Disappearing Network Connections after Installing KB890859

I'm rebuilding a DELL PC for a friend. They have lost they Dell supplied
Windows XP CD, but have bought another that includes SP2. We are also
installing a Belkin USB Wireless Network Adaptor to this machine.

After 2 rebuilds I'm getting the same problem each time, and it seems to be
down to the patch for KB890859.

After installing Windows from the CD, I install the Wireless Network
Adaptor, so all that is on the machine is the 'clean' windows install and
the network adaptor. All is then working fine, no problems at all.

Then I start installing the windows update patches. I've got them all
downloaded on to a USB memory sticks and slowly I have installed them in
batches of 3 and then doing a restart.

I have found a number that cause some big issues. KB893066 and KB900725
cause an endless rebooting loop (so I use the recovery console, uninstall
them and we return to normal). But the big problem comes with KB890859...

Although the machine functions OK, i.e. the internet is available via the
Wireless Network Adaptor, when I go into the Control Panel, I can't see any
Network Connections. The machine hangs for ages and then nothing is shown.
Also I can't get into the Windows Firewall settings and I few other network
related issues.

I can see that the Network Connections service has been stopped (and it
should be running), but I can't restart it, getting various error messages.

I think the patch has overwritten a dll file and this machine isn't happy
about it.

I can't find anything on the Dell, Belkin or Microsoft sites about this type
of problem with this patch, or disappearing network connections at all.

Please offer any suggestions.

Many thanks,

Craig

Craig Hughes wrote:
> I'm rebuilding a DELL PC for a friend. They have lost they Dell
> supplied Windows XP CD, but have bought another that includes SP2. We
> are also installing a Belkin USB Wireless Network Adaptor to this
> machine.
> After 2 rebuilds I'm getting the same problem each time, and it seems
> to be down to the patch for KB890859.
>
> After installing Windows from the CD, I install the Wireless Network
> Adaptor, so all that is on the machine is the 'clean' windows install
> and the network adaptor. All is then working fine, no problems at
> all.
> Then I start installing the windows update patches. I've got them all
> downloaded on to a USB memory sticks and slowly I have installed them
> in batches of 3 and then doing a restart.
>
> I have found a number that cause some big issues. KB893066 and
> KB900725 cause an endless rebooting loop (so I use the recovery
> console, uninstall them and we return to normal). But the big
> problem comes with KB890859...
> Although the machine functions OK, i.e. the internet is available via
> the Wireless Network Adaptor, when I go into the Control Panel, I
> can't see any Network Connections. The machine hangs for ages and
> then nothing is shown. Also I can't get into the Windows Firewall
> settings and I few other network related issues.
>
> I can see that the Network Connections service has been stopped (and
> it should be running), but I can't restart it, getting various error
> messages.
> I think the patch has overwritten a dll file and this machine isn't
> happy about it.
>
> I can't find anything on the Dell, Belkin or Microsoft sites about
> this type of problem with this patch, or disappearing network
> connections at all.
> Please offer any suggestions.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Craig

Let's go back to ground zero: what lead to the rebuilding in the first
place? Did you format the HD or not? Did you use the HD vendor's drive
health utility to verify the condition of the HD? When the OS
installation finished, did you verify that all hardware devices were
installed correctly? Are the chipset drivers installed, if required?
Did you check with Dell's support site for drivers? The Dell OS cd might
well have included specific chipset and device drivers while the
replacement OS cd might not have included everything needed. The patch
failures could well be a result of incorrectly configured hardware.

Q

Thanks for replying, I'll answer your questions below...

what lead to the rebuilding in the first place?

The young lady the computer belongs to had installed loads of rubbish
(spyware and the like), the machine was running like a pig and had loads of
strange processes running (from the spyware). She wanted to upgrade to
wireless internet and so was a good time for a rebuild and clear slate.

Did you format the HD or not?

Yes, using the 'drop and recreate partition' method in the Windows setup.
Used full NTFS format.

Did you use the HD vendor's drive health utility to verify the condition of
the HD?

No. I did do a scandisk and defrag after one rebuild and nothing suggested
issues with the hard drive.

When the OS installation finished, did you verify that all hardware devices
were installed correctly?

Yes - No hardware conflicts etc. The installation of the wireless adaptor
was flawless and worked immediately.

Are the chipset drivers installed, if required? Did you check with Dell's
support site for drivers?

Yes chipset drivers are needed, plus other driver for modem etc. I got all
of these from the machine specific downloads on the Dell site using the
service tag. Again, no issues furing install and no conflicts.

The Dell OS cd might well have included specific chipset and device drivers
while the
replacement OS cd might not have included everything needed.

Agreed, hence I downloaded the latest from Dell.

The patch failures could well be a result of incorrectly configured
hardware.

I can understand what you think, but nothing in the machines hardware is
failing. The software is!! Windows Firewall, Network Connections display
(but the functionality is fine). This all says software to me, hence I went
through the patches one by one (well in groups of 3 actually), restarting in
between and all was good until the KB890859 patch.

Craig

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 12:08:02 -0000, "Craig Hughes" <spam@spam.com> wrote:

>I'm rebuilding a DELL PC for a friend. They have lost they Dell supplied
>Windows XP CD, but have bought another that includes SP2. We are also
>installing a Belkin USB Wireless Network Adaptor to this machine.
>
>After 2 rebuilds I'm getting the same problem each time, and it seems to be
>down to the patch for KB890859.
>
>After installing Windows from the CD, I install the Wireless Network
>Adaptor, so all that is on the machine is the 'clean' windows install and
>the network adaptor. All is then working fine, no problems at all.
>
>Then I start installing the windows update patches. I've got them all
>downloaded on to a USB memory sticks and slowly I have installed them in
>batches of 3 and then doing a restart.
>
>I have found a number that cause some big issues. KB893066 and KB900725
>cause an endless rebooting loop (so I use the recovery console, uninstall
>them and we return to normal). But the big problem comes with KB890859...
>
>Although the machine functions OK, i.e. the internet is available via the
>Wireless Network Adaptor, when I go into the Control Panel, I can't see any
>Network Connections. The machine hangs for ages and then nothing is shown.
>Also I can't get into the Windows Firewall settings and I few other network
>related issues.
>
>I can see that the Network Connections service has been stopped (and it
>should be running), but I can't restart it, getting various error messages.
>
>I think the patch has overwritten a dll file and this machine isn't happy
>about it.
>
>I can't find anything on the Dell, Belkin or Microsoft sites about this type
>of problem with this patch, or disappearing network connections at all.
>
>Please offer any suggestions.
>
>Many thanks,
>
>Craig
>

Control Panel - Icons Missing
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_c.htm#cpiconsmissing

Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT
Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\don't load
Look in the right pane and you'll see the Control Panel Icons that have been disabled. You can
either right click on the "don't load" subkey and select Delete to restore all disabled icons,
or you can right click on each of the items in the right pane and select Delete to selectively
restore them. Scroll up to Control Panel Applets for a listing of what each one is.
The change will be seen the next time you open Control Panel.

How to Troubleshoot Control Panel Issues in Windows.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=299923

http://www.aumha.org/kbconpan.php

Control Panel, Help, and System Restore Are Empty or Partially Empty.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309663

Control Panel blank or frozen:
Restore the file "Main.cpl" from the CD.

Craig,

thanks for your post , you might have saved me quite a bit of time. I have
a brand new CPU, ( 4 days old) with a brand new XP Pro SP2 install, was
running fine until Windows update kindly advised me I needed 33 (count them!)
updates, most of them security updates for XP.
Did the right thing, instal em all, and whammo, same problems your having.
Endless booting etc. Reinstalled everything again and next time it happened
(straight after the "updates") I got the blue screen of death with
"Shell32.dll corrupt...."

This has happened 3 times in a row now and I'm not a happy camper. I will
try not installing the KB's you identified and see if it survives.

PS: I guess I shouldn't be shocked when a so called OS and latest service
pack install already needs 33 "updates".

Cheers Brian

"Craig Hughes" wrote:

> Thanks for replying, I'll answer your questions below...
>
> what lead to the rebuilding in the first place?
>
> The young lady the computer belongs to had installed loads of rubbish
> (spyware and the like), the machine was running like a pig and had loads of
> strange processes running (from the spyware). She wanted to upgrade to
> wireless internet and so was a good time for a rebuild and clear slate.
>
> Did you format the HD or not?
>
> Yes, using the 'drop and recreate partition' method in the Windows setup.
> Used full NTFS format.
>
> Did you use the HD vendor's drive health utility to verify the condition of
> the HD?
>
> No. I did do a scandisk and defrag after one rebuild and nothing suggested
> issues with the hard drive.
>
> When the OS installation finished, did you verify that all hardware devices
> were installed correctly?
>
> Yes - No hardware conflicts etc. The installation of the wireless adaptor
> was flawless and worked immediately.
>
> Are the chipset drivers installed, if required? Did you check with Dell's
> support site for drivers?
>
> Yes chipset drivers are needed, plus other driver for modem etc. I got all
> of these from the machine specific downloads on the Dell site using the
> service tag. Again, no issues furing install and no conflicts.
>
> The Dell OS cd might well have included specific chipset and device drivers
> while the
> replacement OS cd might not have included everything needed.
>
> Agreed, hence I downloaded the latest from Dell.
>
> The patch failures could well be a result of incorrectly configured
> hardware.
>
> I can understand what you think, but nothing in the machines hardware is
> failing. The software is!! Windows Firewall, Network Connections display
> (but the functionality is fine). This all says software to me, hence I went
> through the patches one by one (well in groups of 3 actually), restarting in
> between and all was good until the KB890859 patch.
>
> Craig
>
>
>

"Brian S" <Brian S@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:35C37206-4BFE-4A76-B72C-83779728AC36@microsoft.com...
> Craig,
>
> thanks for your post , you might have saved me quite a bit of time. I
> have
> a brand new CPU, ( 4 days old) with a brand new XP Pro SP2 install, was
> running fine until Windows update kindly advised me I needed 33 (count
> them!)
> updates, most of them security updates for XP.
> Did the right thing, instal em all, and whammo, same problems your
> having.
> Endless booting etc. Reinstalled everything again and next time it
> happened
> (straight after the "updates") I got the blue screen of death with
> "Shell32.dll corrupt...."
>
> This has happened 3 times in a row now and I'm not a happy camper. I will
> try not installing the KB's you identified and see if it survives.
>
> PS: I guess I shouldn't be shocked when a so called OS and latest service
> pack install already needs 33 "updates".
>
> Cheers Brian
>


My pleasure, glad my pain has been of some benefit :-)

Craig

I'm really getting annoyed now!!

To try and test the suggested solutions I rebuilt one of my PC's with a
clean install on a reformat NTFS partition. I ran the machine for a few
days to make sure it was stable, then I let the windows updates do it's
thing, installing all the current patches.

Although windows started I lost the network connections!!!!! The same
problem as is happening on the PC I was originally trying to fix - So I've
now got a perfect testbed and I know it's not a hardware specific issue,
it's a windows patch problem.

So I used system restore to remove all the updates and started installing
them, in order, one by one, restarted when requested.

(As usual) All going well until KB890859 (AGAIN!) where on restarting the
machine just goes into an endless restart loop. Remove that patch and
everything goes back to normal.

I'm skipping KB890859 and contining one by one to install the patches, but I
know what's going to happen... KB893066 and KB 900725 are going to cause
problems, because if you read the tread, I've been here before.

So, anyone got any suggestion of resolving the KB890859 issue - should I
permanently skip it?

Thanks,

Craig

I can't say I'm surprised but KB893066 has caused problems (perhaps it's my
crystal balls!!)

On reboot, the machine hangs on the Welcome screen, but does continue,
however all network connections are lost, the windows firewall has been
stopped and won't restart.

I've removed the patch (using Add/Remove Programs) but strangely found that
my old friend KB890859 was still there!!! I had uninstalled it using the
Windows Recovery Console, but I guess it only did half the job (what else
should I have expected from Windows!).

When I try and remove it (KB890859) using Add/Remove Programs, I'm told it
will effect KB891781, which is the patch that I installed between KB890859
and KB893066. So I removed KB891781, then tried again to remove KB890859
and get a warning that "Setup has detected the following devices have
changed on your computer" and then lists every component on my PC from
system speaker to sis processor to agp controller, and I mean every
component!!!

I'm tempted to leave what is left of KB890859 on the PC and skip KB893066,
as I believe this will keep the working bits of KB890859 and stop the
network breaking KB893066.

What do you think?

Craig

I'm having the same issues as you, new pc, new hard drive, and XP Pro w/SP2.
Did all the updates 1 by 1 and have an issue with 893066 (lose internet
connection) and 890859 (endless reboot loop). I didn't have a problem with
900725 though. Have you figured out what is causing the problems with 893066
& 890859?

"Craig Hughes" wrote:

> I can't say I'm surprised but KB893066 has caused problems (perhaps it's my
> crystal balls!!)
>
> On reboot, the machine hangs on the Welcome screen, but does continue,
> however all network connections are lost, the windows firewall has been
> stopped and won't restart.
>
> I've removed the patch (using Add/Remove Programs) but strangely found that
> my old friend KB890859 was still there!!! I had uninstalled it using the
> Windows Recovery Console, but I guess it only did half the job (what else
> should I have expected from Windows!).
>
> When I try and remove it (KB890859) using Add/Remove Programs, I'm told it
> will effect KB891781, which is the patch that I installed between KB890859
> and KB893066. So I removed KB891781, then tried again to remove KB890859
> and get a warning that "Setup has detected the following devices have
> changed on your computer" and then lists every component on my PC from
> system speaker to sis processor to agp controller, and I mean every
> component!!!
>
> I'm tempted to leave what is left of KB890859 on the PC and skip KB893066,
> as I believe this will keep the working bits of KB890859 and stop the
> network breaking KB893066.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Craig
>
>
>