windows update killed my computer

[eagl]

Just a heads up...

The latest windows updates killed my computer.  The following patches reported successful installations, but now the computer locks immediately on bootup before it gets to the windows splash screen.

KB929338
KB929399
KB890830
Root Certificates

Beware...  None of the usual tricks (F8 boot modes, etc) work at all.  The system freezes up immediately on boot.  I checked the hardware using a linux boot cd and the computer itself runs fine.

Anyhow, if I didn't have a recent backup I'd be totally hosed since I can't even boot in safe mode or get at the system restore points.  My winXP cd is pre-SP1 so a recovery installation would be very painful.  So I'll just use ghost and restore to the last known good backup.

[Yeager]

was it a critical update?  The guy I bought my PC from warned me not to install any windows updates unless they were critical.  Maybe his advice was accurate........

[moot]

Thanks for the heads-up.   That Genuine Windows stuff stinks too.

[Maverick]

I haven't had any problems wioth the updates so far including the last one earlier this week.

Have you done a restore yet?

[PuckIt]

Originally posted by Yeager
Maybe his advice was accurate........

Very accurate if you are running a "copy" of XP.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Windows updates don't kill computers. Users do.

[eagl]

I restored from my norton ghost backup.  I haven't re-tried the update.

Ripley,  please explain.  There doesn't seem to be any "user" input into screwing up a windows update, so when a computer works fine before an update and fails to boot after the update, it seems very strange to call that a user induced failure.  Do you have any more specific information or recommendation?

[Skuzzy]

Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
Windows updates don't kill computers. Users do.

I know you meant this as tongue in cheek, but it is possible to hose up your computer with updates, if the updates manage to get installed out of order.  This was very easy to do with the earlier versions of the MS update/installer tool.

[Mini D]

Originally posted by eagl
The latest windows updates killed my computer.  The following patches reported successful installations, but now the computer locks immediately on bootup before it gets to the windows splash screen.

KB929338
KB929399
KB890830
Root Certificates

Beware...  None of the usual tricks (F8 boot modes, etc) work at all.  The system freezes up immediately on boot.  I checked the hardware using a linux boot cd and the computer itself runs fine.

Uh-oh. When did this happen? I found my wife's computer with a HD error screen on Friday afternoon. I went to reboot it and can't even get into the bios. It just locks.

[Mini D]

Pulled the case off of my computer and powered it up to see if all the fans were coming on... it turned on just fine. Put the case back on after dusting it off a bit and everything is working fine. That's just swell.

[Yeager]

Very accurate if you are running a "copy" of XP.
====
He DID say to install the critical security updates.  What do you think of that?

[Irwink!]

Even though its written for the professional IT person, official MS course texts instruct one to never install a Windows update without first having tested it in a non-production environment. That's hard to do for the typical home user. Many networks use Windows Software Update Service on a server to dish out only those updates to clients that an administrator has approved first. WSUS is a free MS product that they advise IT people to use to dspense updates. MS states that it is the "best practice" to put WSUS between Windows Updates and downstream clients to prevent just such problems on client systems. If you're going to use Windows Automatic Updates at least configure to download but NOTIFY before install. That way if you select "custom" install you get a chance to look at each update and elect then whether or not to install it.

[PuckIt]

Originally posted by Yeager
Very accurate if you are running a "copy" of XP.
====
He DID say to install the critical security updates.  What do you think of that?

I think your ok according to this article. Unless MS has cracked down more recently. Its a little old.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/26/ms_updates_wga_launch/ Fakers beware: no more MS updates for you: Published Tuesday 26th July 2005 11:07 GMT

Microsoft is no longer providing updates to non-genuine versions of its Windows XP operating system. From today, the company has switched over to a full launch of its Windows Genuine Advantage Programme as part of its ongoing anti-piracy campaign.

Users will now have to join the WGA authentication program if they want to receive software updates from the Microsoft Download Centre or from Windows Update. However, MS says it will still provide security patches for pirated systems, which will be available via Automatic Updates in Windows.

[SirLoin]

I haven't updated in a while..let's see what happens.

[Skuzzy]

I keep my home computer up to date (I use it for the acid test before doing it at work) and it has had no problems, as have none of the computers at HTC.