Great_Scott

I am SO hacked off right now! I have an NEC M450 here that will not update. It just sits there saying "downloading updates" but it doesn't. I have tried everything in my own medicine book that has worked before but all to no use. The following (my own advice posted in a previous thread) is what I have tried: I've had this issue for ages! Updates either do not download or install or the machine just hangs for hours. I've been on other threads within EduGeeks too, trawled the MS kb's and loads of other techie sites for hours looking for a solution and have never found a definite answer to it. However, the following methods have worked for me: Assuming the PC you are working on is an existing school machine that you have just re-imaged and want to update before ghosting a new image back up - which is the situation I was in; Download & install MS IE7 then reboot. Rename the Download folder in C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download to download.old 1 - Uninstall Ranger 2 - Uninstall Sophos - Use the Sophos removal .bat tool from their tech guys 3 - Take machine out of domain 4 - Download & Install MS Installer 3.1 5 - Download & install MS Genuine Validation Tool 6 - Safe mode or normal Windows - didn't make a difference for me 7 - Execute the following from a Run command: net stop wuauserv regsvr32 wuapi.dll regsrv32 wups2.dll regsrv32 wups.dll regsrv32 wuaueng.dll regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll regsvr32 wucltui.dll regsvr32 wuweb.dll regsvr32 msxml3.dll regsvr32 qmgr.dll regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll regsvr32 jscript.dll net start wuauserv Sometimes, just re-registering the msxml3.dll works. Reboot the machine and try Microsoft Updates again or, try the Windows updates instead. There is also a change settings option on the updates site that you can check to "use windows update only" If the updates still fail: 1 - Download & install a newer NIC driver for your machine (this worked for me on a NEC VL350) 2 - Download & install just SP3 then re-visit the updates site 3 - Download & install the Sept 09 Malicious Software Removal Tool Try visiting the updates site again. On every machine I was working on, the following updates always failed: Security Update XP SP3 KB952069/KB973540 Media Format Runtime KB968816 MS Office Genuine Notification KB949810 I had to either install these manually or remove them - the latter may be best for some! For me, once I had done any of the above all other updates have installed normally. Things like Adobe Flash Player, XP Codecs, DivX, Java, Silverlight and Shockwave player have always installed normally too. Sometimes, if MS Updates appear to have "hung" you may find cold booting the machine is the only answer and then you'll notice that the updates had actually downloaded and installed - very frustrating! I'm just about ready to punch someone:mad:

I have to agree with the other replies; check the other user account, check for malware, check the HDD. I assume it's a genuine OS installation too and not something you got from a torrent site? Will it boot into safe mode?

I've had this issue for ages! Updates either do not download or install or the machine just hangs for hours. I've been on other threads within EduGeeks too, trawled the MS kb's and loads of other techie sites for hours looking for a solution and have never found a definite answer to it. However, the following methods have worked for me: Assuming the PC you are working on is an existing school machine that you have just re-imaged and want to update before ghosting a new image back up - which is the situation I was in; Download & install MS IE7 then reboot. Rename the Download folder in C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download to download.old 1 - Uninstall Ranger 2 - Uninstall Sophos - Use the Sophos removal .bat tool from their tech guys 3 - Take machine out of domain 4 - Download & Install MS Installer 3.1 5 - Download & install MS Genuine Validation Tool 6 - Safe mode or normal Windows - didn't make a difference for me 7 - Execute the following from a Run command: net stop wuauserv regsvr32 wuapi.dll regsrv32 wups2.dll regsrv32 wups.dll regsrv32 wuaueng.dll regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll regsvr32 wucltui.dll regsvr32 wuweb.dll regsvr32 msxml3.dll regsvr32 qmgr.dll regsvr32 qmgrprxy.dll regsvr32 jscript.dll net start wuauserv Sometimes, just re-registering the msxml3.dll works. Reboot the machine and try Microsoft Updates again or, try the Windows updates instead. There is also a change settings option on the updates site that you can check to "use windows update only" If the updates still fail: 1 - Download & install a newer NIC driver for your machine (this worked for me on a NEC VL350) 2 - Download & install just SP3 then re-visit the updates site 3 - Download & install the Sept 09 Malicious Software Removal Tool Try visiting the updates site again. On every machine I was working on, the following updates always failed: Security Update XP SP3 KB952069/KB973540 Media Format Runtime KB968816 MS Office Genuine Notification KB949810 I had to either install these manually or remove them - the latter may be best for some! For me, once I had done any of the above all other updates have installed normally. Things like Adobe Flash Player, XP Codecs, DivX, Java, Silverlight and Shockwave player have always installed normally too. Sometimes, if MS Updates appear to have "hung" you may find cold booting the machine is the only answer and then you'll notice that the updates had actually downloaded and installed - very frustrating! I hope some of this has been useful, incidentally I usually only have issues with NEC machines though so maybe it is some of the older images for those older machines that havent been updated since 2007 (not my fault) that are contributing to the issue??? Cheers Craig

School uses Sophos from the LEA. Personally, I don't like it! I can configure it and use it to do what it is supposed to do and technical support from Sophos has always been efficient when required but for some reason I just don't like it, maybe it's a personality clash.... Anyway, in previous employment I worked with Trend Micro which was always okay. At home I have been using Panda AV solutions since 2001 and have only ever had one issue in that time which was easy to sort out with their support people and I've just upgraded to their 2010 solution - £30.00 for 3 licences. If I repair anyone elses computer or if I'm installing AV as a freebie I will go for Avira, AVG or Nod32. I've noticed AVG 8+ seems to slow down older computers though and have seen trojans go undetected (but that could have been user orientated) and I steer clear of Norton - esp 2006v - and McAfee BUT, I would always advise people to take advantage of anything offered for free from their ISP even if it was McAfee in the short term until they could buy something better. Free AV software such as AVG's are beneficial but I believe if you want long term full protection then you should be using the full product.

Been using Spiceworks for 18 months or so. We allocate calls with time limits and you can also record length of time you spend on calls too. Any authorised user can edit the call and if you wish, you can allow users to create, view or modify calls. We just use it to log day to day activity and then look back over calls as a sort of knowledge base if so desired.

Same for me Nickje!!! All was well up to the SP3 install then like Chris says it shows 44 updates but just sits there saying "preparing for download". I've tried everything on the MS KB's but all to no avail and I'm not using WSUS either because of many previous issues with it. What I did notice was that I was able to download and install updates one by one but who has time for that!

Yes, having the same problem even if I bypass the proxy! I tried the following after taking the machine out of the domain and it worked for me: Clean up Windows Update temporary folder ======================================= One possible cause is that the temporary folder for Windows Update is containing corrupted files. 1. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following command in the opened window. Net stop WuAuServ 2. Click Start, Run, type: %windir% and press Enter. 3. In the opened folder, rename the folder SoftwareDistribution to Sdold. 4. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following command in the opened window. Net start WuAuServ

I admire anyone who has the courage to take that "first step" and deploy a new MS OS so soon to their network, good luck! As for me, I have been testing it on a VM at home since first release, I do like it and a lot of other people from various sources are shouting good things about it too but something is giving me doubts that it is as good as it seems and I'm definitely thinking it is far too soon for deployment. Call me over cautious or whatever but I have to follow my gut instinct as I have done in the past. I don't mind waiting another year or longer if needs be.........

Hi Just felt like adding to this as I am having the same problem. Our WSUS server has a fault awaiting external repair so I wanted to use the MS Updates website directly to update ICT suite PC's but the computers just sit there for hours on "searching for the latest updates..." without anything happening. I have followed various steps from KB articles and Googled solutions but none of them have worked so far. It is my intention to solve this today.... after I finish my coffee of course!

I suppose it all rides upon whether or not his actions can be interpreted as using reasonable force. Apparently, we can't just punch, kick, headbutt, shoot or stab someone just because they attacked us first but, you can use reasonable force to protect yourself if you feel that your life is in danger.... so, I guess stabbing someone five times with a letter opener will be seen by the CPS as unreasonable. The police in this case have done their job - some of those officers may just silently approve of what happened! - and it is now up to some odd folk sitting behind desks to make a decision to prosecute or not. I'm going to find myself a description of what is deemed as "reasonable force" now

I've had the same issue with older Dell laptops that were part of the Laptops4Teachers offer four years ago. I did the same as you in the end and imported them into the Enterprise Console. Always works afterwards.

Have to side with Potato-Peeler on the Dell & Netgear devices and I like Xerox MFP's too:)

Completely agree with GrumbleDook and others on this one. Follow MS advice and procedures. Create two additional accounts call them manager1 & manager2 or whatever you want and only use those for day to day work, you can grant admin rights to your usual staff log in too if you want and as for other junior or non experienced technicians create an account called tech1 or whatever. Adhere to your AUP regarding passwords on these accounts as well, you'll also manage your audit trails easier - seeing who made what change and when. Don' know about everyone else but I'm seriously paranoid when it comes to knowing who is doing what and when and I would never grant admin rights to any other user, even the HTor SMT members.

We are very keen at our school to clamp down on what staff can and cannot do on the network. If they do not sign the AUP they do not get access. I do allow webmail access and other personal use but the AUP states that all network activity and use is monitored. We regularly brief staff on changes and policy specifics, we just have to ignore the moans, groans and whispers from the corners and accept that us IT staff are often loathed. We still have staff taking liberties though and although it really winds me up I go and talk with the person causing the problem and make it clear that in a corporate environment they wouldnt get away with it, if that doesnt work I go straight to SMT who I'm pleased to say are on my side most of the time, I'm very fortunate in that respect. We have a detailed and lengthy AUP which I'd be willing to share directly with those who are interested, as for Limewire, remove it immediately and tell the objectors your reason is because it is the primary distribution source for child related pornographic material - just run a search for Amy Winehouse content and you'll see what I mean and like Hollie wrote, you have every right to monitor what is happening on your network, otherwise how can you do your job?

I've been running "internet safety for parents" sessions for a while now at this school. The session is opened by the assistant head who explains why we run these sessions, then the network manager does a bit on the methods we use in school to control internet use, then I do my bit. I keep the initial presentation to 15 minutes and really just concentrate on the 'did you know aspect', showing genuine screenshots of what we've caught kids doing and just making it all quite informal but informative. I then get a bit serious and focus on some of the danger stuff and demonstrate various methods of controlling what your children do on the internet which leads into an open question and answer session for everyone. We've had good feeback and are running the next one in September for the new year 7 parents. At the next session we have a guest speaker from the Police cybercrime forensics unit who says his aim is to scare people by showing them what is really going on out there in that big bad world that their children are exposing themselves to.

Using VMware/NEC/Sonicwall solution to provide terminal services for the curriculum network. Both staff and pupils can log in remotely via a web page and have full desktop functionality with access to all apps and services they would normally have in school. Just got to keep reminding them to log off instead of just closing the browser window as it leaves their session open.

Got a Gmail account already, but just thought an alternative might be nice. As for the other issue with hacked Gmail accounts, wasn't there something in the news a while back about them being attacked? Maybe that was Hotmail....? Anyway, I think they have their bases covered in the Ts&Cs as far as data loss is concerned. There will be some get out clause that says the service is provided "as is" with no guarantee of non failure I'm sure. And it does smell of malware too.....

Yeah mate, no probs. I was new to it when i started here but if you throw that manual to one side and look at it with common sense & logic it actually starts to make sense! Personally, I like it.

Hiya mate, no motorbike I'm sorry. I do love em but I kept coming off or dropping them when I was younger so I gave up. Few mates have em, ones just ordered himself a Yamaha R6? Another one constantly brags about how his Kawasaki ZX-12R has 168BHP at the wheel - as if I'm completely unaware that it is faster than my car...

Hello, I'm Craig and I'm a geek! Full time IT Technician for a grammar school in Lancashire. I've previously worked in local government and private sector offices and enjoyed both. I left a field technician role with a Yorkshire based IT solutions company to work here simply because it's very close to home, the hours are great, the salary was surprisingly attractive and I don't have to drive all round the UK anymore. ITIL & Microsoft qualified, technical/knowledge skills are broad, mostly Microsoft, Win 2k3 server; AD admin. Exchange 2k3, XP, Vista etc. Some AS400/i-series and Citrix knowledge. Pretty good with Symantec Backup Exec, Ghost, Ranger for networks etc. General Mr fix-it for desktops, laptops, laser printers, wireless issues! Current learning curve is an NEC virtualisation solution installed in school during Feb half term. When not working I can be found slumped in a chair with a pizza and an xbox controller. I also love motorsport & coffee!

If anyone else is interested there is a new, free webmail service on offer from GMX. You get 5gb of storage and can import mail from other accounts such as Yahoo, Hotmail, Etc. I'm just having a browse of their Ts&Cs - because I'm sad like - that before signing up.

This morning I opened an envelope with a "Talented Teacher Award" certificate inside! I'm not even a teacher but I was nominated by the year 7s for keeping the computers running - I thought it was rather sweet:) I then got dragged back to reality with a phone call from one of the teachers wanting his mail forwarding to his personal mailbox. He didnt even have the decency to ask how I was or mention that I'm in this place all by myself for the next 6 weeks!

Maybe it is mollycoddling but I do my best at home to stop my own children being exposed to inappropriate, unpleasant adult material and themes even though I know they are going to be exposed to it eventually as they get older anyway. I fully expect my childrens school to take a similar degree of responsibility for them as well though so I will try my best in my job at this school to protect the kids of parents who don't want them seeing adult related content on school computers. I guess I'm contributing now to a wander away from the issue first raised. Do I think companies like Zentek should use BBC news articles to create a storm ultimately aimed at lining their own pockets? No....there are better methods of advertising.

Hi all, you'll see I'm a newbie here and to working in an educational environment having previously been a field engineer for a Yorkshire based IT solutions company for many years. I've provided IT solutions support for various customers around the UK including Hospitals, colleges, uni's and private sector companies such as casinos alike but none of it prepared me for pupils and their constant efforts to circumvent whatever security methods school IT admins have in place! It's like a war! So far this year the only effective methods I've had have been regular visits to the ICT suites, chatting with students, turning a blind eye to the odd trivial instance of game playing but having set consequences in place for blatant policy breaches such as using a free proxy for instance. It seems to be working when students know they are physically being watched but I've had more difficulty trying to get teachers on board to support me when some of them are deliberately breaking the rules themselves or allowing classes to do the same. I stumbled upon this particular thread because I wanted some info on various monitoring tools and suites from people who use them such as Ranger and the e-safety stuff like i-shield and Securus as part of my "duty of care" for the darling student users and I don't want to be smooth talked into a naff time consuming product by these companies trying to cash in on the whole internet safety for schools campaign. I've already trialled Securus and didn't like it personally, I've been contacted by a rep from Zentek this month, had the glossy brochure and arranged a visit for September because I was impressed by what they offered as it seems to be a case of "does what it says on the tin" but now you've got me worried after reading the posts here. They have offered to take me to other schools using their products so I can chat with those customers but I don't want to be bothered with all that if I can make a decision based on various opinions and user reviews I can find on the web myself. All these companies offer the same sales pitch about how their products are better than everyone elses and how their seamless installation will make my life so much easier and it does my head in! I havent got time for it but know I have to do something to further protect the network and the students without being confused by sales hungry private sector sharks preying on the education sector purely because they know that in the end they will get paid because we aint going anywhere! Wow, I feel better for writing that down, putting the soap box away now :0)