updates won't download (timeout)

[enigmaseas]

Over this past weekend (8/8-8/9 2009) my laptop has been locking up. Just got
the pc within a month, it came with windows vista home basic. I am currently
using Comodo security suite. I went to try and get windows updates, I can
view the updates but the downloading of the updates times out. I have tried
to get updates in antivirus, antispyware/adware apps and they all do the same
thing. I am able to browse the web for a few minutes upon booting prior to
lock up. I would rather not have to restore the pc and actually figure out
what the problem is but all the scans that I am able to run come back stating
the system is clean, but obviously something isn't fine, just not sure what.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
enigmaseas

[MowGreen]

enigmaseas wrote:

Either the security software is causing the updating issues, there's
malware resident, the networking component(winsock) is damaged by either
of the previous two, the OS is damaged by same, or, there's an issue
with the network.

> all the scans that I am able to run come back stating the system is clean

And, what would those scans be ? If the installed security software is
not updating and the system is having issues staying connected to the
net, the scans are meaningless.
Suggest you download an offline scanning component to another system and
use portable media (USB thumbdrive, etc.) to tansfer it to the affected
system. sysclean is a useful, downloadable scanner:

http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

Click the Sysclean Package link; click the readme_sysclean.txt to see
how sysclean is used; download the latest
Controlled Pattern Release 6.358.05 from this page:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/viruspattern.asp#viruspattern-cpr

The Controlled Pattern Release is pushed out prior to the daily Virus
Pattern Files and can *on rare occassions*, render the system
unbootable. It is also the most *current* patterns that have not been
fully tested yet.
You can use the *Official Pattern Files* release if the above makes you
wary.

MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

[enigmaseas]

When trying to run the updates, the apps get to the point of trying to
connect to download the updates and time out. But I have been using other
machines (xp and vista and not having any trouble) which leads me to believe
that this is a machine problem not a network related one. I am going to try
your suggestion with the trend micro and post back with results. Thanks for
your info.

Regards,
enigmaseas

[enigmaseas]

Well, I ran the sysclean as recommended and have mixed results. So far the
machine is no longer locking up 5 mins after boot but still won't connect to
any service for updates, yet other machines on the same network are not
having any problems. Any suggestions?

Regards,
enigmaseas

[MowGreen]

enigmaseas wrote:

Did Sysclean detect any malware ?

[enigmaseas]

It found a suspicious virus, but did not give any details on it so that I
could find out if that was the issue. But did not find any malware.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Do you think "a suspicious virus" is goodware?

Thread history:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/browse_frm/thread/d4655fa6443f4573

[MowGreen]

Malware is a broad term that includes viruses, trojans, worms, spyware,
etc.

Did Sysclean attempt to delete the detected virus ?

What is the installed antivirus ?

We can reset the Winsock to see if it being damaged by the virus is the
cause of updates not downloading but, if the virus is still present, it
will not matter as it will damage it again.

MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============