Lost my MS windows update link

[deltapapa]

Help please...

I did some windows updates this morning then found I couldn't open my emails using MS Outlook 2003 - this has happened before [MS Ofice updates] and I've always system restored to just before they downloaded and then re-installed the updates a few at a time until I found the offending one as was recommended to me before -

this time however after system restore I've lost the ability in windows to download the updates again, the windows check for updates link is inactive via... start > control panel > system & security > windows update....
If I try to open Turn automatic updates on/off I get error message

Windows cannot find
‘_=(26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683}|5|;;{36EEF7DB-88AD-4E81-AD…\pageSettings’.

I've a couple of programmes that won't open either.

Not sure the best course of action here, Should I system restore to an earlier time and try again or is there a greater problem?

[Milo Minderbinder]

without more details, including the FULL error messages its hard to know, but a quick Google search suggests its due to a corrupt user profile.
A system restore may fix it, but the bigger questions i why do the updates fail?

I suspect you have some old software on there thats not compatible.

[deltapapa]

That is the full error message I get.

The only other one is when I looked at doing another system restore and got this window.

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1889/43304535.jpg

I admit I use Office 2003 on a windows 7 OS - but for some reason which I have asked about on here before is why do I do Office 2007 updates???

I don't want the expense of updating Office for the amount I use it - and can't do what I want with 3rd party software either like open office or Libre office.

Sadly I think this is beyond my capabilities - I can still use my PC for everyday use but will need it looked at sometime soon.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[BOAC]

I admit I use Office 2003 on a windows 7 OS - but for some reason which I have asked about on here before is why do I do Office 2007 updates??? - I am confused! I cannot see what a 2007 update has to do with 2003? As I understand it they are quite different programmes.

I don't want the expense of updating Office for the amount I use it - and can't do what I want with 3rd party software either like open office or Libre office. - what exactly is it that OO will not do?
system restore - sounds like a repair to sys restore for starters - Google? Then a repair to Windows Updates - Google?

If they don't do it..........................

[Milo Minderbinder]

The 2007 updates are probably for the compatibility update pack, which installs part of Office 2007 as filters

However - and this is where things can get confused - don't forget that most Win7 machines from volume manufacturers came either with the Office 2007 preinstalled trial, or the 2010 trial / Lite preloads
In this case its quite possible that the 2007 trial is preinstalled, but not activated. If Office 2003 is then also installed, funny things can happen.

Restore it back to an earlier time. You'll probably get an "restore failed" error message - but that message is itself usually and error, with the restore working!!!
Then try doing the updates one by one and see which one is crashing/failing
Once we know that, a fix may be possible

[BOAC]

compatibility update pack- agreed, but surely that would be what the update is called? Not 'Office 2007'?

Unfortunately we (I) do not know which OS we are looking at - can you tell from the 'restore jpg?. If Win 7 I suspect your hypothesis will be the answer.

[Milo Minderbinder]

"agreed, but surely that would be what the update is called? Not 'Office 2007'"

The compatibility pack installs some office 2007 shared components besides the filters, and they upgrade as office 2007 components, as well as the expected upgrades

"Unfortunately we (I) do not know which OS we are looking at - can you tell from the 'restore jpg"

that error message talks about volume shadow services not working, so its Vista or Win7
You'll probably find the system restore will work correctly if its run from the "repair my computer" option of the F8 startup menu, rather than from within windows
The VSS error usually indicates corrupt system files - booting from the F8 menu loads up WindowsPE instead of Windows, and won't be corrupted

[deltapapa]

Unfortunately we (I) do not know which OS we are looking at My OS is Windows 7 as stated in my second post.

what exactly is it that OO will not do?
I can't get on with OO and can't mail merge in LO I get so far down the line then everything is greyed out so won't let me complete.

Restore it back to an earlier time. You'll probably get an "restore failed" error message - but that message is itself usually and error, with the restore working!!!
How do I get past the the error generated in the jpg? I pressed F8 and chose 'last known good' from the list but it made no difference.

By the way I do appreciate your in put thanks all.

[BOAC]

Sorry, dp - I went blind.

Have you tried System Restore General Troubleshooting to Fix Issues - Windows 7 Forums (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/57746-system-restore-general-troubleshooting-fix-issues.html) and then Windows Update - Reset - Windows 7 Forums (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91738-windows-update-reset.html) ?

[Milo Minderbinder]

F8 > repair my computer > restore my computer to an earlier time

NOT the "last know good" - that does something else

[deltapapa]

Thanks will try that.

[deltapapa]

Well it appears non of the 'F' buttons are working on start up now - so awaiting for my techie man to get back to me.

Thanks one and all for your thoughts and help.

[deltapapa]

Update.....

I set aside today to sort this - but last night my PC automatically downloaded the updates again and everything is now working once more except for Outlook again!

Is it just a case of working through the updates by trial and error and un-installing each one by right clicking it or is there a better way?

If I change Outlook to something else what would you recommend - I hate on line email and would prefer a programme on my PC.

[BOAC]

If all you need is POP3 email and no calendar etc, Thunderbird or the Win7 LiveMail (which I do not like!). You should still have access to webmail via your ISP/email provider if you want it.

[Milo Minderbinder]

Don't get hung up over the windows updates
From what you say, the problem is with Outlook
Can you tell us what the actual symptoms of your problem with that are, and what the Outlook error messages are (if any?)

As regards alternative e-mail software, the choice of "free" stuff is limited
Ether Mozilla Thunderbird (with Lightning if you want a calendar
Or VMWare's Zimbra

At present Thunderbird is on the back burners as a project - Mozilla are only doing care and maintenance releases on it, no development. Basically nobody wants to work on programming it

[BOAC]

How does Zimbra rate?

[Milo Minderbinder]

I like it
I switched to using the open source desktop client version three months ago, and it does fine
I'm using three e-mail accounts with it - BTYahoo, Google & AOL and all are running perfectly as IMAP
I've also got a diary synched to a Google diary AND a Yahoo diary and the Google diary is synched to my Android phone - all works well both ways (though setting it up was NOT per the instructions)
Only thing likely to cause a problem is Hotmail - that doesn't have proper IMAP so ca only be accessed through POP
ALso, in theory you can't access an exchange server with the open source version - though it does give me that option during account setup

Looks take some getting used to. The usual windows menu / task bar is missing. the whole thing has a completely different feel / look - more like a UNIX program

And of course if so so wish, theres an open source server which can be used in place of Exchange Server

edit
The only issue I had was in moving the contacts over. These had to be exported to a spreadsheet and then imported, but by default the e-mail address fields were picked up into the wrong fields. I had to manually move these