Re: Windows Updates and Downloads - Cannot Display Web Pages

And the fix was...?

Not that I need to defend myself but paulderdash was experiencing a sudden, new problem and his computer was fully-patched when the problem started.

You, however, have been having the problem for over 9 months and the computer was seriously unpatched and subject to innumerable vulnerabilities. Even if you've gotten Windows Update working again, I still wouldn't trust the security of the computer.

We're all volunteers here, including MVPs who neither work for nor represent Microsoft; cf. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpexecsum


NYCJeremyB wrote:
We were monitoring your communication with paulderdash and called tthe
support number you gave him. They solved our problem in 5 minutes. We were
amazed at the quality of their support and still don't understand why you
didn't provide us with the same level of support you provided to
paulderdash.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
No.

NYCJeremyB wrote:
I think this other guy "paulderdash" has the same problems on the other
thread. Here are the suggestions you gave him:
See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883614 and/or
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914226, or possibly even
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058.

Why wouldn't these apply for me?
Thank you

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

I was not passing judgement on anything or anyone other than the owner of
the machine's casual disregard for security.

A Repair Install will NOT fix this. You should NOT follow specific
instructions or suggestions posted for any user other than yourself.

It's possible that an expert in such matters might be able to get the
computer cleaned-up and fully-patched. Having done just that for a
living
for several years, I can tell you that a format & clean install would be
a
much quicker and safer resolution.

No one here works for or represents MS and these newsgroups are not
official MS Support. We're all volunteers, including MVPs (cf.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpexecsum).
--
~PA Bear


NYCJeremyB wrote:
It's my kids computer and he lives with his mother so don't pass
judgement.
I became aware of the problem for the first time two days ago. We're
simply
looking for help from Microsoft. If you know that a repair will not fix
this, we'll do a clean install. I was hoping it could be fixed by
changing
a registry entry. Since we can see that others in this Forum are having
the
same problem, until we do the install, we'll keep monitoring their
threads
to see if a better solution is offered. Are you really a VP at
Microsoft?
Your response leads me to believe otherwise. But thanks anyway.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
You've not been able to install (or haven't installed) any critical
security updates for the past 9 months and you're only attending to it
now?

Save yourself a lot of grief and time: Backup your personal data, then
do
a
format & clean install of Windows. Please note that a Repair Install
(AKA
in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

cf. http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer"
so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise
connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key
that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully
patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after
a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Rogue Security Software - Microsoft Security:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


NYCJeremyB wrote:
My Windows Version is Windows XP SP3, with IE7 but as part of
troubleshooting my problem, I've uninstalled SP3 and IE7. I have the
same
issue, however, with SP2 and IE6:

When I try to do Windows Updates or download IE8 I get the message
that
The
Page Cannot Be Displayed. I can surf all other websites. When
checking
my
computer I can see that my last security update was from October of
2008,
which I just removed to see if that would fix the problem. It didn't.
I
removed XP Service Pack 3 and other browsers that I had but that
didn't
help. I'm running XP Professional in English but I have some things on
my
computer in French. I live in Belgium so when I go to the IE8
download
page it suggests the Belgian French version. I've gone to that page
as
well as the U.S. page to try to download but I always get the response
that
the page cannot be displayed. I get the same error when I try to do a
Windows or Microsoft Update from IE6, after removing IE7, or from the
Start
Menu. It's as if my legal version of Windows XP is not recognized or
all
of the update sites are blocked by something. I have Norton 360 but I
turn
the Firewall and Virus Scanner off each time I try so I don't think
that
is
the problem. I also notice the Update Icon in the Taskbar comes up
from
time to time but stays on 0% downloaded.

.

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