topic Re: System Restore Questions in Electronics

System Restore Questions

SaRina — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:54:27 GMT

A few months ago, my Win7 laptop slowed to a crawl on web sites. I also could no longer install updates -- the update screen was essentially frozen, it wouldn't move. Malwarebytes scan was negative. At that time, I spent hours on the phone with Microsoft, who "overhauled" my software and everything was fine after that. Until now.....

The same exact thing has happened since a couple of days ago. System slow and I can't install updates. This time, I decided to do a System Restore, which I've never done before. I restored back to the last software update, which was 9/6/16. Malwarebytes scan again is negative, but there is no resolution to this problem.

1) Should I do another System Restore and choose a date further back in time?

2) When you revert back to a previous date, doesn't it delete those software updates that you installed after that date as well? Leaving you vulnerable?

I think it's time to take a look at a Chromebook.

Walking the dog, so will be back later.

Re: System Restore Questions

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 22:08:03 GMT

You've mentioned running Malwarebytes several times, but you've never mentioned running an antivirus program. Malwarebytes is for malware, but you need a separate antivirus program.

Do you have one and have you run that? I recommend doing that before you do anything else.

You can run multiple system restores. And yes, anything you installed after the restore point will need to be added again, so run a Windows update after you do a system restore to make sure you download any security patches.

I would run an antivirus and see if that comes up with anything before running another system restore.

Re: System Restore Questions

chickenbutt — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 22:26:46 GMT

Are you keeping things cleaned out? I like CCleaner for that, and then do a defrag (Auslogics is a good one). I do this fairly often - especially after I've been to my bank account and when there have been a bunch of updates.

Keeping all the debris that builds up in a system makes a HUGE difference for performance.

That's just one idea, FWIW.

Re: System Restore Questions

Gokat — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 00:13:34 GMT

I know EXACTLY what you've experienced, @SaRina .

This is a Microsoft problem that's ended up being yours (and many other users'), I'm afraid.

Several months ago Microsoft began "rollups" of Updates which means the user loses control of what updates they wish to download/install because many K-numbers can be included in one Rollup. I hope that's not confusing to you . This was done to pare down the number of updates to once monthly. If there's problem with an individual K-number within the rollup, the user has to wait for MS to fix it.

When the Rollups started so started the freezing and lengthy (hours upon hours) downloading Updates.

Because this is not a problem with your computer but with the Updates Microsoft is sending through a Restore will only work until the next faulty Update comes through. This was supposed to have been fixed a couple of months ago, but promises from MS of a permanent fix have already fallen through a few times.

There's a site called AskWoody.com. where a gentleman reports on the Rollups when they're sent through...whether it's safe to install them and also he and Windows 7 and 8 users report when fixes come through. This is for you for the future.

I purposely haven't installed my Win 7 Updates from Tuesday as I know not to until I have the time to check first. Yes, I see there is a problem with this batch again.

I suggest that you DO restore to the day prior to your recent Updates install, stay in touch with the Ask Woody site, and don't Update again until either the problem is corrected or a fix is posted to take care of it. HTH's

Here's a link to the fix for this month, @SaRina. Just read it over and install the recommended K-numbers BEFORE attempting this month's rollup again. HTH's

PS...BTW I recall distinctly the time-consuming cleanup you went through last time.

Re: System Restore Questions

spent2much — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 23:37:05 GMT

Same problem here. After I did updates last week, my computer FROZE. I couldn't do anything, except hit the power button to turn it off. My techie friend helped me last weekend and it's doing better, but we're starting a REFORMAT tonight. It will probably take the rest of the weekend to reinstall programs, do updates, etc. etc. etc.

Re: System Restore Questions

SaRina — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 23:43:03 GMT

@ChynnaBlue, yes, sorry, I forgot about Microsoft Security Essentials, which is my built-in, automatic real-time virus scanner. That's negative too. I only mentioned Malwarebytes because that's a program I have to initiate to run.

@chickenbutt, yes, I run CC Cleaner regularly, thanks to the folks on this forum :-) I'm a low-volume laptop user anyhow. Defragging is also automatic.

@Gokat, that *$+!~^$*&%* Microsoft. But..... I've been getting notice of updates at least once a week and in some cases, every few days throughout the summer -- not just once a month as you explained. I successfully installed my last software update on 9/6/16 and had zero issues until yesterday or the day before (9/14).

There are 14 new updates today and I will make sure to check with AskWoody. Thank you very much for the link!

Now, I will go back and do a System Restore prior to the update of 9/6.

Thanks everyone. Will let you know what happens.

Re: System Restore Questions

Gokat — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 05:18:44 GMT

I took down the prior link, @SaRina ...as I since found out it's out of commission for some reason., but here's Woody's link for the future for you.

https://www.askwoody.com/

...and another link that talks to the problem and how to take care of it. Woody writes for Infoworld as well.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/3120365/microsoft-windows/kb-3185911-speeds-up-the-windows-7-scan-for-updates.html

If you read this before you do your restore, please check your list of updates needing install FIRST under "Important Updates" and see if Kxxx5911 is in the list. If it is, install it ONLY. Uncheck all others. You won't need to restore as this K# is the fix so that Windows will now search for, download, and install them quickly/normally.

If, instead, you've already restored, there's a two-step manual process to download Kxxx5911 to your computer in the above-linked article...and go from there. HTH's

Without being able to work with your computer personally it's impossible to know about the number of updates and how often they're coming in.

I've been editing as I find new information so I hope this all makes sense! HTH's

Re: System Restore Questions

glb613 — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 10:08:14 GMT

@SaRina wrote:
A few months ago, my Win7 laptop slowed to a crawl on web sites. I also could no longer install updates -- the update screen was essentially frozen, it wouldn't move. Malwarebytes scan was negative. At that time, I spent hours on the phone with Microsoft, who "overhauled" my software and everything was fine after that. Until now.....

The same exact thing has happened since a couple of days ago. System slow and I can't install updates. This time, I decided to do a System Restore, which I've never done before. I restored back to the last software update, which was 9/6/16. Malwarebytes scan again is negative, but there is no resolution to this problem.

1) Should I do another System Restore and choose a date further back in time?

2) When you revert back to a previous date, doesn't it delete those software updates that you installed after that date as well? Leaving you vulnerable?

I think it's time to take a look at a Chromebook.

Walking the dog, so will be back later.

If it was my computer, I'd backup what I can't afford to lose and do a complete factory restore. Put it back to the out-of-the-box condition and start over. It does take time but not a lot of skill. One of the most important things you need to save before you proceed, all of your user names and passwords including the security name and number for your router. If you don't know the router name and password, you won't be able to get online.

Doing a factory restore will make your computer run like new. You can get Microsoft updates before installing anything else and avoid conflicts. Downloading and installing the Microsoft updates is the most time consuming part of the job. If this is of some interest, let me know and I can provide additional information.

Re: System Restore Questions

Nataliesgramma — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 11:24:39 GMT

@glb613 wrote:
@SaRina wrote:
A few months ago, my Win7 laptop slowed to a crawl on web sites. I also could no longer install updates -- the update screen was essentially frozen, it wouldn't move. Malwarebytes scan was negative. At that time, I spent hours on the phone with Microsoft, who "overhauled" my software and everything was fine after that. Until now.....

The same exact thing has happened since a couple of days ago. System slow and I can't install updates. This time, I decided to do a System Restore, which I've never done before. I restored back to the last software update, which was 9/6/16. Malwarebytes scan again is negative, but there is no resolution to this problem.

1) Should I do another System Restore and choose a date further back in time?

2) When you revert back to a previous date, doesn't it delete those software updates that you installed after that date as well? Leaving you vulnerable?

I think it's time to take a look at a Chromebook.

Walking the dog, so will be back later.
If it was my computer, I'd backup what I can't afford to lose and do a complete factory restore. Put it back to the out-of-the-box condition and start over. It does take time but not a lot of skill. One of the most important things you need to save before you proceed, all of your user names and passwords including the security name and number for your router. If you don't know the router name and password, you won't be able to get online.

Doing a factory restore will make your computer run like new. You can get Microsoft updates before installing anything else and avoid conflicts. Downloading and installing the Microsoft updates is the most time consuming part of the job. If this is of some interest, let me know and I can provide additional information.

This is what I did 2 days ago......everything is working so much better now.....it was a little scary doing it though...LOL

Re: System Restore Questions

ceekay — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 11:56:16 GMT

So reading through all this, it appears you are still able to get all the updates to Windows 7 if you restore to factory defaults? I have been considering restoring because my laptop (3 years old) is dog slow. I had extra RAM added when I bought it but somehow I do not think the data is partitioned correctly, I keep getting warnings about high CPU usage. I have a vintage Click Free that worked when I moved from my Windows XP desk top to this Windows 7 laptop. I have been wondering if I need to get a different external hard drive if I plan to move to Windows 10 someday (worried the Click Free is too old to work on the newer OS). I am partially tech savvy about certain things but restoring a computer to factory defaults is not one of them. You guys are making it sound less scary.

Re: System Restore Questions

SaRina — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 13:10:20 GMT

@Gokat wrote:
I took down the prior link, @SaRina ...as I since found out it's out of commission for some reason., but here's Woody's link for the future for you.

https://www.askwoody.com/

...and another link that talks to the problem and how to take care of it. Woody writes for Infoworld as well.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/3120365/microsoft-windows/kb-3185911-speeds-up-the-windows-7-scan-for-updates.html

If you read this before you do your restore, please check your list of updates needing install FIRST under "Important Updates" and see if Kxxx5911 is in the list. If it is, install it ONLY. Uncheck all others. You won't need to restore as this K# is the fix so that Windows will now search for, download, and install them quickly/normally.

If, instead, you've already restored, there's a two-step manual process to download Kxxx5911 to your computer in the above-linked article...and go from there. HTH's

Without being able to work with your computer personally it's impossible to know about the number of updates and how often they're coming in.

I've been editing as I find new information so I hope this all makes sense! HTH's

@Hi @Gokat. I haven't done the additional System Restore yet -- just have a lot of other "stuff" going on right now. I'm going to try to check out the link you gave some time this weekend and try to make sense out of all this stuff, but I'm not so sure about today since I got no sleep last night and I can barely see straight. :-)

Re: System Restore Questions

glb613 — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 13:19:36 GMT

@Nataliesgramma wrote:
@glb613 wrote:
@SaRina wrote:
A few months ago, my Win7 laptop slowed to a crawl on web sites. I also could no longer install updates -- the update screen was essentially frozen, it wouldn't move. Malwarebytes scan was negative. At that time, I spent hours on the phone with Microsoft, who "overhauled" my software and everything was fine after that. Until now.....

The same exact thing has happened since a couple of days ago. System slow and I can't install updates. This time, I decided to do a System Restore, which I've never done before. I restored back to the last software update, which was 9/6/16. Malwarebytes scan again is negative, but there is no resolution to this problem.

1) Should I do another System Restore and choose a date further back in time?

2) When you revert back to a previous date, doesn't it delete those software updates that you installed after that date as well? Leaving you vulnerable?

I think it's time to take a look at a Chromebook.

Walking the dog, so will be back later.
If it was my computer, I'd backup what I can't afford to lose and do a complete factory restore. Put it back to the out-of-the-box condition and start over. It does take time but not a lot of skill. One of the most important things you need to save before you proceed, all of your user names and passwords including the security name and number for your router. If you don't know the router name and password, you won't be able to get online.

Doing a factory restore will make your computer run like new. You can get Microsoft updates before installing anything else and avoid conflicts. Downloading and installing the Microsoft updates is the most time consuming part of the job. If this is of some interest, let me know and I can provide additional information.
This is what I did 2 days ago......everything is working so much better now.....it was a little scary doing it though...LOL

You did a factory restore? Put it back to the original condition? I thought you wrote you did a system restore which is not the same thing.

Re: System Restore Questions

glb613 — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 13:21:52 GMT

@ceekay wrote:
So reading through all this, it appears you are still able to get all the updates to Windows 7 if you restore to factory defaults? I have been considering restoring because my laptop (3 years old) is dog slow. I had extra RAM added when I bought it but somehow I do not think the data is partitioned correctly, I keep getting warnings about high CPU usage. I have a vintage Click Free that worked when I moved from my Windows XP desk top to this Windows 7 laptop. I have been wondering if I need to get a different external hard drive if I plan to move to Windows 10 someday (worried the Click Free is too old to work on the newer OS). I am partially tech savvy about certain things but restoring a computer to factory defaults is not one of them. You guys are making it sound less scary.

I don't think she restored to factory defaults. But the answer to your question is yes. You will get all of the updates. For me, doing a factory restore is like painting. The prep work is what takes the most time.

Re: System Restore Questions

SaRina — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 13:30:15 GMT

@glb613 wrote:
@SaRina wrote:
A few months ago, my Win7 laptop slowed to a crawl on web sites. I also could no longer install updates -- the update screen was essentially frozen, it wouldn't move. Malwarebytes scan was negative. At that time, I spent hours on the phone with Microsoft, who "overhauled" my software and everything was fine after that. Until now.....

The same exact thing has happened since a couple of days ago. System slow and I can't install updates. This time, I decided to do a System Restore, which I've never done before. I restored back to the last software update, which was 9/6/16. Malwarebytes scan again is negative, but there is no resolution to this problem.

1) Should I do another System Restore and choose a date further back in time?

2) When you revert back to a previous date, doesn't it delete those software updates that you installed after that date as well? Leaving you vulnerable?

I think it's time to take a look at a Chromebook.

Walking the dog, so will be back later.
If it was my computer, I'd backup what I can't afford to lose and do a complete factory restore. Put it back to the out-of-the-box condition and start over. It does take time but not a lot of skill. One of the most important things you need to save before you proceed, all of your user names and passwords including the security name and number for your router. If you don't know the router name and password, you won't be able to get online.

Doing a factory restore will make your computer run like new. You can get Microsoft updates before installing anything else and avoid conflicts. Downloading and installing the Microsoft updates is the most time consuming part of the job. If this is of some interest, let me know and I can provide additional information.

@Thanks for this info, @glb613. I don't know if I'm up to a major task like this. I must confess.... the only thing I understand about updates is that I'm notified when there are new ones, I select the ones I want to install, then I install them. I know nothing about what I bolded. In other words, if I decide to restore to factory condition, does that mean I have to find and install all Microsoft updates since the beginning of time? I also don't know if it's worth it for a 7-year-old laptop. (??) I'll let you know if I want to go that route (pun intended). :-)

Re: System Restore Questions

Gokat — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 14:57:50 GMT

Once you can get to it, this one is pretty easy now that the correction is available. If Kxxx5911 is already downloaded to your computer, just follow my instructions. If not, I've also given directions for that. You won't need to do another System Restore, unless you want to.

I installed my updates from Tuesday using this method last night without incident.

Good luck, @SaRina, and enjoy your weekend!

Re: System Restore Questions

glb613 — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:32:06 GMT

Thanks for this info, @glb613. I don't know if I'm up to a major task like this. I must confess.... the only thing I understand about updates is that I'm notified when there are new ones, I select the ones I want to install, then I install them. I know nothing about what I bolded. In other words, if I decide to restore to factory condition, does that mean I have to find and install all Microsoft updates since the beginning of time? I also don't know if it's worth it for a 7-year-old laptop. (??) I'll let you know if I want to go that route (pun intended). :-)

Yes, you install the entire list of updates. The last time I did it, I let it run, restarted when prompted and did other things while downloading/installing was ongoing. I have found there comes a point where trying to fix it doesn't work and a complete restore breathes new life into an old computer. If you aren't up for it, try the other suggestions.

Re: System Restore Questions

SaRina — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:38:24 GMT

@Gokat wrote:
Once you can get to it, this one is pretty easy now that the correction is available. If Kxxx5911 is already downloaded to your computer, just follow my instructions. If not, I've also given directions for that. You won't need to do another System Restore, unless you want to.

I installed my updates from Tuesday using this method last night without incident.

Good luck, @SaRina, and enjoy your weekend!

@Gokat, KB3185911 was one of the 14 or so updates available to install yesterday. I was unable to install any of them. When my computer "Searches for Updates", it doesn't find anything -- yet, my lower right toolbar icon says updates are available. I don't get that.

Anyhow, I took a quick look at Woody site. It's really a bit above my head. I saw an awful lot of talk about patches and KB numbers flying around, but didn't directly see any instructions. So I googled "How to install KB3185911" and was able to download it as a stand-alone at the Microsoft Download Center. Unfortunately, I don't know how to install it from my Downloads. Nothing is happening. :-(

Re: System Restore Questions

SaRina — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 15:39:55 GMT

@glb613 wrote:

@Thanks for this info, @glb613. I don't know if I'm up to a major task like this. I must confess.... the only thing I understand about updates is that I'm notified when there are new ones, I select the ones I want to install, then I install them. I know nothing about what I bolded. In other words, if I decide to restore to factory condition, does that mean I have to find and install all Microsoft updates since the beginning of time? I also don't know if it's worth it for a 7-year-old laptop. (??) I'll let you know if I want to go that route (pun intended). :-)
Yes, you install the entire list of updates. The last time I did it, I let it run, restarted when prompted and did other things while downloading/installing was ongoing. I have found there comes a point where trying to fix it doesn't work and a complete restore breathes new life into an old computer. If you aren't up for it, try the other suggestions.

@glb613, so my dumb question is.... Where do you find the entire list of updates?

Re: System Restore Questions

Gokat — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 17:00:24 GMT

Anyhow, I took a quick look at Woody site. It's really a bit above my head. I saw an awful lot of talk about patches and KB numbers flying around, but didn't directly see any instructions. So I googled "How to install KB3185911" and was able to download it as a stand-alone at the Microsoft Download Center. .Unfortunately, I don't know how to install it from my Downloads Nothing is happening. :-(

I can see you're getting frustrated, @SaRina . That's probably mostly because you're over-tired.

I can tell you from my own prior experience with the "stuck" in the update process problem that if you let your computer run (hours) all the updates WILL come through. Just ignore your computer and do something else, preferably something enjoyable and destress.

Just use Woody's site in the future to see whether there are problems BEFORE searching for or installing any updates. HTH's

PS..BTW re: Microsoft's download site? Can be another exercise in frustration as a good part of the time it doesn't work well...the downloads take an inordinate amount of time to download or the download can get cut off in process

Re: System Restore Questions

glb613 — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 17:10:24 GMT

@glb613, so my dumb question is.... Where do you find the entire list of updates?

This may be more than you should tackle. Windws updates are found in the control panel. It's turn on to automatic by default.