Can't use windows update - Where can I find optional updates?

Arg the printer still does not work even though the windows updates do. What am i missing here? I feel like it should be simple.

ARG the printer still doesn't install. Please help me figure this next hurdle out. I'm halfway there...

I fixed a registry key and it made the updates install but not the printer...any ideas?

I agree that no frills is the way to go but I have had a few problems with MSE letting things thru that other virus scanners have found. I know I sound like a crazy person who can't make up my mind on what to do but what I am really doing is finding out the best way to set up my computer, solve any major problems and get things as perfect as I can. I don't mind messing stuff up so much mainly because I am trying to learn and thanks to people like you I now am beginning to understand things a lot better and in a lot more depth.

If I am driving you crazy feel free to let me know, but for now I am really appreciating the help and learning. I'm sure I will have to reinstall Windows on my netbook but when I do so I want to make sure I have everything lined up for afterwards - no reckless experimentation (unless absolutely necessary). At the moment I am using the netbook as a lab so I can figure things out while I slowly and carefully set up the other laptop. I am not the only one who uses that one so I have to be a bit more careful with it. I've been using computers since I was 2 (Dad was an engineer for Hughes) but the last few years I have had to step away from it because of having kids and problems. Now I'm back and need to catch up.

I had a 1tb external hard drive that was completely full. When I had it shipped from Ohio, where I was staying, back home to L.A. it arrived apparently wiped of all data. Something told me not to give up on it though so I let it sit there for years hoping that someday I would figure it out. The other day I dug it out and tried runniing some recovery software on it and it was processing data so I could tell it wasn't truly empty. Gave me an idea (sorry typing with one hand holding baby with other). Something in the back of my head told me to mess around with the security settings on the drive. I was right. Some virus had rewritten all the folders to appear as system folders. I was finally able to access everything after taking ownership - so I moved the stuff to new folders and now have 1tb of awesome media and all of my writing to sort thru.

My point - if I still have one - ... oh yeah so I ran scans. MSE found some infected files so I took care of those. Ran a scan using avast from my husbands computer and it found even more. Ran it again it said it was clean. Ran a fourth scan using panda from the netbook and it found even more. So, I don't really trust any anti-v to work as well as it should. As of now I have avast on the netbook and panda on the laptop.

It is awesome to be back into computers and have two so that I can use one for learning and testing ideas and another stable one for getting help and new ideas in case I really mess up the other one. lol.

My question right now is - is panda firewall batter than windows firewall? Does it make a difference? And how?

Thank you so much for all of your help! Every time I learn something new from someone else I spread it around to the other forums I have posted to and the ones I have investigated looking for answers. I can help people by proxy now and they are also grateful!

Arg the printer. Yes I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling the printer drivers but even on the rare occasion that it says it has finished installing the drivers (so it says) it still let me print using that printer. Even when it shows me it as an option on the print menu the print button is still grayed out and it tells me I have to find/add a printer.

Yes and no. It shows up and is checked but it is called "HP341B36 (HP Photosmart D110 series)" Instead of "HP Photosmart D110 series" This is ultra-frustrating.

> I have had a few problems with MSE letting things thru that other virus scanners have found.
This is by design. MSE decides to mostly watch for items that they deem a virus/worm and some Trojans. Malwarebytes can handle the other malware. Using Malwarebytes and MSE together works for most people. Avast can be a bit much at times, but some users seem to need that. I've not tested Panda for many months now, so I'm not sure how it is doing these days.


> MSE found some infected files so I took care of those.
> Ran a scan using avast from my husbands computer and it found even more.
When stuff is flagged as bad by some security software (antivirus, anti-malware or cleanup tools) those that created the software can contact the creator of the security app and present their case for why they are not creating bad software. There is a large collection of software that could subjectively be declared bad. Avast and MSE differ on what is declared bad. The security app that finds the most items is not necessarily the best one. This is especially true for anti-malware tools. Some tools flag things that are not really bad just to trick people into thinking that they are the best product.


> Ran a fourth scan using panda from the netbook and it found even more.
> So, I don't really trust any anti-v to work as well as it should.
You would need to research each item found before you could say that having Panda find "even more" items is a good thing. Don't be fooled by snake oil tactics. That said, if you are going to compare the detection rates, the computer should not be online between tests. Any media used to install/update the security product in question must be clean. How you determine that the media is clean (not infected) is problematic.


> My question right now is - is panda firewall batter than windows firewall?
> Does it make a difference? And how?
You probably are not going to get forum members to agree on this point. The Windows firewall mostly looks at keeping things from automatically getting into the computer. If you download something, you have brought it past that firewall and Windows figures that you meant to do that. Therefore, the Windows firewall does very little to stop apps that are on the inside from connecting to the Internet (the outside). Firewall software that automatically denies outgoing traffic can be difficult to maintain. I think that Panda's firewall automatically allows outgoing traffic just like Windows does. I really cannot say if Panda's firewall is better.


> I can help people by proxy now and they are also grateful!
There is no need to change things for this thread, but it is best to only handle one topic at a time in a thread. When you use a search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo....) to find solutions to computer problems, those search engines present returns based on a complex ranking system. Each ranking system is different, but most give weight to forum thread titles. This thread will probably be among the first few pages of results if one searches for the phrases "windows update" "find optional updates" in the same query. You will be helping others find their solutions if you stick to the thread topic title in future threads.


IMO: HP used to make fine hardware. HP has always made horrible software. I avoid HP when I can.

I'll let Layback Bear continue to help you with the printer issue.