Expert: James Filmer - 9/28/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello James,

This continued from our last question, with Windows Update. So I went to IE and clicked tools Windows Update. And I clicked Express but it tells me...
Please change your Internet Explorer security settings
To save changes to your settings for this website, you need to enable userdata persistence for Internet Explorer. Complete the steps below, and then click Change settings to the left and try saving your changes again.
In Internet Explorer, on the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
Click the Security tab, click the Internet security zone icon, and then click Custom Level.
In the Settings dialog box, scroll to the Miscellaneous section.
Under Userdata persistence , select Enable.
Click OK and when the security warning dialog box appears, click Yes.
I have done exactly that but when I refresh the page, and see if it will let me install updates, it says the same thing over and over again.
Again thank you for helping.

ANSWER: rod,

That's the reason why I said it will take more than a few replies here. I can tell your system is in is an unstable state on several levels.

You need to open IE without addons. That's first. If you're using IE8, follow the info here:

http://www.nirmaltv.com/2009/04/28/how-to-run-ie8-without-add-ons/

Then go to Tools > Internet Options and every click every tab and click Default for settings under every tab, not Custom. Click OK.

Also, you say your Firewall isn't working. After doing the above, follow the instructions here:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-configure-windows-xp-firewall/ to see if you can enable it.

Let me know if you're successful with either (or both) issues.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well I've done everything you've stated and it still won't let me update.  And my Firewall was already on (so it says). But idk..

Answer
At least the Firewall is on! That's good. As far as the updates and the volume, please write the email address on the Enrgy21.com/about website so we can chat about getting your system working correctly again, if you want. Otherwise, like I said earlier using different words, there are dozens of reasons why the volume is not working, but can't tell what (precisely) without additional system analysis requiring more communication that allowed for on this site. It's possible that it's not a virus or spyware issue, increasing the amount of possibilities.