[zcaveman]

A friend "lost" his IE 11 internet access after installing the December 2013 updates. I backed up to the system restore just before the system updates (Dec 15) and still no go. I backed up to the system restore prior to the one just before the system updates (Dec 14) and still no go. I backed up to the December 10th system restore and I was able to get IE11 back. When I went into Windows Update I still saw the updates that were applied on December 15. I was expecting to see them gone and have a long list of fixes to reinstall. I did have 9 or 10 fixes to be installed. How come the other fixes were not removed?

My friend has automatic updates as the default. I only let Windows Update notify me and I do all of the updates manually. Would this be the difference? And if so, can I safely assume all of the updates listed as being installed are still installed even after a restore to a date prior to the updates?

Thanks,
Z

[zcaveman]

Forget this one. The next day Windows Update reinstalled all of the fixes. Apparently I was looking the wrong place to see the updates. I should have gone through the Control Panel to see thee actual updates instead if using the Update History.

Just an FYI: I put this question on the Windows Forum and one reply was:

Tip: Ideally, you would never, EVER use System Restore to "undo" an update, Service Pack, or IE upgrade (which often leaves the system in a "confused" or "torn" state)! Instead, uninstall the update, Service Pack, and/or IE upgrade & reboot. If that doesn't correct the problem, then try System Restore.

Note: The updates listed in Installed Updates always trump what Update History has to say about them, even if they're listed as successfully installed in the latter.

Thanks,
Z

[KayakerNC]

Or just install Firefox.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Or just install Firefox.

That probably would not have helped my friend. He has several malware apps on this PC that would have taken over FireFox like it did IE11.

I am still not sure what messed up his IE11. I plan on running malwarebytes tomorrow on his machine to clean up the 100+ PUP errors. Most of them are taskbars, etc that attack all of the browsers. I dread the task.

Z

[happy employee]

back up his important files and reformat the harddrive and reinstall windows. Easiest way to get rid of all the problems

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by happy employee

back up his important files and reformat the harddrive and reinstall windows. Easiest way to get rid of all the problems

Not something I have any desire to do. I will send him to MMD first.

I did fix his problem where Mindspark took over his home page but weeding through the other 279 errors that malwarebytes found will take some time.

He is happy now so I am happy.

Z