Computer Idiot Question
 

My home laptop has Vista business. I also have to operate off an aircard as we get zero high speed here in the boonies. That said, I have disabled the automatic update for windows as it seems like every day there is another 40MB worth of updates that it needs and I only get 5gig per month on the aircard FTL.

Anyway, last week my computer started giving me "configuring updates 1 of 3" about every third time that I turn it on. After "updating" it won't restart so it has to "attempt to fix the startup" problem. It always does, and then I'm back up an running after 15 minutes.

I'm confused, as I have shut off automatic updates, so what could it possibly be updating? And why every couple of startups and not every one?

So, last night I let it download the shitload of updates, installed them and shut it down. It restarted fine after "fixing the problem" and all was well. Restarted it a couple of times while I was getting ready for work and it always started up. Then tonight, I start it up and it was "configuring updates 1 of 3" again. WTF?

So, after it starts, I check the Windows Updates screen and it shows 14 upates, 52 MB. This is the same 14 that I installed last night. What gives?

strange. have you tried doing a restore from sometime around before it all started then do all the updates in a straight session and see if that solves things.

32 or 64 bit? any anti-virus?

If it is doing this it means there is an update that is failing to install, which isn't a common problem.

If you go to the Windows update site could you give a list of the updates that need to be installed?

That did occur to me last night. It takes forever to go through Update 1 of 3, flies through 2 of 3 in a blink, screen flashes and it never shows that it goes through step 3 of 3

I ran Malwarebytes on it last night, full scan, absolutely zero entries.

I can say without a doubt it isn't a malware problem. It is one of Mircosoft's stupid mistakes. But like I said, if you go to the update site you should see what the 3 updates are. You can actually look at your update history and see what update is failing to install. I know Vista likes to use its own little update tool but sometimes the site gives you more control.

http://update.microsoft.com/

You can choose to skip the update or download and run the update manually to see what error code it gives. I would be willing to help with either.

I'll check. Yes, I have been using the update tool. There are actually 14 updates. When I said "configuring updates 1 of 3" I should have said "configuring updates Step 1 of 3".

One of the guys on our local street racing forum has a pre-activated copy of Windows 7 that he has offered to install for me. Worthwile upgrade over Vista business, yes?

I think that I am likely at the minimum on memory as well. The HD grinds for five minutes after booting and it runs slow. There is nothing on this computer for programs. It's web surfing and tuning only. The only program that's on it is Open Office other than what came stock from Insight, probably some crap programs from HP. It's six months old but was a budget HP. IIRC, $360.

i would try a wipe and clean vista reinstall before going with 7 man. Something has corrupted your shit.

I would have to say differently. Reinstalling WILL fix your problems but if you have a chance I would go with Windows 7 over Vista. I have been running 7 on my desktop for almost a year now and couldn't be happier. It really was a step forward for Microsoft, unlike Vista.

It's your call. If you happen to get your hands on an upgrade copy of Windows 7 you can even use it to do a clean install instead of "Upgrading". The only problem you may run into with it being an HP computer is some drivers may need some coercing to install, but for the most part 7 can find just about any driver.

As for hardware for 7, if you run Vista Business I wouldn't even worry about it. Vista is a hog when it comes to resources. 7 may still be bloated in some spots but it manages resources MUCH better than Vista.

Yesterday I found that when installing 7 on a hard drive with another version of Windows installed the Installer will move the user files, program files and the Windows folder to a folder called windows.old so you can move your files over after installing.:jerkit: Makes things so much easier.

^ Thanks. I'll likely let him do the 7 install.