldro...requisites-for-a-successful-installation.aspx

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Note that I greatly appreciate your help.

SP3 appears to work correctly. The problem seems to be that AVG8 blocks
IE7's Tools|Windows Update on my machine. This behavior remains if I disable
ZoneAlarm.

From what I read in those links you seem to be suggesting that I uninstall
the service packs, remove or disable all protection, set up Active Recovery
(and buy other disk(s) to do that with, hoping that AR will honor USB disks)
and then install SP1, 2 and 3. Surely that is not what you mean to suggest.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Note that I greatly appreciate your help.

SP3 appears to work correctly. The problem seems to be that AVG8 blocks
IE7's Tools|Windows Update on my machine. This behavior remains if I
disable
ZoneAlarm.

From what I read in those links you seem to be suggesting that I uninstall
the service packs, remove or disable all protection, set up Active
Recovery
(and buy other disk(s) to do that with, hoping that AR will honor USB
disks)
and then install SP1, 2 and 3. Surely that is not what you mean to
suggest.

AVG 8.0's LinkScanner and "security toolbar" may be the source of your
problems. (I didn't consider this as I'd never install either of them and
didn't think anyone else would either. They've been the source of problems
for many WinXP and Vista users.) Try the following (if you want to keep
using AVG):

1. Download a fresh copy of the installer, saving it to your C: drive (i.e,
C:\avg_free_stf_en_8_100a1295.exe) =>
http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/avg_free_stf_en_8_100a1295.exe

2. Uninstall AVG 8.0 via Add/Remove Programs & reboot.

NB: You're "working without a net" now: Don't to ANYTHING else online (e.g.,
browsing; reading email; chatting) until you've got AVG 8.0 installed,
properly configured, and updated!

3. Carefully follow these instructions to install AVG 8.0:
http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1338

Tip: Do NOT install the toolbar (if offered) or either of the email
scanners. Email Scanning provides no additional protection, it's a major
source of corruption and problems in Outlook Express, and even Symantec
(NAV) says it's not necessary:

<QP>
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses that
are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect scans
incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email and
email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of this. To
make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection, keep
Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you have
the most recent virus definitions.
</QP>
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2002111812533106

4. Configure AVG as you wish via the User Interface | Tools | Advanced
settings

5. Check for and install any available updates.

 

[ralphs]

AVG 8.0's LinkScanner and "security toolbar" may be the source of your
problems. (I didn't consider this as I'd never install either of them and
didn't think anyone else would either. They've been the source of
problems for many WinXP and Vista users.) Try the following (if you want
to keep using AVG):

1. Download a fresh copy of the installer, saving it to your C: drive
(i.e, C:\avg_free_stf_en_8_100a1295.exe) =>
http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/avg_free_stf_en_8_100a1295.exe

2. Uninstall AVG 8.0 via Add/Remove Programs & reboot.

NB: You're "working without a net" now: Don't to ANYTHING else online
(e.g., browsing; reading email; chatting) until you've got AVG 8.0
installed, properly configured, and updated!

3. Carefully follow these instructions to install AVG 8.0:
http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1338

Tip: Do NOT install the toolbar (if offered) or either of the email
scanners. Email Scanning provides no additional protection, it's a major
source of corruption and problems in Outlook Express, and even Symantec
(NAV) says it's not necessary:

<QP>
Disabling Email Scanning does not leave you unprotected against viruses
that are distributed as email attachments. Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect
scans incoming files as they are saved to your hard drive, including email
and email attachments. Email Scanning is just another layer on top of
this. To make sure that Auto-Protect is providing the maximum protection,
keep Auto-Protect enabled and run LiveUpdate regularly to ensure that you
have the most recent virus definitions.
</QP>
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2002111812533106

4. Configure AVG as you wish via the User Interface | Tools | Advanced
settings

5. Check for and install any available updates.

When I re-installed AVG 8 after a reboot I already had done what you
suggest. I downloaded a new copy onto another machine, renamed the
original, used FC /B to verify that they were identical and installed AVG 8
from the USB stick.

That was the configuration when I reported that Windows Update did not work
after reinstallation. Email scanning, LinkScanner and AVG toolbar have
never been enabled. (Other than the Web Developer's Toolbar on Firefox, no
toolbars are on my machines, also nothing Norton or Symantec.)

There was an update to AVG 8 today. After applying the update Windows
Update now works. They appear to have found this bug and fixed it.

.. Ed

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

When I re-installed AVG 8 after a reboot I already had done what you
suggest. I downloaded a new copy onto another machine, renamed the
original, used FC /B to verify that they were identical and installed AVG
8
from the USB stick.

That was the configuration when I reported that Windows Update did not
work
after reinstallation. Email scanning, LinkScanner and AVG toolbar have
never been enabled. (Other than the Web Developer's Toolbar on Firefox,
no
toolbars are on my machines, also nothing Norton or Symantec.)

There was an update to AVG 8 today. After applying the update Windows
Update now works. They appear to have found this bug and fixed it.

Thanks for your feedback! I must admit that I've never encountered your
issues...but then I don't have SP3 installed yet either!