Microsoft Automatic Updates crash my computer

[HockeyMom]

This has been happening since December. My computer attempts a fix but can't start it without a System Restore. That worked for a few minutes, but would crash again. I found that I needed to do a System Restore point date previous to the Update Downhload. It has been happened more and more until I disabled the Automatic Updates. When I looked at the link, it said two critical SECURITY updates are needed.

I have Windows Vista and use AOL 9.6 with the free McAfee. I did a search and saw there were problems with McAfee and Windows 7 users about a year ago. Could there be a conflict between the McAfee, or MY McAfee, and Microsoft's Security? I have uninstalled McAfee before, but experienced more problems so put it back on. I tried to run a scan on McAfee to see if there was a problem, but it wouldn't work, so I don't know if I might have a virus or anything.

Could downloading the newer version of AOL, with "newer" McAfee, be worth a try? Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions?

[hobbit709]

1. They ALWAYS say the updates are "critical'

There are better alternatives to McAfee out there and they are free.

[CountAllVotes]

2. I'd suggest dumping the McAfee

I use a free one called Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus. You can get it at download.com for free. I have it installed on 4 different computers (some of them are over 10 years old). I've never had any problem with this particular program and it does work and it catches viruses and sends them off to quarantine for you.

You might try doing a search on "uninstall McAfee" as it doesn't go away that easy. ugh.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. lose AOL if you can, they are evil

probably has nothing to do with your current system problems tho.

[HopeHoops]

4. It isn't McAfee or AOL - autoupdate doesn't work in Vista.

It works fine in Win 7, but something is REALLY fucked up with the Vista update. Turn it off. You can do it manually and it works okay, but do NOT set it for "whenever I fucking feel like it" mode.

Trust me on this one.

[Old and In the Way]

5. If you have McAfee and Microsoft Security Essentials both running...that could be a problem.

It's generally recommended to run only 1 AV type scanner on your system at a time. Personally, I would just go with Microsoft Security Essentials and lose McAfee. You might also try booting into SAFE mode and then try the automatic update. It may be that there's some process that's conflicting with this update when it tries to install.