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Question

Windows 8 Recent Updates Creat Havoc

Nov 21, 2014 3:30PM PST

I have my update set to download but choose what and when to update.

Since the update my laptop has gone nuts.

It first started not allowing me to get on internet, then its now allowing me. A message appeared "execution faled" or something like that.

My Avast has disappeared like a whipped dog.....cant get into "uninstall programs" to see if its there?

Control panel is off the planet and takes ages to load, then wont load diagnostic files - just shuts down.

System restore said it could not do the action required when I restored it to the point before the updates......

Am scared to touch anything as I have internet access but dont know if I am protected.......

Thanks if you know what this is????

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: havoc
Nov 21, 2014 5:33PM PST

In this case, I'd do this:
1 The standard Windows 8 renew or refresh (the one that leaves your files intact, but brings Windows back to its initial state)
2. Set Windows Updates to manually.
3. Do all updates until the ones that you suspect.
4. Make an image backup to an external disc, so I can go back.
5. Do the remaining updates one by one and check after each one if it's still fine. Once you found the culprit undo it and set it to hidden, so it won't download again.

Kees

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Avast
Nov 22, 2014 5:11AM PST

Before doing that want to ask a question.......someone said Avast is the culprit as yesterday they issues soem sort of patch for it and so now its ready to go.......how would Avast cause so much havoc with Windows...I mean my pc is a mess......

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Re: Avast
Nov 22, 2014 5:18AM PST

Avast works fine with me, so better ask the "someone" who said that.

Kees

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Answer
And ...
Nov 21, 2014 11:00PM PST
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Answer
Nod to Kees.
Nov 22, 2014 4:21AM PST

Sounds more like a malware issue. At the office all the updates went in just fine.
Bob

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Some relief
Nov 22, 2014 5:17AM PST

Update:

Managed to do a system restore back to this morning when my problems began when I downloaded a number of Windows updates for 8.1

Now things run a bit better but the Control panel programs dont operate well or dont operate at all...very slow or just wont open.

Especially is this so under System Security, the window freezes and I have to wait till it unfreezes but still no programs accessible.

PS - system restore now has nothing to restore to? I thought that W8 creates automatic restore points back in time?

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Let me be blunt.
Nov 22, 2014 5:56AM PST

No. When malware or such strikes it can break system restore. SR is nice and all but it's far from bullet proof. I'd scan for malware and more.
Bob

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Trepidatiously ok...
Nov 22, 2014 11:39AM PST

Update:

After a long and protracted effort of shutting down restarts and safe modes I have finally uninstalled the offending KB3000850 update.

I also uninstalled Avast and did a clean (meaning I am on here without protection)....

Everything seems fine except it has left my Microsoft Office Mail program unopenable.....it just hangs.....

Also when should I re-install Avast? Is there a latest edition without the bug out there now?


If anyone has an idea of how to fix my Mail program that would be cool as.....

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Re: Avast and KB3000850
Nov 22, 2014 6:32PM PST

Indeed, https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160717.0 confirms that this update of windows 8.1 is incompatible with Avast (or, maybe better, Avast is incompatible with this update). So either Microsoft or Avast (or both) have some work to do.
Better hide the update so it won't be re-installed automatically. Then reinstall Avast.

What exactly is Microsoft Office Mail? Maybe Outlook? Probably you've set it to use Avast and it hangs because it can't find it. Reinstalling Avast should solve that.

Kees

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Hmm
Nov 23, 2014 12:00AM PST

I have 8.1 and Avast free and have no problems after the update.

I must have just got lucky Cool

Digger

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Answer
Oh well. Comparison time?
Nov 22, 2014 4:32AM PST
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Answer
online virus scan
Nov 22, 2014 4:36AM PST

check for online virus scanners like Trend Micro, since it seems your on disk is disabled but you are able to use int ernet. If IE is blocked from the good online virus scanners, then install firefox, but likely it would get blocked too. You can use a Linux boot disc with Firefox on it, which will bypass any windows virus, then have the online virus scanner pointed to the hard drive for scanning, while the Linux system runs from the DVD.

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list of best online virus scanners
Nov 22, 2014 4:41AM PST