Hi, I've tried to use Automatic Updates and upon failing I followed the Microsoft solutions but they also failed.

When trying to change the Automatic Updates service Start up Type and then Starting the Service I recieve the error message:

"Could not start the Automatic Updates service on Local Computer.

Error 1058: The sevice cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it."

Stumbling across a forum post introducing HijakThis, I downloaded and scanned my computer with it and here is the following Log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 5:31:49 PM, on 7/27/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16674)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe
C:\Program Files\Comodo\VEngine\VEngine.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell Support\DSAgnt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\kdx\KHost.exe
C:\Program Files\Uniblue\SpyEraser\SpyEraser.exe
C:\Program Files\AlfaClock\AlfaClock.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpohmr08.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\bgsvcgen.exe
C:\Program Files\TheSage\TheSage.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\WkCalRem.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\msiexec.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpoevm08.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\Bin\hpoSTS08.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\eddie\My Documents\Installations\hijackthis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/home
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=gen
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Visual IP Trace - {E70C26AE-DFF1-40A8-8D37-19180F56F0AA} - C:\Program Files\Visual IP Trace\VisualIPTraceIE.dll
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {CC62551A-9113-48E1-936F-27ABC255A8B4} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\isuspm.exe" -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BootSkin Startup Jobs] "C:\Program Files\Stardock\WinCustomize\BootSkin\BootSkin.exe" /StartupJobs
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] "C:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVP] "C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VEngine] C:\Program Files\Comodo\VEngine\VEngine.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DellSupport] "C:\Program Files\Dell Support\DSAgnt.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [kdx] C:\WINDOWS\kdx\KHost.exe -all
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Uniblue SpyEraser] "C:\Program Files\Uniblue\SpyEraser\SpyEraser.exe" -m
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AlfaClock Classic] "C:\Program Files\AlfaClock\AlfaClock.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTFMON.EXE (User 'Default user')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Startup: TheSage.lnk = C:\Program Files\TheSage\TheSage.exe
O4 - Startup: WkCalRem.LNK = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\WkCalRem.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: hp psc 1000 series.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: hpoddt01.exe.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Sky - {08E730A4-FB02-45BD-A900-01E4AD8016F6} - http://www.skybroadband.com (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Launch PicLens - {3437D640-C91A-458f-89F5-B9095EA4C28B} - C:\Program Files\PicLensIE\PicLens.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {4C39376E-FA9D-4349-BACC-D305C1750EF3} (EPUImageControl Class) - http://tools.ebayimg.com/eps/wl/activex/eBay_Enhanced_Picture_Control_v1-0-3-48.cab
O16 - DPF: {FE8FE5F0-E1EE-4ACD-81E0-2A6CFECB8431} (ePenClientSpec.ucEPenClientspec) - http://downloads.e-marking.eu.com/ePenClientSpec.ocx
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{B88DA603-1494-490F-A10B-DB25CF9B7FD7}: NameServer = 208.67.220.220,208.67.222.222
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: NameServer = 208.67.220.220,208.67.222.222
O20 - AppInit_DLLs:
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0 (AVP) - Kaspersky Lab - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0\avp.exe
O23 - Service: B's Recorder GOLD Library General Service (bgsvcgen) - B.H.A Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\bgsvcgen.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Labs Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CreativeLicensing.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1150\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: KService - Kontiki Inc. - C:\Program Files\KService\KService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService (NetSvc) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\PROSetWired\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe

--
End of file - 8193 bytes

Any help or Ideas are much appreciated. :)

Thanks, Eddie.

For one thing, turn off that Spybot TeaTimer. It truly causes more trouble than it is worth.
Please check the following are started:

1.Automatic Updates
2.Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
3.Cryptographic Services
4.Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
5.System Restore Service

To verify that BITS is correctly configured :

1.Double-click `Background Intelligent Transfer Service.`

2.In the Startup type box, click Manual, and then Apply.

3. Click the `Log On` tab, and then verify that the service is enabled in
every hardware profile that you have listed.

If the service is disabled in one or more hardware profiles, click the
hardware profile, Enable, and then Apply.

4. Click the General tab and then Start.

If BITS starts successfully, visit the Windows Update Web site or the
Microsoft Update Web site to see if you can obtain updates. If it works OK,
change (2.) to automatic
-
If you still receive the same errors, verify that you have correctly
performed steps 1 through 5.

Thanks for you help.I cured the problem on Tuesday but waited until now to make sure the computer was running correctly.Fist of all my son posted the blog for me ,but the logfile was missing one entry.It was for browser helper object. I don't have the full file name as it was a series of letters and numers. It began with a lower case j.The computer was running with two other visible problems.The cookie settings would change to allow all automatically, also the recently installed i tunes would always show as new program installed ,after full use of the program and restarting the computer.After looking up more information on windows uptater not working i checked what B H O were running.The only one i wasn't aware of was the one my son had deleted from the log.When disabled it, it would enable itself on re-start.I decided to disable it in Win Patrol and in internet explore,and then fond the file in system 32.The file would not erase or safe erase,so i used Spybot's shredder to remove the file. After the fil was removed Everything on the computer returned to normal.

This is what worked for me, for weeks i have been annoyed over this problem. i tried everything , even other updates for the likes of AVG etc wouldnt work for me. Some threads i looked at were saying that its a malware/virus issue.... but that couldnt be the case (or so i thought ) i have AVG, spydoctor and any problems wouldnt instantly be detected by them. I WAS 100% WRONG!!!

I downloaded SuperAntiSpyware Free edition, and yes i know it sounds like a fake dodgy Virus program. so i checked and re-checked its credentials and its toatally legit.

it detected 89 viruses vundo trojans etc. so give it a go and see if it works for you. do a full scan using SuperAntispyware and see what it comes up with.

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