Windows 7: Win 7 update problem

I updated Win 7 on sisters Toshiba laptop ( Satallite A505-S6960) last night, and now have a problem when clicking on START. I momentarily see the start menu, but then what appears to be a search function starts and covers the menu. The search box is filled with all "x's", and the message received is "no items match your search." Any suggestions to fis this?

Hello and welcome to Seven Forums!

I have no idea what is causing the problem itself but if you'd do a system restore it should go away.
Open up Control panel > Recovery > Open system restore
It will choose you a recommended resotration point which is the latest available, though you can check it by taking a look at the exact date of creaton.
Click next and then finish.
Windows will restore the system files to an earlier point of time. The problem should disappear.
If you really want those updates you can try them again, but first tell us what updates are we talking about.

Regards

It may be a problem with the update which System Restore can reverse, however it sounds like infection from a renegade search (spyware) provider, or corruption which has built up from the bloated factory preinstall.

Check for infection by installing, updating and running Malwarebytes full scan, if necessary from Safe Mode. Then run SuperAntiSpyware full scan.

Make sure you have the Windows 7 Firewall turned on and are using a good AV like free Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast6. Run a full scan with either of those.

Next follow these steps to clean up a bloated factory preinstalled computer, particularly achieving a clean boot where only the OS and your AV start with Windows. Clean up factory bloatware

In addition after unchecking everything in msconfig>Startup besides AV, enter msconfig>Services, select "Hide all MS Services" then uncheck everything still running except AV. Check back periodically with both lists to make sure nothing has snuck back in - if so turn it off in its program Preferences or uninstall it.