Maximum PC

Hi all,
Got a crappy laptop from a friend that wants some help with it. It is an HP dv6338se (uukk!! slow 1.8gb AMD turion, 1gbmem)
But is has some interesting problems I have not run into before, and I though it would be fun to at least try to fix it before I do a complete wipe, and OS install.

It looks like it had in place upgrade from Vista to Win7 ultimate x64, but I'm not sure. Is there a way to tell if it was an MS retail upgrade disk, OEM upgrade upgrade disk, or full retail disk used? I need to know which was used after I pull the win7 key number out. so when I wipe the drive I can still use the original valid key. (correct media, for correct key) (friend has no disk at all for this unit.)
It has a hidden partition on the HD, probably from HP. If it's Vista, I just want to wipe it and use it for image back-up, anyway to tell what it is without activating its restore programs?

But what is more interesting is that it will not download updates from MS. I can surf the internet, view youtube, download programs, but nothing from win-update. Suggestions?
Thanks

What happens when you try to run Windows Update?

Also, I believe since Windows Vista, any disc will accept any key.

Thanks for the reply.
There are 17 updates. I select all, as windows recomends. Click the download button. and the green bar just keeps moving across the screen, just under the 'downloading updates" msg. but it stays at 0kb total, 0% complete under the bar.
I've tried it with 1 or 2 files selected for download and install, but same result. Ran several virus scans. Buy only had a few tacking cookies show up. nothing major.
Are you sure about the key issue? I've always had the correct media for Vista & win7, but several times I had the wrong media for XP and the keys would not take. I had amused MS would keep such a security feature in place.
Thanks again.

Two reasons why it won't update.

One is you have a virus that stops updating the laptop.

If it is a virus, go into safemode with networking and use:
Smitfraudfix first.
http://siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php
Then Combofix next.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/downloa ... s/combofix
Followed by Malwarebytes and that should flush your system of whatever is blocking your system from updating....I hope.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free
Take the free copy, it works the same as paid but doesn't run realtime, you have to manually start the scan, small price to pay for freeware that works great!

Two is you have a pirated copy of windows on your hands....if the wallpaper won't stay in place you know you have a pirated copy. Microsoft built in that the wallpaper will be black until you buy a key. This happens the first time you go to get updates.

Nasty

Agreed. If he does not have a disk for the Windows 7 OS upgrade, it is most likely pirated (why anyone would not have a disk for the OS upgrade is beyond me--it's definitely something you would want to keep around just in case you wanted to reinstall).

Thanks, pc & nasty. I do not think this is pirated copy. Wallpaper stays in place. It was given to the Hispanic husband of a friend of my wife's, for helping move furniture (that's his job). He would not know to ask about such things, nor know what to look for. from what I can tell they are fairly tech illiterate.

I will try nasty's suggestions as well. I did not know about Smitfraudfix, but have already run the others, but not in safemode. will do and see what happens. But this thing is sssoooo ssllooowww. takes a night to run 1 scan.
It has 1gb mem (win7x64, 5400prm HD). I was going to bump it to 2gb. any reason to go 4gb for web surfing, youtube, netflix, office, kids games?
Thanks again.

Since it is win 7 64 bit I would max the ram out, if it is maxed at 4 gig, it will use it all. Do run the sequence I listed in safe mode. The reason for safe mode is a lot of viruses need windows environment to do their damage.

Look at the startup menu and see how many things are running in the tray. You don't need most of it so shut them down because each program running will slow the whole computer down, it/they are using ram you need for other programs that are in use.

Nasty

I have completed the safe mode virus scans. They reported nothing.
As far as win update, when I looked this afternoon, it showed a different number of updates need then yesterday. Looking at update history, in installed many updates last night/early this morning. It it set to download and update every night at 6am.
So now win update shows 4 recommended updated. When I click to download, it still sits at 0%, 0kb.
But I updated Itunes in about 3 minutes, at the same time. Any other ideas?

edit:
Hold on, while typing this, it just jumped to 96%, 39mb.
Could this be that this computer is so slow and win update is slow too. making it look like it is not doing anything?

Yes, the computer is slow, that is why the updates take so long. I just reloaded windows on my friends computer and it took forever to update, it was an old Dell. I thought at one time it stalled out, but it didn't, the pc was just slow a molasses.

Nasty