Recent automatic update trashed my system

[7ornuttin]

New member today and first post, please bear with me. I'd have to describe myself as an advanced beginner, FWIW.

I have an older Dell 780 (W7 HmPrem 32bit) intended for eventual Linux school, connected to the KVM, used occasionally and until recently kept up on essential updates. Used it three days ago (Sun) and it got left asleep until some time Mon afternoon. Tried to wake it up but would not respond to any input, so had to shut it down via power switch. Restarted it to check status and when clicked to open browser would flash to white screen (inside of standard borders) with buffer wheel spinning perpetually. Click on the 'close x' and the 'Firefox not responding' box pops up, click on that and the white center turns black. Over and over. Things seemed to work in 'safe mode w/n-w'. Decided to dump various security utilities not of my choice that were on the machine when I got it, and install my preferred brand (ZA) to see if I could clean it up, but towards the end of the install I get a message that Windows Install is not available. Numerous times.

Now I'm thinking really nasty infection (my first), so I study up and pick Kaspersky Rescue Disk to download and run. Not so simple for the not-so-savvy but I got it done, x2 full scan, no infection. WTH! So I start flailing and digging trying anything I can think of to stir up a clue, when I hit on checking downloads/updates and their dates. Bingo, KB2310138 automatically installed 6/15/20. Wth again, I was sure I had auto update turned off. Have I found the culprit? I'm inclined to think so. But what now?

Sorry for the novel, but it gets weirder. While composing this post I decide I should go back and verify the update details, but when I get back into CP to view the updates they look substantially different, no automatic updates listed as such like before, and the offending one nowhere to be seen. I had just turned off automatic updates (and CEIP) but I wouldn't have expected that to affect the report. Really messed with my marginal mind there briefly.

Long way around to ask if anyone has any suggestions, or is it time to wipe that drive and take the open source plunge. Not all that knowledgeable on the topic but have read a fair bit about these updates gone bad. Thanks for your forbearance.

 

[SIW2]

Simplest just to do clean install of win 7.

You will need the license key to activate after installation. You could backup the existing activation before installing

SEE HERE

if you want to do it from booted media, you can borrow my boot media
17514x64v20.iso

extract the iso to usb using something like
https://www.sevenforums.com/attachm...nstall-no-volume-information-disk-usb7ice.zip

Then boot from the usb you just created. Dism++ and a lot of other tools are included.

 

[7ornuttin]

SIW2 -- Thanks for the advice and the offer. I have a 7Pro64bit disc and coa that I'm contemplating putting to use. You know, after all the heavy-handed gloom-and-doom W7 end-of-life harping from MS I was pretty much resigned to the Linux switch (have a W10 laptop that the wife and I absolutely despise) but starting to realize that 7 is not so dead after all. I kinda like the 780 and employing the 64bit os will let it utilize its 8gig of memory. Despite claims that some Linux distros easily replace Windows, that has not been my experience (based on my dabblings with Mint and Zorin).


Yeah, I'm thinking that with good anti-malware utilities and going with VPN, W7 should be usable and safe for the foreseeable future. I guess I'll continue to research any future updates before considering application. My perception is that MS's only consideration is keeping we consumers on the shortest of leashes, which translates directly to power and money for them. Just my gut feeling, but a good working os like 7 doesn't work well for their model of forcing their onerous 10 wonderchild on us. They've destroyed my trust. And, as the the saying goes, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get ya.......

 

[SIW2]

After installing, you could run simplix updatepack which will install updates for you. It might reboot a couple of times and cleanup.