Windows Updates

[Shadowsdream]

A friend of Mine just did the windows update on a Toshiba Satellite 2450 unit. She rebooted when it was indicated to do so and now has access to nothing but the monitor background.

No tool bar, no icons, nada!

No Internet connection even though she did have the connection after the first 2 reboots.

Any ideas if her computer could have been or likely is all wiped out?

Thanking the computer Knowbies in advance for any insight or solutions!

PS...She is running Windows XP Home Edition, pre-installed and no disc accompanying the laptop for booting.

 

[MissTaken]

I am no expert, but what happens if she presses Ctrl Alt Del at the same time?

That should show her if any processes are running, or will ultimately shut down her computer.

 

[Shadowsdream]

I am no expert, but what happens if she presses Ctrl Alt Del at the same time?

That should show her if any processes are running, or will ultimately shut down her computer.

It shows nothing most of the time..but once it showed activity on the graph.

Desert Rose has just told Me in PM that she did the down load as well and now is unable to post in Lit but can read and IM.

Would seem that it is bizarre and lets hope fixable.

 

[MissTaken]

Awwww phooey!


I am sorry to hear that, on both counts.

 

[Etoile]

You might want to ask over in the How To forum. Weird Harold hangs out over there, and he is really brilliant with this kind of thing!

 

[redelicious]

I downloaded it a few weeks ago I guess. No huge difficulties, though for awhile I couldn't log into yahoo (or ebay for some odd reason). Turned out to be a firewall issue - something about the download changed my settings I think.

 

[PyroDemon]

Most likely it did reset the security settings. Alot of boards and sites will not let you post or use them if you cannot accept cookies. I forgot to tell ADR that.

 

[FungiUg]

Would you diagnose yourself over the 'net?

Get it looked at by someone. 'Net diagnoses is... damned near impossible.

 

[A Desert Rose]

Would you diagnose yourself over the 'net?

Get it looked at by someone. 'Net diagnoses is... damned near impossible.

If this post works... then Shadows' advice worked.

 

[RJMasters]

Most likely it did reset the security settings. Alot of boards and sites will not let you post or use them if you cannot accept cookies. I forgot to tell ADR that.

Pyro is most correct in this.

Many times when doing updates they will change security settings and also wipe out cookies.

A cookie is a small file that is stored on your computer that retains specific information for each site you visit.

For example. With lit, if you go to the home page and at the bottom you can click the small link "logout". Doing this will redirect you to a page where it says, "all cookies have been erased for this site".

Which means the next time you come back to this site, you will not be recognised as being logged in, as the cookie that stored your login info has been erased.

If you click on home and re-log back in, it will reset the coockie with your login info and when ever you come to the Lit you will automatically log in.

You can tell if your logged in by the color on the borads is your using the default settings. The "unlogged look is a bright ugly type of blue, where as the logged in look is more darker blue.

So chances are, that you need to check security settings to ensure they allow cookies and that no adult security setting has been set to prevent viewing adult materials.

As to your friend's computer not booting up at all? That appears to be more than just a simple cookie issue Shadow. It could be that she used the wrong update which could have messed up the operating system. That would not be a good thing.

The other possibility is that many times computer that come preinstaleed with a certain type of operating system have hard coded pre-installed boot up routines. This is found often more on laptops. The problem is that the update only got partially installed needing the reboot, but the update changed part of the required bootup sequence and you are caught.

Best bet I think if you cannot get it to boot back up, is try rebooting, and hold down the F8 key I think and it should prompt you to boot up windows in safe mode. I don't know if that will let the update finish, but it might break what is happening, and when you reboot the next time, it may start up.

Baring that, you need to get a boot-up disc.

(Smiles...for future....put on list of qualifications for future subs..."computer wiz" )

I hope that helps some.

I will go check out the Toshiba Satellite 2450 unit and see if I can find any trouble shooting answers posted by the manufacture concerning windows updates. Often if you one person has this problems other do too, and they post what to do on the manufacture's website to handle the flux of pissed off people. If I find anything I'll post it here...give me a few.

Rich

Congratz to ADR! YAY!

 

[A Desert Rose]

If this post works... then Shadows' advice worked.

OHHHHHH Ma'am... thank You for Your help! This is the first I could post in 3 days.

Don't ever underestimate Your computer knowledge again!

Thank You!

and now I have to get ready for work...

 

[A Desert Rose]

And Shadows, Ma'am...

MSN told me 2 days ago that it would be a 2 hour wait for a tech to help me.

You did it in half an hour! Thanks again.

 

[InnerDarkness]

Weird Harold hangs out over there, and he is really brilliant with this kind of thing!

Gotta love a guy named Weird Harold...

*stalks Etoile and RJ*

 

[Xelebes]

I've been postponing my updates on my computer out of laziness. Now I'm worried...

 

[A Desert Rose]

I've been postponing my updates on my computer out of laziness. Now I'm worried...

My advice, based on my recent experience... don't download Windows Service Pack 2. But that's just my experience.

 

[Kajira Callista]

if it can be booted in safe mode...cant she just do a system restore and go back to before the update...then find out why it screwed things up

 

[Kajira Callista]

silly me i came to this thread to say hi to ADR and i forgot to.


Hi ADR!

 

[Etoile]

Gotta love a guy named Weird Harold...

*stalks Etoile and RJ*

eeeee hi ID!

seeing you reminds me...I gotta put my pets in the lodge before vacation!

 

[Etoile]

if it can be booted in safe mode...cant she just do a system restore and go back to before the update...then find out why it screwed things up

Augh... my system (win98) did that spontaneously recently. TWICE. took away ALL my customization, ALL my peripherals (palm pilot, camera, wireless network card, etc)...incredibly annoying.

 

[Shadowsdream]

I did a google search on windows updates and windows xp home edition conflicts and discovered that removing the service pack through add and remove programs and then a reboot fixed the problem.

It seems that down loading this security patch is causing pandemic chaos everywhere. So think before you click!

Thanks to all that jumped in with advice...My computer expert is 9 hours away and was sleeping when this problem occurred.


Phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww one more computer problem bites the dust.

Welcome back rosie one.

 

[Shadowsdream]

if it can be booted in safe mode...cant she just do a system restore and go back to before the update...then find out why it screwed things up

Unfortunately it couldn't be booted in any mode....but....no problem is unfixable....and as stated previously...phewwwwwwwwwww

~~grin~~

 

[RJMasters]

Here are two links

Shadow.

As I looked into this I found tha Toshiba may have special instructions concerning how to window updates.

These are the two links which you will find relavant I believe.

Toshiba support info on windows updates click here

Microsoft Special Manufacturer Tech notes for windows updates click here

Chances are you want the second link. I would advise your freind to also make sure that when updating windows in the future, to always check manufacture special notes before updating as there may be specific windows updates written specifically for that manufacture.

Hope that helps.

 

[RJMasters]

Gotta love a guy named Weird Harold...

*stalks Etoile and RJ*

Puts hat on ID Saw you coming!

Blinks as I watch her run off with my hat...hey give me my hat back...chases...why don't I think....

Stalks ID to get my hat back.

 

[Shadowsdream]

Re: Here are two links

Shadow.

As I looked into this I found tha Toshiba may have special instructions concerning how to window updates.

These are the two links which you will find relavant I believe.

Toshiba support info on windows updates click here

Microsoft Special Manufacturer Tech notes for windows updates click here

Chances are you want the second link. I would advise your freind to also make sure that when updating windows in the future, to always check manufacture special notes before updating as there may be specific windows updates written specifically for that manufacture.

Hope that helps.

Thank You so much RJ for digging up that info...I will share it with her and also keep it for Myself as I also have the same laptop as she does.

It certainly is wonderful to be able to share small difficulties with you all.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

I've been postponing my updates on my computer out of laziness. Now I'm worried...

Don't be unless you've got little known brand hardware peripherals attached. The firewall issue pops up at boot after the first reboot from loading SP2.

i read all the nightmare stories, printed out all "what to do ifs," backed up data and imaged the drives, so Murphy got po'd and left me alone. Bill's security features mimic my hardware/software firewall as well as the anti-spyware software already installed. They're easy to adjust.

It is nice IE doesn't let a pop-up happen by default. Adjusting them took a little hunting, but i added a 3d party toolbar tonight with little fuss. Might continue with this browser a little longer before bailing for Opera.