Need Help: After Windows Update (?), computer seems sick

from Elemental Forums

Hello all, I don't know where else to ask, I trust and respect you here. I am a computer idiot who knows nothing, but this much seems evident: I run Windows 7 Home Premium on a Sony Vaio laptop, about 3 years old, never a problem; after the last automated Windows update (12 September), the computer seems as if lamed. Sometimes working ok, but often as if there is "lag", most programs freeze up, I cannot use Internet Explorer, and everything is slllooooow, although task manager (when it finally starts) tells me nothing is going on. Obviously, gaming impossible. One thing I did notice is that the day before, an automatic windows update was in the works (one of those that happen on start-up or shut-down), and I got a message I had never seen before: something like "An error occurred when updating Windows; reverting to earlier version" (I think it was what it said). When I started up on 12.09 the update went through and I didn't think about it. But since then, the computer is sick. I have no idea what to do. I also run AVG 2012 free version, and it tells me the whole computer was scanned on 13.09 and nothing bad was found. Can anyone give me some (easy to understand!!! --> I am NOT computer saavy!) suggestions?

THANK YOU

88,765 views 35 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Try opening your Task Manager (right-click on task bar on bottom of screen, select "Task Manager"). See if there are any processes that are using an unusually high percentage of your CPU. That might help you find what's slowing your computer down.

 

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Go to Start Menu/ Accessories. Find Command Prompt, right click on it and select Run as adminstrator. Type in sfc /scannow and hit enter. Let it scan your system.(it will take awhile)  If it finds corrupted/missing files, Windows will attempt to repair them.

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You can also uninstall the last windows update that you think may be causing the problem. The uninstall option is found on the windows update page.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 

Quoting AceMatrix, reply 3
You can also uninstall the last windows update that you think may be causing the problem. The uninstall option is found on the windows update page.
End of AceMatrix's quote

"An error occurred when updating Windows; reverting to earlier version"
End of quote
According to that message, the updates did not get installed, Ace.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

THank you so much, people.

Everything is going so slow on that computer I am having problems finding the "Command" prompt. Where do I find that? Sorry I should say I am running this in the German language. Computer is so screwed I cannot make a screenshot. (Task manager seems to find nothing huge.)

I did a "search" for "Command" and cannot find it. I hope it is called the same in German. Sorry to be stupid. Is it under "System"?

I believe the last update HAS been installed; it tells me that one was done on 12.9. I got a little message that a 560KB (yes KB!) large windows update was available today, I seemed to have gotten that installed, it took about 20 minutes, and things are just as bad as before.

Can you tell me where exactly I can unistall a windows update? Is that a page like a website page? And there I can choose to click "uninstall latest update"? Hoping, of course, that this is the source of the problem.

I'm sorry for being an idiot. Thank you, people.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top


EDIT: I found the "Command" thing (in Germand it is "Eingabeaufforderung"!). I typed in sfc /scannow (with space between sfc and /) and it seems to be doing something. Thank you so much, I pray that this will help! I will ask more if and when this process is done, it has been a couple of minutes and it is still at "0%" completed.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Kein Problem, einfach laufen lassen und berichten, was sie sagt. Es wird einige Zeit dauern. Dies sollte reparieren Ihre Windows-Installation

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Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top


Tausend Dank Wizard! Can I ask you questions in German if I really need to? The command thing seems to be doing something, it is at 7% now. I am hoping it is a problem with Windows Update, but of course I have absolutely no idea. I really appreciate your time and effort, thank you!

Edit: You really don't speak German, do you? Du musst mich gar nicht siezen!

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No, I learned a little years ago while in Sandhofen, but have long since forgotten it.

You may ask in German if you need to as long as Google translate does a good job. ;)

How to uninstall an update:

Um ein Update zu deinstallieren, gehen Sie zu Systemsteuerung \ Programme | Programm deinstallieren klicken Sie dann auf Installierte Updates anzeigen. Suchen Sie die neueste Update (s) in der Liste mit der rechten Maustaste darauf und wählen Sie Deinstallieren. Die jüngste Gruppe in meiner Liste von 2 Tagen. Von Ihrem Beitrag, diese klingen wie diejenigen, die für Sie nicht.

 

 

 

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

i do speak german...while my english is still very poorly
What Wizzard said  : Um ein Update zu deinstallieren, öffnest Du die Systemsteuerung \ Programme | Programm deinstallieren
Klicken Sie dann auf Installierte Updates anzeigen ( links in der liste ).  ----
Über der nun erscheinenden Liste hast Du folgende Reiter Name/Programm/Version/Herrausgeber/Installiert am klicke dort einmal auf Installiert am um die Liste nach dem Datum zu sortieren...
Nun mit der rechten Maustaste auf das jeweilige Update klicken und Deinstallieren 

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top


Thank you!

The scan just ended: it said "keine Intergritätsverletzungen gefunden" so no errors were found! Is that a bad sign? The computer is still lame. SHould I go ahead and de-install the updates? This is Windows 7 Home Premium. I am not sure what else I have to do!?!

THank you

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No errors found is a good thing. Go ahead and de-install the most recent updates and reboot.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If the update that failed contained a service pack update and failed to install properly, that would definitely cause the problems you described. I doubt a roll back of any form will repair it and will probably, Windows I mean, Not even realize the files are corrupted. Did you try to reinstall the updates again? you may even try a restore point first to get rid of some issues before trying the update again. No errors can also be bad, means windows is not aware of a problem,does not mean one does not exist. Hope you get it.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you have never used System Restore.

Wenn Sie noch nie benutzt haben Systemwiederherstellung:
Dazu eine Systemwiederherstellung, rechts auf Computer klicken Sie im Start-Menü und wählen Sie Eigenschaften. Auf der linken Seite, am System Protection klicken. In dem sich öffnenden Fenster auf Systemwiederherstellung klicken. Wählen Sie ein Datum vor den fehlgeschlagenen Updates. Befolgen Sie die Anweisungen es gibt Ihnen

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top


OK I am going to try to uninstall the latest Update. Do I understand correctly that I need to manually re-install it afterwards? And is System Restore something else?

Wizard, Google Translate does NOT do a good job of rendering German. It's almost impossible to understand the junk it creates.

THanks much folks!

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting onomastikon, reply 15
Do I understand correctly that I need to manually re-install it afterwards?
End of onomastikon's quote

Try the system out before installing the updates, if ok, just run Windows updates.  If it is still slow, try a System Restore.

Retranslated to english:

If you have never used System Restore:   To do a system restore, right click on Computer in the Start menu and select Properties. On the left side, click on System Protection. Click in the window that opens, click System Restore. Choose a date prior to the failed updates. Follow the instructions it gives you.

Apologies for the poor translation.

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

Edit: It doesnt seem to show the Windows updates anymore in the Installed Updates lists, only things for .NET framework and Office, altogether about 90 Updates, but now none for Windows, and it is still very slow. Should I try to updates windows now manually? Would you know how to do that? Or should I just try the "Restore" option?

Thank you so much

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top


After a huge wait, the computer finally found the updates I could uninstall, I did that (VERY SLOW) and shut the computer down; While shutting down, very slowly, it is trying to install windows updates. The thing is still incredibly slow as if there is a serious problem, but I don't know what the problem can be. It's even worse now, it's almost impossible to click on anything to get it to do anything to fix itself. Could it have been hacked (how?)? Anyhow, I am at my wit's end....

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Step 1 when a system is in 'trouble'....

Access ALL important work and/or documents etc you cannot afford to lose.....and back them up to some form of external media.

Step 2

You will need to get back to a time/condition prior to when things got 'slow' .... either [first] by uninstalling anything concurrent with the time of the slowing... or [second] try a system restore to a point prior to the slowing.

Step 3

IF and only if you have succeeded with step 1 AND failed with step 2  [and nothing else has helped] - reformat and reinstall Windows....;)

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting heft, reply 1
Try opening your Task Manager (right-click on task bar on bottom of screen, select "Task Manager"). See if there are any processes that are using an unusually high percentage of your CPU.
End of heft's quote

How much CPU are you using?  That information was never given.

Jafe covered the rest very well. Good luck with it.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 19
Step 1 when a system is in 'trouble'....

Access ALL important work and/or documents etc you cannot afford to lose.....and back them up to some form of external media.

Step 2

You will need to get back to a time/condition prior to when things got 'slow' .... either [first] by uninstalling anything concurrent with the time of the slowing... or [second] try a system restore to a point prior to the slowing.

Step 3

IF and only if you have succeeded with step 1 AND failed with step 2  [and nothing else has helped] - reformat and reinstall Windows....
End of Jafo's quote

This is very good advice.  :thumbsup:

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sorry just wrote it all in english and German and closed the window so this will be in German only...

Wenn der sfc / scan nicht funktioniert hat und es keine abweichungen gab...
Hast Du irgendwelche Software verändert ausser ein windows update vielleicht ein neues Antiviren programm installiert oder etwas ähnliches?

1. Öffne Systemsteuerung -System und Sicherheit- System überzeuge dich davon das dort dein Arbeitsspeicher ( RAM ) richtig angezeigt wird

2. Im gleichen Fenster findest Du ebenfalls den Windows-Leistungsindex er sollte dir normalerweise eine Ziffer/Zahl anzeigen. Falls das nicht der fall ist mache bitte den Leistungsindex und starte danach deinen Laptop neu.

3. Falls Der Laptop immernoch Langsam läuft solltest Du ein backup auf ein externes Medium z.B USB stick oder Externe HDD machen / nehm Dir Zeit und sichere alle deine wertvollen Dateien. Wenn DU fertig bist klemme das Backup medium bitte vom PC ab.

4. Ich hoffe du hast ein Gutes Antivren Programm installiert - falls nicht kann ich Antivir Free empfehlen.
Ebenfalls wirst DU noch ein Anti-Malware Programm benötigen da empfehle ich Lavasoft Adaware Free.

5. Installieren, falls Antivirus und maleware scanner bereits vorhanden diese bitte UPDATEN in beiden Fällen.

6. Neustart und wechsel von dort in den Abgesicherten Modus- dazu die F8 taste mehrfach beim bootvorgang Drücken oder F4/  F12 kommt darauf and welches Board verbaut ist.Du bekommst einen auswahl Bildschirm und dort wählst DU "Abgesicherten modus mit Eingabeaufforderung"

7. Nun öffne bitte das Antiviren Pogram und mache einen Vollständigen Scan/Suchdurchlauf - in der zwischenzeit kaffe kochen oder die Freundin Ärgern kann dauern bis das fertig ist.Falls das Program mit dem Scan fertig ist alle Infektionen löschen und die Warnungen in die Quarantäne schieben.

8. Nun das Gleiche mit dem Anti-Malware Program - Alle funde bitte löschen ausnahmelos !

9.neustarten

Und mitteilen ob es nun geht. Danke
 

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Do you have a windows 7 disc? You may try booting from the disc and run , "repair my computer" , also could do an upgrade without sacrificing personal data, but would have to reinstall some programs and drivers possibly. I still think you have corrupted windows files from the incomplete update, not a virus or anything malicious.Can offer help with this procedure as can many here I am sure. Luck.

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top


I do not have a Windows 7 disk (it was preinstalled and no disk), and resetting only lets me choose a day 4 days old. It's not enough. Also, Windows attempts to re-install updates immediately -- that doesnt make things better either. I've tried  most combinations (restore, /scannow, virus scan) and nothing seems to help. Something must be permanently damaged, whatever that is, or maybe it is a hardware error. I think I will have to give up.... :-( THank you for your well-meant time and help

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

https://forums.wincustomize.com/431797/page/1/#3229744

Sorry to hear of your trouble...

Before ditching the whole thing, why not try taking it to a reputable computer repair service? And while you're there, it might be a good idea to get an external storage device or two...