It's running....


...McAfee

As there's not much data and, as far as I can see, the only software of note installed is MS Works V9 - there's a few utility type apps, e.g. iTunes, Rapport, but nothing of real significance that might affect a rebuild.

I need to find where Works came from as the install date is only last year so probably wouldn't have been part of the original build in September 2008.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Sorry, I should have mentioned that Safe Mode works fine. That's how I've been able to create a new user.

It's been running all night in that new user, including a full virus scan. So I don't think it's overheating. A corrupt user profile seems to be the most likely cause on current thinking.

So to clarify. You can log in as this 'corrupt' user in safemode?

Correct, I can log in using Safe Mode.

And the new user I created is works ok in normal mode.

The only problem is the lack of Windows Update functionality.

You could boot up and enable boot logging. Then check the ntbootlog.txt file.

It might indeed be something that can't be disabled or changed, but it's strange that the account is fine in safemode, but not normal mode (in that I suspect the account itself is fine, but conflicts with something on normal boot).

Are there any system restore points that pre-date the problem?


And if you are going to rebuild run Belarc advisor first. It will give some useful information and keys for apps.

See my posts ... had a very similar issue with on two PCs running McAfee AV. And this one is too!

A good way of fixing Windows Update is sometimes to install Microsoft Update (if you haven't already), this tends to repair the Windows Update components in the process..

Also, ensure automatic updates is turned on. In Windows XP, the automatic update system is very separate to the web based Windows Update, so you may find one of them works and the other doesn't.

Run a full chkdsk, do a disk cleanup, consider running CCleaner and clear the IE temporary files etc.

Does Belarc show the keys for installed software? If not, hunt down old copies of Everest. IIRC, there's a utility on the ISO that I PM'd you about that will reveal installed software keys. If the worst comes to the worst, there's a legitimate copy of Works 9 here somewhere that you can have if you really need it. However, it may take a while for me to get it to you.

I also have an OEM copy of Vista here rather than reinstalling the age old crud that would accompany the inbuilt restore. You will need the OEM key for this.

Checking in the laptop bag (should have done that before ) there all the CDs for reinstalling/reinstating the Dell system, as well as the MS Works CD.

I'm quite comfortable waiting for all the updates to download and install, I've done that many times in the last year or so on XP systems

I'll certainly run Belarc, it's part of my usual toolkit.

I'll check that, can't remember if the link is Windows Update or Microsoft Update - will check when next boot it up. Given that WU won't run I presume I'll have to go to the MS web site and find the download(s).