Update for Windows XP not working

I've been trying to sort out a laptop for a friend.
The box has been run for some time with no malware protection of any kind.
From the update list in "Add/Remove Programs" it appears that Windows XP
Media Edition has not been updated since December 2009.

Installed and ran MBAM and AVG9 free which have removed lots of malware.
LimeWire is installed and was set to start at Windows start
I presumed it was responsible for almost continual activity seen on the
network connection which is via a wired cable router.
That has been disabled though Lime Wire remains installed

Things 'seem' OK except that it will not do XP updates.
Connecting to update via the Security Center "Check for the latest updates
from Windows Update" produces the message "Internet Explorer cannot display
the webpage"
Trying to get updates via most other routes produces the same message.
Clicking on "Diagnose Connection Problems" shows no connection problem.

On the Microsoft UK site clicking on the "Security & Updates" tab, then
"Microsoft Update" links to a page that checks for latest updating software.
That produces a message " The website has encountered a problem and cannot
display the page you are trying to view"
FAQs and Find Solutions shows nothing relevant.
Windows Update Newsgroup link open a new window and produces the "Internet
Explorer cannot display the webpage" message.

Other web sites can be reach with no apparent problem.

I've uninstalled and re-installed IE8. to no avail.

What next please?

Henry

"Dragon" <qz39dragon.trapbait@ntlworld.com> schrieb:

> Installed and ran MBAM and AVG9 free which have removed lots of malware.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc512587.aspx

| The only way to clean a compromised system is to flatten and rebuild.
| That's right. If you have a system that has been completely compromised,
| the only thing you can do is to flatten the system (reformat the system
| disk) and rebuild it from scratch (reinstall Windows and your
| applications). Alternatively, you could of course work on your resume
| instead, but I don't want to see you doing that.

Bye,
Freudi

"Ottmar Freudenberger" <freudi@gmx.net> wrote in message
news:8eoqhsFtqoU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Dragon" <qz39dragon.trapbait@ntlworld.com> schrieb:
>
>> Installed and ran MBAM and AVG9 free which have removed lots of malware.
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc512587.aspx
>
> | The only way to clean a compromised system is to flatten and rebuild.
> | That's right. If you have a system that has been completely compromised,
> | the only thing you can do is to flatten the system (reformat the system
> | disk) and rebuild it from scratch (reinstall Windows and your
> | applications). Alternatively, you could of course work on your resume
> | instead, but I don't want to see you doing that.
>
> Bye,
> Freudi

I considered both the options you offered!
Clearly the first is the clean way - if you have all the necessary to do
the re-install and I don't know that the owner has those.

Having retired 18 years ago I doubt that the second would do me much good
:-))

I was hoping that someone would recognise the problem and have an answer.
Thanks for trying to help.

Henry

Could be a possibility. Is SP 2 and 3 for XO installed????

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Dragon" <qz39dragon.trapbait@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:4Rwho.57757$45.14873@newsfe29.ams2...
> I've been trying to sort out a laptop for a friend.
> The box has been run for some time with no malware protection of any kind.
> From the update list in "Add/Remove Programs" it appears that Windows XP Media
> Edition has not been updated since December 2009.
>
> Installed and ran MBAM and AVG9 free which have removed lots of malware.
> LimeWire is installed and was set to start at Windows start
> I presumed it was responsible for almost continual activity seen on the

correction. XO should read XP

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:i68rn4$v6a$1@speranza.aioe.org...
> Could be a possibility. Is SP 2 and 3 for XO installed????
>
> --
> Peter
>
> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect
>
> "Dragon" <qz39dragon.trapbait@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:4Rwho.57757$45.14873@newsfe29.ams2...
>> I've been trying to sort out a laptop for a friend.
>> The box has been run for some time with no malware protection of any kind.
>> From the update list in "Add/Remove Programs" it appears that Windows XP Media
>> Edition has not been updated since December 2009.
>>
>> Installed and ran MBAM and AVG9 free which have removed lots of malware.
>> LimeWire is installed and was set to start at Windows start
>> I presumed it was responsible for almost continual activity seen on the
>

SP3 is installed.
Probably up to date as of last December.
Thanks for trying to help

Henry

"Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:i6ae2i$1f6$1@speranza.aioe.org...
> correction. XO should read XP
>
> --
> Peter
>
> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect
>
> "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:i68rn4$v6a$1@speranza.aioe.org...
>> Could be a possibility. Is SP 2 and 3 for XO installed????
>>
>> --
>> Peter
>>
>> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
>> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/protect
>>
>> "Dragon" <qz39dragon.trapbait@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> news:4Rwho.57757$45.14873@newsfe29.ams2...
>>> I've been trying to sort out a laptop for a friend.
>>> The box has been run for some time with no malware protection of any
>>> kind.
>>> From the update list in "Add/Remove Programs" it appears that Windows XP
>>> Media Edition has not been updated since December 2009.
>>>
>>> Installed and ran MBAM and AVG9 free which have removed lots of malware.
>>> LimeWire is installed and was set to start at Windows start
>>> I presumed it was responsible for almost continual activity seen on the
>>
>
>