Expert: Brian Benosky - 7/20/2008

Question
I am unable to download updates. I get an error message. It tells me that my automatic update is disabled. When I go into "run", I put in the services.msc, and go into automatic updates. I was able to start the BITS and Event log. When I try to change the automatic update from disabled to automatic, it switches it back. The times it doesn't, I hit "apply" and I've tried to hit "start" and I get an error message that says "The service cannot be started. Either it is disabled or it has no enabled devices associated with it". I have tried calling the Gateway help line, they basically checked everything I did and I spent an hour on the phone with them and they still couldn't figure it out. I need to download updates because I believe this is why I had an influx of viruses and trojans recently.

Answer
Hi Linda

Did you try using the same procedure to also start the Remote Procedure Call service?  That also needs to be started to download updates.  My best guess here is that you are still infected, probably with a Vundo trojan, which can cause this problem.  I can look over a log file for you to double check your system.  Download HijackThis, and run a scan and save a log file, then copy and paste it here as a follow up.  The link is:
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/_download/HJTInstall.exe
If the log is clean, we can try to troubleshoot further.

Brian