a whole range of issues...

[stewart borland]

I first noticed it with patch tuesday and the fact that I still haven't managed to download them yet.
Then it was a simple 'save as' of a word document that ended up as not responding, took down word and lost half the document.
I scanned the pc with malwarebytes antimalware and got nothing. I scanned with webroot spysweeper and got nothing and I finally tried with microsoft security essentials (which I was trying out) but which froze half way through the scan twice - ctrl/alt/del managed to shut it down.
I then decided to go back to Avast but it wouldn't run the setup I still had from before so I downloaded it from the avast site - wouldn't run from their site. Downloaded the whole program, or tried but save as wouldn't work again with IE8 although it did with firefox, ran setup but it wouldn't do that either. Trying with both firefox and IE8 crashed both browsers (I stopped the 'looking for a solution' box - maybe I shouldn't have?)
Windows update either gets so far and stops or doesn't start downloading at all.
Vista Ultimate on a reasonable spec Dell.

I'm stumped by the variety of little faults, any thoughts?

Thanks,

[SpywareDr]

I'd reset the BIOS to Factory Defaults, test the RAM, and then the hard drive.

[stewart borland]

I'd reset the BIOS to Factory Defaults.

Sorry, I should have said, I need pretty basic instructions to get things done! For example, how would I reset Bios to factory defaults?

[SpywareDr]

Exactly how depends on the BIOS manufacturer and the version. Here are some example screenshots: http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=1. In your system's CMOS/BIOS Setup, look for BIOS Defaults, Fail-Safe Defaults, Optimized Defaults, etc.

[stewart borland]

Can't find the screen I need Tried F2 and F12 but it won't give me the reset bios option. Any guesses on a Dell how I find it?

[SpywareDr]

Try tapping the [Del] (delete) key on powerup.

[stewart borland]

OK, thanks, I'll try that next. By tapping everything else but, I have stumbled upon and run a memory test and a drive test - both ok.

I tried to uninstall a windows update (I discovered 1 out of the 14(?) had somehow installed and wondered if that had done anything) but it just opened the 'this may take a few minutes' type box and sat there for 30 minutes. I clicked cancel to get rid of it but it seems to have gone.
I then treid clicking on windows update again but although the window opened and the mouse was 'spinning the blue circle busy thing' it never filled in any icons or words - just an empty box for 15 minutes until I ctrl/alt/del to get rid of it.

I also notice when I click on the start button I get the window immediately but the contents appear around 20 seconds later?

Just thinking ahead, does Vista Ultimate have the repair option that XP did that keeps all your programs?

I'll try BIOS now and report back....

EDIT: No, the delete key just got me the option of booting windows or the memory test I've already run???

[stewart borland]

I keep adding things as I find them in the hope it means something to somebody.... I tried opening IE tonight because I couldn't print a page in Firefox, and although the window flashes up momentarily, it's gone in an instant - nothing on the taskbar to say it's running either.

I tried a couple of times and then thought I'd have a look in task manager - all 3 attempts were showing as running but with nothing on the taskbar or showing a window on the screen

Help...

[stewart borland]

Another update.... it must have downloaded some of the patch tuesday stuff after all because when I went to shut it down last night it went into the 'don't power down or switch off, updating 1 of 7'
2 or 3 hours later is was at number 7 so I left it overnight. This morning it's showing the download updates icon on the taskbar again and saying 90% done but when I look at the list it's installed it shows 17!! for yesterday now and lots of them show up twice?

[SpywareDr]

I'll try BIOS now and report back....

EDIT: No, the delete key just got me the option of booting windows or the memory test I've already run???

What the BIOS Is and How to Access it on a Dell™ Computer
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...doclang=en&cs=

Some older Dell computers use an alternate key sequence instead of <F2> to enter System Setup. These key sequences include:

* <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Enter>
* <Delete>
* <Fn>+<F1> (laptop computers only)
* <Fn>+<Esc> (laptop computers only)

How Do I Restore the Setup (BIOS) Defaults on a Dell™ Computer?
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...40A68F5A2811BE

[stewart borland]

Thanks Doc, finally found it and reset it back. Now on start up it stops with a request to press F1 to continue or F12 to enter setup and it seems to have set up or 'found a floppy drive I never had? Plus Dell site you linked for me shows a Bios update as urgent - should I download it?
Any further thoughts?

[SpywareDr]

Thanks Doc, finally found it and reset it back.

You're welcome.

Now on start up it stops with a request to press F1 to continue or F12 to enter setup ...

Go back into the CMOS/BIOS Setup and look for a setting that disables that prompt. (It may be named something like Fast boot or similar).

... and it seems to have set up or 'found a floppy drive I never had?

Disable the floppy drive in the CMOS/BIOS Setup.

Plus Dell site you linked for me shows a Bios update as urgent - should I download it?

Urgent? Yes, I would, (following all of their instructions of course).

[stewart borland]

OK, here's where I'm up to now:

F1 start up thing sorted
Mysterious Floppy gone
Not downloaded new BIOS yet... bit of a problem with Dell site but it has been restored back to previous one.

Switched off Auto update and ran an Updates Tool from Microsoft (the non aggressive one) but still when I click for a manual check for updates, the window opens, the green bar moves to and fro but nothing happens. Also there is a list of 7 which failed to install and another 5 which (going through the control panel) it says it's installed twice

If I click to open Firefox the busy icon is there but it doesn't open - took three tries to get in for this post (although eventually they do all open and I just shut 2)

The start button still has a long delay before it populates the window.

Are we at the XP type repair/restore stage now (if it still exists in Vista)? Or am I better waiting for Windows 7 and starting from scratch with a blank system?

Thanks so far,

[stewart borland]

Decided to just go for it and try the aggressive repair - then a manual update. It says it's found 8 to update but it's just like before, the green bar moves to and fro but after 20 minutes it still says 0% complete?
I should just mention, I can surf happily during this time so there is internet access.

[SpywareDr]

Microsoft Help and Support > Microsoft Update Solution Center
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/6527#tab0

Microsoft Help and Support > Contact a support professional by E-mail, Online, or Phone
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...prid=6527&st=1