KB977165 - Has it been fixed yet?

Inline.

microsoft.news.com wrote:

> Is it safe to install this update now

Assuming your PC is clean, it is safe to install the KB977165 update.

> I am using a Dell XPS9150 with Windows XP Pro SP2 (SP3 refuses to

> complete .

This is not a good thing. Not being able to complete the installation of

SP3 can mean you have malware. Of course, you might just be performing

the install incorrectly. For instance, it is important that there are

*no* security programs (like any resident antivirus program or something

like Zone Alarm) running. Personally, I prefer to configure a Clean Boot

and use the standalone SP3 installation file. If you would like further

guidance on how to best install SP3, feel free to ask. (Oh, also you

really should make sure IE is at the IE6 level before installing SP3 in

order to avoid complications down the road in the event you ever need to

perform a Repair Install.)

> Having suffered the BSOD caused by KB977165 and it's apparent

> interaction with a virus (W32/Alureon?) I need to know if I can now

> _safely_ install the update?

You can do so if you are completely malware-free.

> How (other than a reinstall) can I be sure my system is clean?

Well, a Clean Install is the only way you can be 100% sure. But if you

want to avoid doing this, you can run numerous malware scans (I

recommend Avira Antivir, MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware and SUPERAntispyware

as well as two or three online scans -- BitDefender, Trend Micro's

HouseCall and Kaspersky are all good). Posting a HijackThis log to an

appropriate Web forum would be a good idea, too, if you believe you

definitely have residual traces of malware.

> I use Windows Firewall and AV, AVG free, Spybot Search & Destroy and

> Trend Housecall.

While it's true there is a Windows Firewall (which is certainly

recommended!), there is no such thing as "Windows AV." Perhaps you mean

Microsoft Security Essentials? If not, what are you referring to?

> AVG, Spybot and Trend Housecall had found one or two infections, (why

> didn't the Windows AV and firewall stop them?) but a retest gives the

> all clear now.

>

> Incidentally, after the BSOD was fixed by uninstalling the update, I

> set Automatic

> Updates to *Inform only*. Two days later it had reset _itself_ back to

> *Automatically

> download and install* _WHICH IT DID!

Hmmmm. That's not supposed to happen! Before closing the Automatic

Updates window, did you click on either Apply or OK?

> Fortunately, I noticed the *Do you want to restart* message, said

> NO! and did a System Restore.

Depending on how far back you went with your System Restore, you may

have put the malware right back where it was! Best practice after

cleaning up after malware is to turn System Restore off and then turn it

back on (which will delete all the old restore points this would

prevent a re-infection from occurring).