Enable test mode to solve USB problems?

Look in Windows Update, installed updates for SP1
You can also look in Control Panel -> Programs and Features then click View installed updates

You'll have to look for the words SP1 (I hope MS labeled it with that phrase...I'm not positive though). WU is organized by knowledge base articles (KB) - that's just the way MS refers to updates. I'm on Win8, so I can't look at Win7 without firing up a VM or another machine with Win7 on it, hence my I hope - if you can't find it, no worries.

Speccy says you are running SP1, but it doesn't tell the date it was installed
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1

This isn't that important - only to answer your inquiry re: the USB article.

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Regarding the fresh install.
Ok, let's forget about adding a drive.
but... think about replacing the existing drive with a new one.

To make it easier, let's forget about all the fancy SSD stuff and just consider a new HDD
Something like this would be fine
(not necessarily from Newegg, or this drive in particular ... talk to a local store to get a better feel for what is available - ask questions, then decide on a drive)
WD Blue WD7500BPVX 750GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 2.5" Internal Notebook Hard Drive Bare Drive - Newegg.com


Installing a disk drive is not much more difficult than changing a light bulb, especially in a laptop. You open the bottom, pull out the drive, slide in the new drive and close the bottom (there might be one cable to disconnect and reconnect on the new drive). The service manual makes it easy.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03221579.pdf

Think about it - it is the best way forward. If you can live without the USB ports, that's your call.

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There are two things I'd like to try while you ponder the drive information I posted.

CompGeek suggested repairing or rebuilding the root catalog
TVeblen suggested testing the hardware using Ubuntu

It's a good time to try those strategies. Let me review both and I'll get back with instructions (I have to read up).

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While I'm gone please run through these tutorials and see what the additional malware scanners see.
Kaspersky TDSSKiller: Detect / Repair TDSS Rookits
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Don't worry about the VirusTotal part in either (unless you want to), but please post the logs

Thanks,

Bill
.

Don't worry, I won't ask you to update the touchpad - as a matter of fact, hide it in Windows update
(right click on the Touchpad update offer, and select hide update)

Ok, there's a less intrusive way to remove an update if (when) this happens.
Using a Restore Point works, but it puts all the entire system back to the snapshot time. No harm, no foul ... I don't think much was changed between then and now, mostly conversation on the thread.

No user data was changed.

You can selectively uninstall updates, instead of reverting all system files back.

It's a learning curve, when to use which tool / feature.

Ok, now, where were we.
Manually run Windows Update and post a screen shot of both the optional and regular offers.

Don't select any optional offers, but do accept the regular offers. The Restore Point essentially told Windows to forget about those. The touchpad update should only appear in the optional offers, if you see one in the regular offers, de-select it.

Bill
.

I went back to see if anything else needed attention after you used the Restore Point, but didn't see anything other than running WU again.

I did see something I missed though. When Ii read the thread this morning, I didn't notice the time stamps on your posts about MSE. You started the scan last night and it was still running this morning.

That's indicative of two or three things.
1) A Full scan - with full options
2) Fragmentation on the disk
3) Malware was battling MSE to avoid detection.

1 & 2 aren't critical, but 3 is

I've copied my other scans post here - please run these after you post the WU screen shot and install the regular updates offered (not any optional ones unitl I can see the screen shot)

Additional malware scanners:
Kaspersky TDSSKiller: Detect / Repair TDSS Rookits
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Don't worry about the VirusTotal part in either (unless you want to), but please post the logs

Bill
.

Ok good - Then SP1 was installed a long time ago (2012 - using your feedback) and has no bearing on the USB issue now.

Right click on the touchpad update in the optional section and select hide update (or hide)
Yes, the definition updates are ok - select that.
the other regular updates are ok, I'm not sure why .NET 4.5.2 isn't selected, but WU does that on occasion, I just take what WU gives and run it again after the first set gets installed. If it's still not selected, I select it and install it. My guess is that Windows wants the other stuff installed and then the unselected one. Not sure on the exact reason though.

So click OK, you should see 6 important updates and 1 optional (definitions)
you can double check by clicking on the optional and important 'links' in the WU window
- make sure the touch pad is gone or at least that it isn't selected.

When you're sure - click install

Sorry, I don't think I let you know about those failed updates before.
I checked them in Speccy and they all succeeded on a subsequent update (one I'm not sure about, but I'm also not concerned - it wasn't a continuing failed update, only one time. IF WU doesn't consider it important enough to offer again , I'm not going to chase it)

Slartybart said:

ICIT2LOL said:

May I add Bill when that CCleaner is run that crabby checks the cookies in Options and saves the cookies that are linked to her passworded sites or else she will lose them and have to login all over again:) - it saves lot of time and what I always do.

Good point John, I'm fairly certain the default rules for the cleaner feature does not include cookie cleanup.
But ... I only asked her to run the Registry feature.

Smart Cookies is the name cCleaner uses - I use that, but you have to actually tell cCleaner that you want to preserve a certain cookie.

Bill
.

Ok mate mine just downloads with cookies n the clean up list - just a thought to save a heap of grief with the passwords.

ICIT2LOL said:

Ok mate mine just downloads with cookies n the clean up list - just a thought to save a heap of grief with the passwords.

and it is a good thought too - I'm not absolutely certain, only fairly certain :)

Always good to have another pair of eyes and cautionary advice given.

Thanks John.