lktknow

I recently had to do system recovery on my computer because, I have my windows updates from Microsoft installed automatically at 3am. I got up one morning last week and I got the dreaded blue screen, and it finally went to the black screen asking me if I wanted to "start windows normally", or "start windows under start repair" (recommended) ... I picked "normally", and it refused to open that way, saying I had to start it under "start repair", well it said start repair could not fix the problem, and when I clicked "details", it said a corrupt patch was installed on the previous night, and the only recourse I had was to do system recovery. I called tech support, and they also told me it was my only option.
So, after doing system recovery, back to the original way it came from the factory...it is testing my sanity.
I cannot seem to get programs that start when my computer does, to STOP from starting. I have done all the things needed to stop these programs from starting, but nothing I do seems to work.
I have windows vista, and I have went to "Stop a program from running automatically when Windows starts", which then it says to go to windows defender, and software explorer, and disable all of the programs I did not want starting at start up, but they all still start???? I seriously feel like I am in the twilight zone...any suggestions would be appreciated.

also, when I go to task manager, and click on processes, there are at least 20 to 25 of this listed: SVCHOST.EXE....is that normal?
you can most likely tell I am borderline computer literate.

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