Edit by paws: my apologies Phill, I took ages to type this lot out and lunch intervened!!
@Millermaster please follow any directions provided by PhillPpower2. and when you have uploaded the Speccy URL Phill will advise you if you should follow my steps as set out below.
Hi, I'm not too sure of the problem you want to fix…
If its the catalyst page popping up and if it clears within a few seconds then the "fix" is to wait a few seconds …
If its the update that kept failing then it looks like your friend fixed it by removing it from the update list.
If you really wanted to remove the catalyst "problem" then it might involve a bit of work on your part….
Here are some thoughts that may help set the scene:
1 Windows 7 is in it's last stage of support from Microsoft and will become increasingly vulnerable to troubles once the final support ends in Jan 2020, so it has less than 12 months " life" left in it before it would be necessary to use extraordinary precautions for further safe use. These extraordinary precautions might severly affect the functionality that you may have been accustomed to enjoying.
2 It would be wise to consider updating to a more modern and supported operating system, as early as you can in order for the users to gain experience and become comfortable in using it.
3 A brief look at your log files over in the Virus and Spyware removal forum indicates that there may be remnants of obsolete Microsoft Office products on your machine…. MSO 2000 and 2007. Whilst sometimes it's possible to have two "old "versions of MSO ( or remnants thereof) on the same computer without experiencing too many problems, it can and often does facilitate system instability and vulnerabilities.
4 Before trying any repairs I would recommend that you check your back ups most carefully to ensure that everything that is of importance to you on your computer ( any thing you don't want to lose) is fully backed up, up to date, comprehensive, verified, and with at least 3 copies on different media with at least one copy kept safe offsite. Check and double check your system images to make sure that they are fully reproducible, and are up to date etc.,
5 On a brief look at your log files I did not spot any of the usual programmes that folks use to create system images, so if there is a gap at all, in your back up strategy I would recommend that you take system/disc images using one of the many tools available. Macrium Reflect Free has a good reputation and also has an excellent "wizard" to help you create an emergency boot disc capable of accessing the store where you keep your disc imagesand also making some repairs.
Macrium for example is available free of charge from here:
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.
6 I also recommend that you create a Windows 7 repair disc and a system image using native Windows tools, but do regard these as an addition to your Macrium or other imaging product system/disc mages, not as a replacement. If you have already sufficient disc images and repair discs kept safe then I would still take a further up to date one, so if the worst came to the worst you could put your computer's operating system and files back to how they currently are. Look out your Windows 7 installations disc and disc for reinstalling your favourite Programmes ( Microsoft Office, for example)
7 To check your hard drive for errors that could be adding to any issues, run chkdsk with the r switch from a command prompt with elevated privileges…
type in the search box:
cmd
In the box that opens look for Command. cmd or cmd.exe and right click on it and select Run as Administrator
at the Dos like prompt type
chkdsk /r
note the space twixt k and / as it needs to be there.
press Enter
accept the warning about locking the drive
type Y to schedule the disc check on reboot
Press Enter and then close down wait 2 minutes and then restart your computer, checkdisc will then run so allow it to complete all 5 passes, do not allow your computer to be switched off or closed down and you will be unable to use it until check disc has finished ( it may take several hours) When check disc has finished it will repair any damaged areas of your drive (if it can) without any action of your part, and will then restart your computer.
8 Run sfc scanner from a command prompt with elevated privileges the command is
sfc /scannow
press enter
this scan will only take half and hour or so and will check for a any damaged or missing protected Windows System Files and will attempt repairs if it can.
9 Close down and restart your machine a couple of times and see if there is an improvement.
10 If still no improvement then I would set up a new account with Administrator privileges , boot into this new account and see if there is still the same problem or if it has improved…. Here's how;
Open a cmd prompt with administrator privileges and at the Dos like prompt type:
net user administrator /active:yes
press enter
you should get an acknowledgement
so then close down and restart your computer and this time you should see the previously hidden administrator account named as Administrator on your log in page.
Log into this account (the now visible administrator account) and set up a new user with administrator privileges
Do not worry if you cannot see your documents… this can be sorted out later!
Post back with your results and confirmation that you are 100% happy with your Back ups/system/disc images and we will advise the next steps.
Regards
paws
