Startup Repair after installing over a 100 windows updates

[Andy29]

This is my first time using this forum and am in desperate need of fixing my computer. It was working fine for a few months, then I don't know if I got a virus, worm, or whatever. It will say that updates need to be installed and count down time to restart my computer. When it restarts, the startup repair screen appears and doesn't fix the problem. I am usually able to fix it with restore point through system repair however. It will load windows, then shuts down or restarts whenever it wants. And keeps installing over 50 windows updates at a time, and don't know if they're trojans or not. I have restored my laptop to factory default settings, several times, but it keeps happening. I am a school student, and need my computer for a lot of things and am very frustrated about this. My computer specs are:

Gateway NV54 (Laptop)
Intel Pentium Processor T4400
15.6" 16:9 HD LED LCD
320 GB HDD
3GB Memory
DVD-Super Multi DL drive
Webcam
Multi-in-1 card reader

Any help would be appreciated and I thank you for your time.
​

 

[gregrocker]

Hi Andy -

Do you have SP1 installed yet? You can download the standalone installer which will install SP1 with all of the updates rolled up into it and might be able to bypass the problem if it is caused by Updates.

I would turn off Automatic Updates and install any remaining updates one at a time or in small batches to determine which one is causing the problem, then open a Support case at Windows Update website (free support via Email) and/or we can help you here. .

I would also run SFC -SCANNOW Command to see if System Files are corrupted. A more major repair is the Repair Install but it requires the Installer to run it from desktop, and requires an installer with SP1 if you have SP1.

Do you have access to a Win7 installer to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker? This is a superior install unhindered by the corrupting factory bloatware and useless utilities which have better versions built into Win7.

Here are the steps to look over: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[Andy29]

Thanks for the reply. I don't believe that I have sp1. Is there a certain site that I can download that from? Also, I have turned off Automatic Updates, will attempt to install them one by one. I will also run the scannow and see how that works. As far as the Win7 install, my computer came with Win7 already installed on it, so I don't have a cd to install it. Anyways, when I get home from school around 5 or so, I will attempt to work with it with your suggestions and will post again as soon as I see if it works or not.

 

[gregrocker]

First install SP1 from here: Download details: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932)

First I would go to Windows Updates on your computer, scan for Updates, see if it offers SP1. If not, install SP1 from the standalone installer to see if this clears up your Updates problem.

After installing SP1, check for Updates again and install them. If the problem persists, System Restore to before the Updates and install them one-by-one or in small groups to determine which Update is causing the problem.

 

[Andy29]

Okay, the SP1 was not in my updates, so I downloaded and installed it. Seemed to install correctly. Then I installed updates, approx 53, and the computer restarted, then brought up system repair again. It finished and I was able to restart and Windows 7 loaded. I checked the updates and it said 100 important updates. I looked at my computer, and under "Windows Edition" it doesn't say Service Pack 1 anymore. I tried the "Scannow" attempt, but it came back saying that it didn't find anything...

 

[Layback Bear]

Go to Windows updates and then select update history and see if you have SP-1 installed. After a large update I always reboot whether is tell me to or not. How long have you been using this computer? What is the reason you need so many updates?

 

[Andy29]

There is no Service pack that is installed, though I did install SP1, and rebooted afterwards. My computer caught a bad virus that my AVG couldn't fix. I even tried Norton, and Mcafee. But nothing seems to work. I had to do a "restore to factory default." And it still seems like there's a virus there, but now nothing is detecting it. I don't have a separate Windows 7 cd since it came pre-installed on my computer.

 

[gregrocker]

Run a full AV scan now with Malwarebytes. Then uninstall AVG crapware and install MSE or Avast 6 (which has a deep boot scan in 32 bit) and run another full scan. It's possible inferior AVG let the infection survive factory restore.

Andy can you borrow or find a Win7 DVD to clean reinstall Win7 after wiping the HD of all code? SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

All versions can be unlocked in any installer by extracting the ISO, running the eicfg removal tool
then burn an all-versions DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed, or write to flash stick using this tool with Win7 in the dropdown: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3. Install with the Product Key on your COA sticker.

The Digital River official ISO downloads can be googled from My Digital Life.

The alternative is to wipe the HD of all code so the infection cannot survive then reinstall with the Recovery Disks if you made them before the infection. I would first scan them with Malwarebytes. Or you can order them from the maker.

Here are the steps to get a perfect clean reinstall of factory OEM if you can find an installer: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[Andy29]

I don't think i can get my hands on a win7 cd. I did however make Recovery Disks that took 3 dvd-r to make when I first got my laptop. I will try a complete recovery, sometimes it gets confusing to me but I will follow the instructions on the link you gave me. Also, I've used Malwarebytes and search and destroy but they found nothing wrong with my system. I will post when I do that tomorrow and hopefully can come to some positive result. Thanks for the tip and I'll let you know what happens.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you run SFC -SCANNOW Command I suggested earlier? You may have System files which are damaged and can be repaired to solve the strange updates issue.

You can also try resetting Windows Updates. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html

Did you use the Recovery Disks to do the Factory Recovery you've already done, or did you run Factory Recovery from Win7 or from boot using the partition? The reason I ask is because the disks can fail.

The importance of running it again using the disks is so that you can wipe the HD first as this may be the rare case where infection has survived factory recovery. SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

You'll need to make a Win7 Repair CD (which you should have anyway) if you can't find a DVD (a good backup it would be) to wipe the HD. System Repair Disc - Create

 

[Andy29]

I did run the system file checker, if that was the Scannow that I was supposed to do in command prompt under administrator, but it came up with no errors. All I have are recovery dvds that I made when I first bought it. I will try the windows update reset method and see if that works

 

[Britton30]

Hello Andy. All those updates you are seeing may be Language packs, most of which you won't need. If so, go through the list and righ click each one, Hide Update. I had many of these too and each one had to be hidden separately.:sarc:

 

[Andy29]

Okay, I have an idea, but not sure if it will work, and since you guys are the experts on this matter, let me ask you. What if I download the updates so they are on my computer, but instead of installing them, I scan the computer using Norton and Malwarebytes to see if it picks anything up? Will that work? Because even though the updates won't be installed, wouldn't they be scanned since they will be downloaded? Also, 90% of the updates are "security" updates. Don't see any language packs there.

 

[gregrocker]

This is a malfunction with Updates that may or may not have been caused by the infection you had before you factory recovered.

Have you reset Windows Updates? If you have any question it was done correctly, do it again.

Since it made it past installation of standalone SP1 without malfunctioning I would reinstall SP1 then install the remaining Updates in small groups of 4-5 with a Restore Point. Take your time, days if necessary.

When you hit upon the group which causes the problem, System Restore (from the System Recovery Options if necessary) to before that group. Then install them one-by-one with a Restore Point before each until you find the problem Update and do not install it until we show you how to open a Support Case with Windows Updates support.

Simultaneously I would work through these standard WIn7 troubleshooting steps
to check the integrity of Win7 and your hardware.

 

[Andy29]

Okay, I installed the updates in bundles and have narrowed it down to the one update that keeps my computer starting with the "startup repair." Here is the update that is causing it.. "Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2506014)"

 

[gregrocker]

This thread has more information including useful links about the problem Update and how to open a Support Case with Windows Updates which is free via Email: http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...601-win-update-kb2506014-causes-restarts.html