Windows XP updates

[Ray Sullivan]

On my wife's PC running Windows XP, the "Windows Update"
feature no longer connects to Microsoft. Any other site
can be accessed using Windows Explorer but every time we
try to connect to Microsoft, we get the error "The page
cannot be displayed" followed by Explorer switching to a
search site named "ALMIGHTYSEARCH". I have scanned the
hard disk for viruses using Norton AntiVirus 2004 with
the latest updates, but it does not seem to be a virus.
Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix this problem?

[Akomic]

Just guessing, but it sounds like you should download and install 'AdAware',
or some other spyware program. My feeling is that there is a little program
sitting somewhere in your system (not a virus, so your AV software won't
pick it up), that is the cause of this.

Not wishing to patronise you, but spyware is a type of program that spies on
you... sends information to a specific website, tracks your internet use,
alters your internet settings so you cannot use the interent completely...
that sort of thing!!!

Irrespective of thge accuracy of my information, I can say with conviction
that AdAware is a useful utility to get hold of... I'm sure it will help
your system stay tip top!

HTH,

Jon

"Ray Sullivan" > wrote in message
...
> On my wife's PC running Windows XP, the "Windows Update"
> feature no longer connects to Microsoft. Any other site
> can be accessed using Windows Explorer but every time we
> try to connect to Microsoft, we get the error "The page
> cannot be displayed" followed by Explorer switching to a
> search site named "ALMIGHTYSEARCH". I have scanned the
> hard disk for viruses using Norton AntiVirus 2004 with
> the latest updates, but it does not seem to be a virus.
> Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix this problem?

[junkbonds]

Jon is absolutely correct... you have spyware running on
your system... Purchase either Adaware, Spybot S & D or
even PestPatrol... they are all good and will probably
find a lot of other "nasties" running on your system.


>-----Original Message-----
>Just guessing, but it sounds like you should download
and install 'AdAware',
>or some other spyware program. My feeling is that there
is a little program
>sitting somewhere in your system (not a virus, so your
AV software won't
>pick it up), that is the cause of this.
>
>Not wishing to patronise you, but spyware is a type of
program that spies on
>you... sends information to a specific website, tracks
your internet use,
>alters your internet settings so you cannot use the
interent completely...
>that sort of thing!!!
>
>Irrespective of thge accuracy of my information, I can
say with conviction
>that AdAware is a useful utility to get hold of... I'm
sure it will help
>your system stay tip top!
>
>HTH,
>
>Jon
>
>"Ray Sullivan" > wrote in message
...
>> On my wife's PC running Windows XP, the "Windows
Update"
>> feature no longer connects to Microsoft. Any other
site
>> can be accessed using Windows Explorer but every time
we
>> try to connect to Microsoft, we get the error "The page
>> cannot be displayed" followed by Explorer switching to
a
>> search site named "ALMIGHTYSEARCH". I have scanned the
>> hard disk for viruses using Norton AntiVirus 2004 with
>> the latest updates, but it does not seem to be a virus.
>> Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix this
problem?
>
>
>.
>

[Matt Coy]

Hi Ray,

I would suggest downloading and running Spybot Search and Destroy from
http://spybot.eon.net.au/index.php?lang=en&page=download . After
installing, go to the Tools menu on the left side and click the Update
button and then search for and download the latest updates and then scan
your computer and remove any spyware that's installed.

Following removal, I would restart the computer and the spyware issue should
be fixed for the time being.

--
Matt Coy, MCSE

"Ray Sullivan" > wrote in message
...
> On my wife's PC running Windows XP, the "Windows Update"
> feature no longer connects to Microsoft. Any other site
> can be accessed using Windows Explorer but every time we
> try to connect to Microsoft, we get the error "The page
> cannot be displayed" followed by Explorer switching to a
> search site named "ALMIGHTYSEARCH". I have scanned the
> hard disk for viruses using Norton AntiVirus 2004 with
> the latest updates, but it does not seem to be a virus.
> Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix this problem?