Wmiprvse.exe False Positive

Recently my anti-virus software had a false positive reaction to wmiprvse.exe. The result was that the software quarantined the  file. After that, I started having trouble with my Internet connection and Windows update. To be specific, my Internet connection would slow down and eventually fail fairly often. When I would run netsh winsock reset, the DOS window would pop up and just stick there for a while (rather than the usual quick open and close. Windows update would run every time I turned on my computer and would try to install the software. When I shut down, the message that I had updates to install would appear in the shut down/restart dialog box.

These problems might have been caused by other Windows problems, but a connection between the false positive quarantine seems likely.

If you have had similar problems, here is a possible fix:

Step 1: Go to the main window for your anti-virus software and go to the quarantine control.  For my software, ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, this is reached by clicking on the “Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware” button and then clicking on the “Quarantine” link. Once you are at the quarantine controls. you should be able to simple select wmiprsve.exe and restore it.
Step 2: Download the update from Microsoft.
Step 3: Restart your computer.

In my case, doing this solved my problems (well, at least for now). Of course, you should do some research regarding your specific anti-virus software and computer situation before doing anything. After all, messing around with quarantined files can be disastrous.