Re: System Restore and more problems

Hi Ramesh;
Thanks for the follow-up on the MS05-052 patch and the 909889 fix. I have
now reinstalled the two final October patches, so all five (MS05-48 thru 52)
are in place; re-run the 909889 fix - the machine functions, no smoke and I'm
still alive.

Still no Windows update however. The opening page asks me to reaccept the
T&Cs of Microsoft update (which I do), we pass onto a page which tells me I
need to install new software files (I accept), download happens, installation
seems to run - then there's a pause and it drops me back to the opening page
welcoming me to Microsoft Update and we go round again.

I'm beginning to think that I have cured most of the October patches
aftermath and now I am on the track of other problems. Perhaps something
clashed following the October patches which has caused other problems. I
remember at the time of patching I was running my Panda Titanium AV and
Webroot SpySweeper 4.0 (now upgraded to 4.5). I attempted to install Norton
Systemworks 2005 (without the AV section) to see if this program could help
my October woes - which is roundabout when my slow start ups and closing down
problems appeared.

I have noticed that some people have had problems with Norton AV and
SpySweeper in the same environment.

My slow start-ups are as follows - machine boots, Windows timer page arrives
quickly, my background desktop image arrives on time and the Windows opening
chime sounds - then nothing for ten minutes until my taskbar and desktop
icons appear as they should. If I query the Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del) it
shows System Idle running at 99% and not much else happening. Perhaps this
indication is normal. There are no warning messages.

Any pointers you have to cure this would be appreciated - each reboot after
patch installations has taken a long time.

Thanks - Malcolm

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> Malcolm,
>
> Actually the 909889 fix is to be applied after installing the MS05-052
> Cumulative update.
>
> --
> Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
> Windows XP Shell/User
>
> Windows XP Troubleshooting
> http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "MalcolmP" <MalcolmP@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:B0AD03C3-848B-43DC-A80E-B8A0C24C71BA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Hi Ramesh;
> >
> > Thanks for your reply; I have tried the suggested ActiveX fix
> > (KB909889.reg)
> > but this hasn't changed a thing. Still no Windows Update. Should I try
> > reinstalling the two October patches which I think started the problem but
> > I
> > have since removed?
> > These were KB896688 and KB902400.
> >
> > I have been hesitant in re-installing these updates.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Malcolm
> >
> > "Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:
> >
> >> More information:
> >>
> >> ActiveX controls may not load as expected in Internet Explorer due to
> >> defense in depth changes introduced in cumulative security update 896688
> >> (MS05-052):
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=909889
> >>
> >> --
> >> Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
> >> Windows XP Shell/User
> >>
> >> Windows XP Troubleshooting
> >> http://www.winhelponline.com
> >>
> >>
> >> "MalcolmP" <MalcolmP@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> news:B1400CC9-7F78-4389-93F7-AEF7E28DDE49@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> > Hi All;
> >> >
> >> > Could I join in on this? I have exactly the same symptoms after
> >> > installing
> >> > the October Updates and responded by deleting them straight away and
> >> > then
> >> > following the instructions in the MS Article 909444 issued after the
> >> > MS05-051
> >> > Security Bulletin release to rest Administrators controls.
> >> >
> >> > I lost System Restore, Windows updates and my CD drive. The machine
> >> > takes
> >> > about 15 mins to start and 10 mins to shut down but appears to work
> >> > normally
> >> > inbetween. I have to disable the WIA service to see my files in Windows
> >> > Explorer although my scanner works fine; MS article 823612 suggested
> >> > the
> >> > slow
> >> > start up was due to my HP scanner driver being out-dated but it isn't.
> >> >
> >> > Three weeks on I have just discovered your parallel problems on these
> >> > pages
> >> > and it has been a great relief to know I'm not alone - although I
> >> > sympathize
> >> > with you all.
> >> >
> >> > I think it's plot to sell more new computers with MS Windows installed
> >> > on
> >> > them.
> >> >
> >> > Any help you can give will be appreciated.
> >> >
> >> > Malcolm
> >> > "guy_montag@xxxxxxxxxxx" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Hi Magnus,
> >> >>
> >> >> Just to say you're not alone. Since installing the October MS
> >> >> patches,
> >> >> I've got exactly the same critical malfunctions with my PC too.
> >> >>
> >> >> It looks like it's a total failure of all COM accesses (anytime any
> >> >> script calls an object it comes back with a variety of errors). The
> >> >> monthly patches did major updating to the COM+ and MSDTC stuff to
> >> >> block
> >> >> remote execution, and I believe that somehow it has blocked local
> >> >> access on our machines as well.
> >> >>
> >> >> I've tried reinstalling MS05-51, MS05-052, MS05-048, MS05-049 and
> >> >> MS05-050 to no avail.
> >> >>
> >> >> I've reinstalled COM+ as per steps to correct a corrupt catalog. I've
> >> >> reinstalled MSDTC.
> >> >>
> >> >> I've reinstalled SP2.
> >> >>
> >> >> I've checked the COM security settings (and figured out why my Edit
> >> >> Limits button was greyed out - it was being set by a local security
> >> >> policy and on clearing out the policy value (not defined), the button
> >> >> became available again). Still nothing looks wrong in there compared
> >> >> to another machine that works. I am highly suspicious that local
> >> >> launch and activation permissions are screwed though. Or maybe a
> >> >> certificate problem but again nothing looks wrong.
> >> >>
> >> >> I've tried uninstalling Norton Antivirus, Firewall and MS Antispyware
> >> >> (i.e. anything that might be affecting script operation).
> >> >>
> >> >> As you will know, this problem has been lurking for a while (reports
> >> >> of
> >> >> User Accounts failure, Services MMC snapin) go back to 2003.
> >> >>
> >> >> In my case, as well as what you've described, I don't get any active
> >> >> content in IE (all Flash animations appear as red X boxes), even
> >> >> though
> >> >> IE security zones are all set to default.
> >> >>
> >> >> I KNOW it was the October monthly security updates that triggered it
> >> >> (maybe an incompatibility with something else I have installed), as I
> >> >> always run Microsoft Update twice, and it was the second time (after
> >> >> the reboot for MS05-051) when Microsoft Update stopped working.
> >> >>
> >> >> So Ramesh - the question to you is can you think of how you would go
> >> >> about disabling all local object access in scripts and all active
> >> >> content in IE to generate the myriad of errors that Magnus and I are
> >> >> seeing.
> >> >>
> >> >> In the meantime, I've taken a backup and restored from a backup taken
> >> >> at end August- Windows directory tree only. This seems to have fixed
> >> >> it.
> >> >>
> >> >> I'll reapply all the updates over the next day or two (one at a time)
> >> >> and if I figure out which has crippled my machine I'll report back.
> >> >>
> >> >> Is anyone else out there having similar problems post October 12th?
> >> >>
> >> >> Guy
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
.