Windows Update problem - could be malware?

girlintheYhat · Jan 19, 2011

I work for a small Mac-based company and we have one PC that we need to run an essential program. I protect it with Zone Alarm Free, MSE and Super AntiSpyware. It runs XP SP3.

A while back, it stopped running Windows Update properly, giving me the error code 0x8007f0da. I ran through the steps on the Microsoft Knowledge Base for curing this error, but to no avail.

It doesn't seem to have a malware issue particularly, it is slow but I know this is due to the low RAM. However, I would appreciate an expert opinion to rule out or remove malware if necessary.

I ran through Read Me and Run First, all logs are attached apart from Combo Fix, which just did nothing when I tried to run it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, many thanks in advance.

Kestrel13! · Jan 19, 2011

Currently reviewing those logs and will get back to you with a response a little later on.

Kestrel13! · Jan 20, 2011

Important Notice: A new version of SUPERAntiSpyware is available.

Please uninstall your current version (this is necessary).

Then download this SUPERAntiSpyware

Install this new version. It may tell you that you need to reboot to complete the installation. You must reboot at this time.

After the reboot, run SUPERAntiSpyware and immediately click the Check for Updates button to get more updates for the database.

Now run a new full scan of your system. And attach this log later.

If you do not use Windows Messenger Run this Disable/Remove Windows Messenger to remove Windows Messenger. Do not confuse Windows Messenger with MSN Messenger because they are not the same. Windows Messenger is a frequent cause of popups.

Run Ccleaner. Only use the Run Cleaner button. Do not run anything else on any other forms.

Any problems you have will have to be worked out in the software forum. However take a look at the below.

1. Make sure time and date and TimeZone are correct
2. See if it works in safe boot mode
3. Reset HOSTS file

Download HostsXpert and then follow the below steps.

Unzip HostsXpert.zip

It will create a folder named HostsXpert in whatever folder you extract it to.

Run HostsXpert.exe by double clicking on it.

Click the Make Writeable? button. (if you only see a Make Read-Only selection, it is already writeable so skip this button).

Click Restore Microsoft's Hosts File and then click OK.

Click the X to exit the program

4. flush DNS server

Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select
"Run as administrator". Then type in: ipconfig/flushdns
and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

5. add Microsoft URLs to the Trusted Zone (see below)
6. shutdown firewall and retry
7. shutdown AntiVirus and try

MS URLs

http://*.update.microsoft.com
http://download.windowsupdate.com
http://genuine.microsoft.com
http://go.microsoft.com
http://support.microsoft.com
http://update.microsoft.com
https://*.update.microsoft.com <--Notice the https designation.

The first thing to always check for Windows Update problems! make sure that Automatic Updates is not turned off. It needs to be on and the service status needs to be Started and the Service type needs to be Automatic.

girlintheYhat · Jan 24, 2011

Thanks for the reply, sorry it has taken me so long to post a reply, I can only work on this issue while in the office.

Please find the SAS log attached from the new version of the program, I left it running on Friday night. It cleaned a few cookies but looks OK otherwise.

Thanks for your tips, I have tried running Windows Update in safe mode but that didn't help solve the issue, I shall have a look at the Hosts Xpert program a little later in the day.

Thanks for the help, much appreciated.

Kestrel13! · Jan 24, 2011

Well let me know how you get on. It may be necessary for me to send you off to the software forum though.

girlintheYhat · Jan 26, 2011

Well, I've tried all your suggestions but no luck I'm afraid.

It's a funny one, I think the updates have definitely downloaded, as I can try and install them via the yellow shield in the Taskbar. Also, when I go to shut down, the red button in the dialog box has the Security Centre shield in it, informing me that I have updates to be installed, but nothing happens, the computer just shuts down.

Anyway, thanks so much for helping me rule out malware. I'll have to go back to the MS Knowledge Base and see if there are any other suggestions and see if Google searches bring anything up that might help.

Kestrel13! · Jan 26, 2011

Try posting in the software forum here. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:

We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. Unless you purchase them, they provide no protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.

If we had you use ComboFix, uninstall ComboFix (This uninstall will only work as written if you installed ComboFix on your Desktop like we requested.)

Click START then RUN and enter the below into the run box and then click OK. Note the quotes are required

"%userprofile%\Desktop\combofix" /uninstall

Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.

This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.

Go back to step 6 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.

Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.

If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.

If running Vista, it is time to make sure you have reenabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.

Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.

Goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click on this file to run this cleanup program that will remove files and folders
related to MGtools and some other items from our cleaning procedures.

If you are running Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:

Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 7 of the READ ME
for your Window version and see the instructions to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.

Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.

After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:

How to Protect yourself from malware!

girlintheYhat · Jan 27, 2011

Try posting in the software forum here. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.
Click to expand...

It's no problem, thanks for your assistance anyhow.

I will run through the final steps later on and then get started on the long advanced troubleshooting steps I have printed from Microsoft.

Kestrel13! · Jan 27, 2011

You're welcome. Safe surfing.

girlintheYhat · Jan 31, 2011

Just to let you know, I managed to solve the problem.

After going through the long troubleshooting article at Microsoft and coming up with nothing, I worked through your suggestions again. No idea why it didn't work in the first instance, but it seems that ZoneAlarm was the culprit. Once I disabled it, the updates were happy to install.

Very strange, as it had never blocked any updates before in the past, but I'm so glad to have Windows Update working again. Thanks so much.

Kestrel13! · Jan 31, 2011

Glad you got it figured.

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Windows Update problem - could be malware?

girlintheYhat Private E-2

Attached Files:

mbam-log-2011-01-13 (11-37-58).txt

MGlogs.zip

RootRepeal.txt

SAS - 01-12-2011 - 19-04-34.log

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

girlintheYhat Private E-2

Attached Files:

SAS Scan Log - 01-21-2011 - 18-10-34.txt

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

girlintheYhat Private E-2

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

girlintheYhat Private E-2

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

girlintheYhat Private E-2

Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member