Trying to get my parents' machine updated and protected in the usual monthly health check, I installed WinXP SP2. So far so good.
Using Windows Update, I then updated the drivers for their USB wireless network interface, and now the network is dead.
I tried disabling the firewall, in the vain hope that would cure things. Guess what? Windows forgets the firewall settings - I turn the firewall off, Windows turns it back on after each reboot.
After an hour of fighting, I eventually got everything uninstalled, tracked down the original installation CD, unplugged the device, plugged it back in, and everything is working again.
Microsoft strongly recommend turning on "automatic updates" in order to keep this computer safe and secure - but with experiences like this, it makes me think it would be "automatic disasters". Urgh.
Posted by savs at September 12, 2004 4:49 PM