Windows update issues

[xforeverxmetalx]

I don't know where else to look - I've exhausted Google, Microsoft's support page, and my dad - so I'm hoping some of you computer-inclined people can help out.

I have Windows 7 on an Acer laptop, and pretty much since the day I got it (last Christmas), it hasn't been able to update. I get a "Windows could not search for new updates" - error code 80070005. Apparently it's because of a permissions issue, despite that I'm the administrator.

I've tried all the suggestions for help I can find, and more. Here's a link to Microsoft -

Error: 0x80070005 when you try to install updates using Microsoft Update or Windows Update

We retried the 'method 3', and we started to get somewhere when we discovered that one of the commands wouldn't run. This one:

subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f

The command prompt tells me again that I don't have the permissions.

And this is where I'm stuck. Anyone know where I can go from here?

[Tyler90AZ]

If you have not run make sure you run an updated virus scan, I recommend AVG free edition.

Make a new administrator account and try again.

If that does not work, try bypassing using the search for updates function, go directly to the source.

Try method 3 again.

You could always reformat if that does not work. Make sure you make a backup copy of your hard drive before you reformat. If you do not, you will lose everything.

[xforeverxmetalx]

Okay so now I'm even more confused.

I created a new admin account and successfully updated Windows. Then, just to check, I logged back into that account and checked for updates. And I got the exact same error message. Didn't do a single thing on the other account except download updates.

But I'm assuming (hoping) that as long as I can create a new admin account every once in awhile to download updates, I'll be fine. Since that's kind of annoying to do, though, I'm still looking for a fix. This is just weird now. But thanks.

(Yes, I ran a virus scan before all this - I've got Avast. We even tried uninstalling it temporarily to see if it caused the problem.)

[Tyler90AZ]

Originally Posted by xforeverxmetalx

Okay so now I'm even more confused.

I created a new admin account and successfully updated Windows. Then, just to check, I logged back into that account and checked for updates. And I got the exact same error message. Didn't do a single thing on the other account except download updates.

But I'm assuming (hoping) that as long as I can create a new admin account every once in awhile to download updates, I'll be fine. Since that's kind of annoying to do, though, I'm still looking for a fix. This is just weird now. But thanks.

(Yes, I ran a virus scan before all this - I've got Avast. We even tried uninstalling it temporarily to see if it caused the problem.)

You should be able to delete the account you created and keep the original administrative account. If it is an unbearable annoyance keep the new admin account you created, make sure all your stuff is on your new admin account though.

[skippy740]

If it were me, I'd do a full backup and use my system restore disks to completely reinstall Windows and all my applications, then restore all my files.

But that's just me.

[tubaloth]

You have to be careful with permissions.
Right click your C drive and go to properties. Then go to security. Make sure your "username"/Administrator is in the list. Click on that and make sure it has all the correct permissions.

I would do that to your C:\Windows folder and your C:\Windows\System32 folder.
See you have the right permissions (You might not have Special Permissions which should be okay).

[jerome1232]

Permissions changing themselves, Makes me think your box is backdoored.

[xforeverxmetalx]

Originally Posted by Tyler90AZ

You should be able to delete the account you created and keep the original administrative account. If it is an unbearable annoyance keep the new admin account you created, make sure all your stuff is on your new admin account though.

I can delete the other account, yea, but the new admin account can't update anymore, either. Hopefully all I have to do from here on out is create another admin account every once in awhile, run the updates, and delete it. Just that's still less convenient than it running the way it's supposed to.

Originally Posted by skippy740

If it were me, I'd do a full backup and use my system restore disks to completely reinstall Windows and all my applications, then restore all my files.

But that's just me.

Why? Seems like a lot of trouble to go through if the above solution works.

(Also, I didn't get any system restore disks)

Originally Posted by tubaloth

You have to be careful with permissions.
Right click your C drive and go to properties. Then go to security. Make sure your "username"/Administrator is in the list. Click on that and make sure it has all the correct permissions.

I would do that to your C:\Windows folder and your C:\Windows\System32 folder.
See you have the right permissions (You might not have Special Permissions which should be okay).

I checked the C drive properties; it had everything but special permissions. C:\Windows had everything except full control. I tried to edit that, but I got an error with every subfolder that said access was denied.

Originally Posted by jerome1232

Permissions changing themselves, Makes me think your box is backdoored.

Huh?

[jerome1232]

Originally Posted by xforeverxmetalx

Huh?

You created a brand new Admin account, it could update (meaning permissions were intact and working) you logged off, the next time you logged in the permissions were messed up for the new account.

It just smells fishy to me, if this were my computer, I would suspect that my system was compromised, rooted, and/or backdoored. That basically means a malicious peice of software compromised your system, then covered all it's tracks and made a way for your box to be accessed and controlled at someone's whim. With your box being very behind on updates it stands to reason it would have been susceptible to known exploits which may allow this kind of thing to happen. Just because your computer passes a virus scan does not mean it's clean.

It's also possible something is just wrong with your computers configuration, my Windows knoweldge isn't very high so I can't really add much to help with checking that.

[xforeverxmetalx]

Well, it hasn't been able to update itself from the very beginning, since I got it. So I'm thinking it's an error that existed before I even got it.

I've had Avast installed since the day I got it, and I'm extremely careful online. If it's malware, I'd be impressed at whoever managed to get it through me, Avast, and Windows security (which btw, has been able to update itself normally).

Nothing turns up if I try to google the name of the laptop (Acer Aspire 5750) and the error, though, so I guess it's unique to my computer.