Genealogy Chat

On the weekend the little bubble at the bottom of the screen came up and said you have microsoft updates .having clicked on them it said to install and download which I did the whole copmuter went strange and them said it was deleting windows, I have only just now recovered it all but have lost all my files and email addresses.So put everything on disk because it looked innnocent but wasn't .... make sure you have copies because I didn't :( KIM

Oh dear Kim. One of two things happened, either you got a virus which spoofed the Microsoft Update process, OR the Microsoft Update process went wrong. Whichever it was, it's no comfort to you I'm sure. I'm an IT professional, and yet I had exactly the same thing happen to me a while ago, I managed to corrupt my PC when installing a printer driver (!) and lost everything, work AND private documents for approximately 5 years of my life. Didn't have any backups, which was incredibly stupid on my part, given what I do for a living. Can only agree with what you say; take regular backups, especially of your vital Geneology data !!!

You never think its going to happen to you, the stupid thing is I ve lost all my nvq homework too. I used floppy discs all the time withthe old anicent comptuer but with the new one you think your safe. :( on a lighter note have you seen the entry on igi for Morefrute STONE and the wife Zealous Rowse from Helllingly, got to be a wind up that one hasn't it .Take a look KIM

Interestingly, there is a christening as well - spelt Moreffruite. It's there with a batch number so I don't know whether it's a wind up or not!

A lesson learned the hard way....NEVER download or click OK anything that pops up on your screen. The only Microsoft "pop ups" that are OK to download is the small one that will pop up, when you first start your computer, that will appear at the bottom, right hand corner of your screen advising you that downloads are ready to install. The only peope who receive this pop up, are those who have gone to the Microsoft update site and downloaded that recommended option. For those of you already not doing so, Microsoft Updates are a necessary, routine maintenance job that should be done regularly. The updates for your computer can be found by: 1. Clicking on START 2. Clicking CONTROL PANEL 3. Clicking on the link that says WINDOWS UPDATES which will take you to Microsofts update site. Judy :)

Judy , that was exactly what it was a small one at the bottom when I switched the computer on.... but i don't trust it now. The thing is i renewed my Norton substricption to Internest security and Anti virus last week and now I have no evidence of that on the system its gone right back to the 3 month free trial ,how do I prove I paid to them again, and why if I just paid for all that would a virus mess up the system..... KIM

Kim, It's beginning to sound more and more likely that the windows update "went wrong" in some way, rather than you having a virus. Although I guess it's possible that the Update process encountered a problem that had been created by a virus previously. Or maybe you interrupted it midway thrugh, I can't say, I'm not a PC expert. Might be worth takign it up with microsoft though.

Hi Microsoft are doing updates today. Pat

The safe "pop up" stating that there are updates ready to install do not pop up stating they are microsoft....the ones NOT to download state "Microsoft" has updates. If you've been to the Microsoft update site before and did downloads from the site, one of the downloads that you most likely did, under recommeded updates, was for your computer to retrieve critical updates automatically....this, Liz, is more than likely what you have popping up and should be safe to accept the download....a small notification in the bottom, right hand corner by your icon tray. The misleading pop-ups about Microsoft looks like one of those annoying pop ups that one gets for advertising. Ju

Kim...... If it's any help to you the download today 11.02.04. took a longer time than normal, seemed to get stuck around 9% download but if you want to know the files which they sent they were :- XP KB 828028 ( to do with hacking ) XP KB 810217 ( to do with hacking ) I always keep file details of downloads as sometimes they send them out again. MIKE.

thanks Mike, seems sensible ,which I'll have to be fromnow on. Still wondering how to sort out my norton subscription which i only renewed last week grrr... KIM

i feel so guilty now ....i had let my 10 year old daughter go on the comp a week ago, to do her homework,when she had finished i went on, within 5 mins the computer done a complete shut down, when i tried to re start i was asked to join freeserve again, i did, it was as if i had just bought the comp as everything was back like new, lost all my files. blamed my daughter, and all the time it was some virus..took me 4 days to get back online , i think it will take me much longer to retrieve everything i lost. deb

Makes me feel a little better to think I was not the only one to be caught out. Don't really want to do my homework again though KIM

Games downloaded frm the internet are notorious for filling your computer with spyware which can and often does reek havok on the computer. Starting the computer in SAFE MODE and then running the Adaware program while in safe mode will often correct the problem. Judy

Or, just install a proper virus scanner/firewall and don't install anything that hasn't been virus scanned (and give your kids a slap if they do !!) lol Better safe than sorry eh ? Paul

Of course when I say give the kids a slap, I don't mean physically, as that would be wrong :)

I'm miffed because i only just renewed it literally the week before. i didn't print off a copy so have no proff of this. I've been on the website they say there is no technical support for 2002 notron so whats the point.Susan,.How do I email them I've looked on the website but can not find the address. also if you have had no luck what chance have i got.......CAN YOU EMAIL ME THE ADDRESS?its weird that you only updated a week before too . can i see a pattern emerging are they trying to get more money out of us? KIM

Hi Kim, i,ve just turned my computer on and i had that little bubble on too! it came on yesterday but i asked it to remind me later,so it came up today,i always install them,and have never had any problems. chris.

hi all well thought i was doing the right thing - went to microsofts site after hearing about the `glitch` that allows others to take control of your computer. the file took 8 minutes to download- not bad i thought - but when it started to install the msg read "1040" minutes to install!!! well i know im on dial up but for goodness sake!! so 4 and a half hours later i checked and guess what - the program is not responding - i was spitting feathers at this point and i cant tell you what id like to say to Bill!! anyone else have this prob?? presumably i still am not `updated` Furious from Kent Teresa really

Teresa: There are several reasons that you may have had problems downloading from the site. Do you have the computer set so that when left unattended for any length of time, the computer "sleeps" until you come back and move the mouse? A screen saver will sometimes also interfere with the downloading process. Another reason would be routine maintenence jobs that are not being done. Have you recently defragged? Thorough Scan Disk if you are a Windows98/ME/2000 user? Used a spyware remover, like Adaware, to remove spyware....spyware will often interfere with computer operating correctly....including problems with downloading. If those routine jobs are not something that's been done as of late you might want to try the mentioned above and then go back to the Microsoft site and try getting the uploads again. If you need assistance with any of the above, give me a shout and I'll send you the directions to do. Judy