Can not enable Windows Automatic Update: Error 1058

[BBCMember]

This system had a lot of spyware and viruses, which have been cleaned. But the automatic updates have been disabled by one of the viruses, and I can not enable them. I even went into Services, but I got Error 1058.

I tried this fix, but it says automatic updates are enabled for this profile:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896224

Suggestions other than reinstalling the OS?

[Midknyte]

http://software.hitoma.com/WURT/

If the infection was really bad, I would have just done a clean install. You spend way more time trying to troubleshoot/fix an infected system. Even then, you're never 100% sure you got everything.

[BBCMember]

I agree. He didn't have the CD's with him and needed it fixed right away to work and just wanted it functional.

Just for interest's sake, at what point do you decide to do a clean install? Is it a feeling you have (that you just know it's too messed up) or a time thing?

[Midknyte]

It depends on the situation. The more systems you work on, the better you will get at estimating time to repair.

Vicious malware like spyaxe are really hard to clean up. You'll spend a lot of time and in the end, you can't guarantee the system is clean. You can have weird ghost problems, like your windows update issue. The customer might find strange problems a week or a month later. I do clean installs to make sure the system is clean and to prevent "reworks".

[BBCMember]

Makes sense. Thanks.