Removing malware

I'm using windows vista, sp1. my computer shows files from a memory stick as a short cut, I cannot access them, if I send files from my computer to another they are displayed also as short cuts. I'm using AVG Free edition 9.0. Also I cannot get new updates from microsoft, I get an error message code 80072 EFE.

 

Greetings, mveli09wamabetho, and welcome to Major Geeks.

If you suspect that the Windows Update issue is malware-related, then I suggest you go through the Malware Forum's Read & Run Me First thread, perform all of the suggested steps, and attach the requested logs to a new thread in that forum.

As far as the memory stick problem: how are you transferring files? Are you copy/pasting, or are you using some other method?