Software updates gone bad

from WinCustomize Forums

Everyone does them, usually without any problems, right.

Well not yesterday.  Seems that there were a couple of updates available for my XP system from Microsofte that were identified as priotity.  Updates being what they are I try to do them early in the day in case there are problems,  Yesterday I failled to follow that rule.

After doing the updates I did the required reboot.  Hmmmm, reboot will get you everytime.  :SURPRISED: 

Once the computer was booted I noticed something right away, no internet connection.   Interesting, lost the internet at the same time doing updates.  Hmmm.  So naturally I go through all the checks to see what could be the problem.  Unplug the modem, restart it, nothing.  Check connections, nothing.  Run diagnostics, no connection to the internet.   Hmmmm.

So I call my DSL provider, lots of fun.  We check setting and do reboots, nothing.  They then want me to turn on the other computers in the house so it can be determined if the modem is bad.  Problem is they are wifi and they want me to hook to to the ethernet, which means moving them to where the modem is.  WHAT! 

Needless to say I wasn't having any of that and politely said good bye.  Now being really upset and confused I turned on the other computers.  They had internet access.  Now that doesn't help me at all.  Go back and try looking at more settings, nothing.  I disabled AV, and Firewall, nothing.  Grasping at straws I said to myself, could the updates have done this, no.

With nothing else left to do, I uninstall the updates.  Guess what, internet access is restored.  I was really glad that there were only two updates which was easy to determine which one was causing the problem. 

Get everything back to normal, AV and Firewall turned back on and have internet access.  Great.  I then do what I feel is a smart thing, I reboot one more time just to be sure everything is working.  Poof, no internet access.  I was just about ready to throw the computer out the window when I decided to check those update again.  Wouldn't you know automatic update reinstalled the update that I uninstalled.  Nice. 

Unistalled it again found the little box that I didn't see before that says don't show this update again.  All is now calm and peaceful.  It's now early morning and I have missed my bedtime.  :SURPRISED: 

So what's the message here, If you think updates can't cause problems you best have some aspirn available.   :LOL:  

 

116,522 views 30 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I had 69Mb of updates myself this morning.Fortunately,they all worked.Say what you will,I have never had a update fail or break anything on this Vista rig since I purchased it in Nov,'07.Still,it's something to consider.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well look at what I found, WWW Link

Wizard I think this is only the second problem I have had with a Windows update in about 5 or 6 years which isn't bad.  ;) 
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One of the guys at work was telling me today that he lost Internet after updating. He did a System Restore to fix it.

Nice to know what caused it. Thanks, Philly  ;) 
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Unistalled it again found the little box that I didn't see before that says don't show this update again. All is now calm and peaceful. It's now early morning and I have missed my bedtime
End of quote


I had the same problem at home and at work on all the PC's. I lowered the ZA firewall to medium and got my internet connections back. I'm not happy with ZA being set at medium though. I posted this in another thread a few minutes ago before I saw yours.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
From time to time we all run into these things. Nice to know that what I posted was helpful. ;) 
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Got those updates installed today without any problems. I use AVG.
:NOTSURE:
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Zone Alarm is yesterdays man, get rid of it and get a better firewall - Comodo - and it's free. A current poll of users over at Neowin puts it at number one WWW Link
 :) 
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
lol woops

I completely wasnt thinking when I posted.

I use AVG for antivirus. I actually have been using Comodo for my firewall for 4 or 5 months now. And without a single problem.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Zone Alarm is yesterdays man, get rid of it and get a better firewall
End of quote
I would have to check with yrag. lol. He spent a few days helping me the last time my PC went nuts. After firmly scolding me for the plethora of add-ons I had in FF and the overlapping spyware programs....he talked me down to ZA with high recommendations. This is the first time I have ever had a problem with it. If I go changing stuff (or giving into temptation with the add-ons) he might never help me again. lol.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I would have to check with yrag. lol. He spent a few days helping me the last time my PC went nuts. After firmly scolding me for the plethora of add-ons I had in FF and the overlapping spyware programs....he talked me down to ZA with high recommendations. This is the first time I have ever had a problem with it.
End of quote

It can be argued the problem is with MS and its update...as the one that causes the issue is apparently redundant if you have a decent Firewall like ZA.

yrag will likely verify that...;)

I spent 70 minutes this morning calling my machine all kinds of nice words....as I ended up 40 minutes late for the monthly Wincustomize Admin/mod meeting.

Solution was....another comp that had not yet grabbed the update could connect OK...and I [with Hankers' help] sorted the main machine.

Uninstall the update....and reset them to NOT 'auto-install'.

Take back the streets....control your destiny....[and other hackneyed phrases]...;)

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ohhhh so THAT'S why you were late. ZA for the fail.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ohhhh so THAT'S why you were late. ZA for the fail.
End of quote

No...MS for the fubarred ZA.

I blame the Canadians....;)

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
This situation is the exact reason any and all updates to my system are downloaded and installed only when I specifically manually begin the update process. Automatic Updates be damned! All these things promoting ease of use often lead to headaches that could have been avoided by simply inspecting what goes on the system instead of it doing things automatically.

Looks like most of the problems are focused around Zone Alarm. I have no idea why people are still using that product when there's much better ones out there should the use of a software firewall be necessary.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This situation is the exact reason any and all updates to my system are downloaded and installed only when I specifically manually begin the update process. Automatic Updates be damned! All these things promoting ease of use often lead to headaches that could have been avoided by simply inspecting what goes on the system instead of it doing things automatically.

Looks like most of the problems are focused around Zone Alarm. I have no idea why people are still using that product when there's much better ones out there should the use of a software firewall be necessary.
End of quote

So say we all....I totally agree. I haven't had automatic updates enabled in....well....as long as I can remember. I do things on my terms, when I'm good and ready.

As for ZA....I ditched that bloated POS years ago.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you have a hardware NAT/Router and a STRONG anti-virus (anything from ESET or Kaspersky), you don't need a secondary software firewall to prevent intrusions.

Regardless, get that ZoneAlarm crap off your system. It's like using anything from McAfee or Norton. They all do way more harm than good.
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top

No...MS for the fubarred ZA.
I blame the Canadians....
End of quote


I agree with the MS part... but don't blame us Canadians!! We're only half way toward our goal to rule the world... so it can't be us... yet. lol

As far as the update thing is concerned... yah it got me too. So I have to say sorry to the Zone Alarm guys 'cause I uninstalled their software and installed the Comodo firewall that Leo the Lion recommended. *sigh* It's so annoying all this security crap. Why can't people just get along and not try to hack the sh$t out of each other. :(
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I paid for ZAP...so I'll be keeping it...;)

Since then...got a call from my mate who runs the Newsagency....he had the same problem....and I looked like the hero to end all heroes when I 'solved it' in seconds....;)

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

but don't blame us Canadians!!
End of quote

OK...New Zealanders then....;)

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
During my morning coffee break, I found this little doo-dad on softpedia's newsclips referring to ZoneAlarm being the culprit.
WWW Link

I used to use ZA security suite, good sales pitch, then I realized that their program is HUGE and consumes massive computing power. Not to mention the complexity involved..... way too much work for something that is supposed to be running in the background.

A good lightweight and highly rated choice is NOD32.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hmmmm. So you folks turn my oops the update broke my machines into a which Firewall is better post.  :NOTSURE: 

Okay  ;) 
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
Hmmmm. So you folks turn my oops the update broke my machines into a which Firewall is better post.   Okay   
End of quote



Only because it seems that people with Zone Alarm were affected by the update.... who knows... maybe Micro$oft wants to "buy them out" ala Simpsons style. lol So they make sure thier latest update screws up ZA and a bunch of casual computer users like me just uninstall and get a different Firewall. Who knows... I'm just another sheep. ;)
+1 Loading…
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FrostMage they wouldn't want to do something like that, would they?  :SURPRISED: 

I have to think, and by the way want to, that it was an honest oops my Microsoft. ;) 
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Windows Defender serves my purposes,and I certainly hope MS doesn't find a way to screw that up!(But I haven't ruled out that possibility) ;p
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
It's a ZoneAlarm problem not a Microsoft problem.

The update in question patches a vulnerability in the design of the domain name system. It's a vulnerability that affects all vendors and the patch is not exclusive to Microsoft (all of the major software vendors affected by this issue released the patch this week).

The update is critical. Telling people to uninstall it not only bad advice, it's dangerous. The vulnerability in question is not one that Zonealarm can protect you from. This vulnerability would allow attackers to hijack DNS Servers and change the IP addresses that domain names to point to. You could be typing in palpal.com and still end up on a phishing site.
+1 Loading…
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
damicatz, excellent point you make.

A question though, why wouldn't Microsoft put the word out to the vendors like ZoneAlarm so they could issue an update to go along with it? :NOTSURE: 

Damn, reading what you typed, I wonder when ZoneAlarm will issue an update?