Oops townsbg am doing that now. Just as matter of interest I did some rootkit scanning last night plus a Hitman Pro - nothing, BUT a Comodo full scan I started last night was still running this morning stuck at 82% and the running time was almost ten hours so I think something is dreadfully wrong with this puppy.

Anyway SFC is now rnning will get back to you when done.

Ok townsbg this is what I got.

I have done a Google and there is something on the Windows site suggesting stuff but have no idea on what to do with them.

Ok townsbg I have found the log for the sfc but don't know how to post it and in the meantimes I have discovered via the device manager and diskpart this machine has two HDD's - apparently some shipped with two am going to shut the thing down and physically check what is inside.

Have really spent a lot of time on this one and am now just wondering if it is all worth it to be honest as nothing seems to work.

There are some folders on that second drive that I cannot access for whatever reason so I cannot tell what they actually do

Ok will have a go as I hate things beating me. The files in the other drive are just weird and empty did a chkdsk on it and it came up no problems. Still I'll have a go at those logs.

Ok again I'll do the scan in safe too once I have the logs sorted.

I don't know if this will work townsbg but here goes

Oh to be honest townsbg I didn't really notice the lack of SP1 I just checked with the system tools and Speccy and no mention of it.

Now I suspect since the install in 2008 maybe the updates have been switched off somehow as this machine has been used by all and sundry and to be honest thoroughly used without anyone doing any maintenance on it.

Perhaps it is worth downloading SP1 from my machine to a stick and try installing it that way.

In any case the machine is running like a lame snail and I have told the owner maybe a new HDD and 7 more RAM would be the go as this could take ages to fix and still no guarantee it will be of any useful purpose - what do you reckon? I mean for about $280 it's gonna have a decent sized HDD, OS and more RAM.

Well townsbg have installed SP1 via stick the machine seems to run a tad faster if anything but still no updates.

I have attached a zip file but don't know if this is going to be of any use

Hiyya townsbg did a stop services - Windows update then deleted the folders in C:Windows\SoftwareDistribution and then restarted the services updates like I think you said before and I happened across in another forum ref I think it was in a couple of Microsoft ones and the updates are pouring in - there is a LOT as I think it has never been updated at all.

Well it certainly has been a learner for me and thanks for all your time and patience mate I do so appreciate it