Random Vista problems

Caporegime
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
28,068
Location
London
Using a friends laptop for the week and it has a few annoying problems. First of all, Windows update won't open. The icon is present at the bottom right of the task bar, indicating there are new updates to download/install. However it won't open it - tried left/right click, double click, opening WU through the start menu - nothing works.

The owner of the laptop did mention a pop up stating this edition of Windows is a counter fit but it had gone before I could see it. He brought this laptop legitimally (Dell Inspiron 1525). Furthermore other features of Windows won't open such as personalise (right click on desktop) or control panel. Finally Firefox seems to stop working every now and then. Pages takes ages to load and finally don't in the end; I close firefox and open it again but it says it is still running so I have to ctrl+alt+del firefox each time it happens for it to close properly.

These issues seems random, with no apparant link. Any ideas? Using Vista.
 
Soldato
Joined
15 Nov 2007
Posts
13,101
Location
Enfield
Do you get any error messages when trying to open these things that won't open? I'm having similar problems on my laptop running 7.
 
Caporegime
OP
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
28,068
Location
London
No errors at all, just the loading icon for the mouse and then nothing. I know Windows is legit but how do I check if it is without going through Windows update?
 
Don
Joined
21 Oct 2002
Posts
46,744
Location
Parts Unknown
create a new user account and try that

failing that , try the old trusty..

disable system restore
remove your 'av'
run ccleaner slim http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds/downloading-slim
run nod32 trial http://www.eset.com/download/free_trial_download_int.php
run mbam http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam-download.php
run spybot http://fileforum.betanews.com/download/Spybot-Search-Destroy/1043809773/1


still screwed?
run combofix http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix


following this, stop going to bad sites etc

use firefox http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/firefox/
install this addon for firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

when firefox opens following the restart, tick the 'Easylist' subscription
 
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