Windows updated against my instructions

Topic

New Reply

On June 18th, while my system was rebooting, a message appeared saying something like ‘Windows is configuring (or installing) update 44 of 44 (HKLM…)’. I am not sure if it was HKLM or one of the other keys but I do not ever remember seeing any key listed at all during an update. My setting for Windows Updates is to notify but not to download or install. Also, I have never had anywhere near as many as 44 updates at one time.

About three days later I checked Windows Updates for my setting, which was unchanged, and my update history. The last date I installed updates was June 12th but there was one listed for June 18th. It is Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.256 which I definitely did not select for installation. I never select any update without, at least, reading the blurb about it on the Updates site.

Did this happen to anyone else? Does anyone know where the “44” came from or why a registry key was listed or how this update got past my “Do not install” setting?

My PC is a Dell XPS400 Pentium D 3.2 GHz 4Gb Ram Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit IE9 fully updated.

Any answers (or even questions) appreciated,

Norman Castel

Reply | Quote

Replies

Yes, this is a special update to fix the windows updater and it does download and install with no action from you. You can read about on the Ask Woody blog. I have been surprised that it hasn’t been mentioned here yet. It is on some kind of ‘rolling’ timetable as I have two machines that have not got it yet.

One of the gurus will surely jump in here.

BJ

Reply | Quote

Sounds like this one which coincides with the date you mentioned: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2720211

Reply | Quote

I searched microsoft.com today and found this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949104 which explains the update in detail including why it’s not being offered to all systems at one time. They are afraid of overloading their servers, imagine that! However, I did not see any mention of the fact that this update is being forced on us without notice. The fact they are doing it that way is causing much concern and confusion causing us to waste our time trying to figure out what went wrong.

Also, there is nothing to explain the mystery displays such as the one (44 0f 44) I saw. Apparently other are seeing different mystery text and some are reporting failure of Windows Updates after this fix is forceably installed. At least one person removed it by restoring his system to an earlier point but reported that Windows Update Agent was automatically installed again.

Norman

Reply | Quote

As long as the Windows Update service is running, Windows Update will update itself automatically regardless of your automatic update settings. Microsoft says is has to do this to ensure that the whole Windows Update process runs well. Whether or not you agree with the position you agreed to the process when you agreed to use Windows Update.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Thansk, Joe, I see. But now my 4 year old Dell Inspiron with an OEM copy of Vista Home Premium cannot run Windows Updates anymore. The error message says a service is not running and I cannot fix it by turning on the Windows Update service dependencies. The Windows Update service is already running. What recourse do I have?

Norman

Reply | Quote

This phenomenon has been absolutely exasperating to me, living in a region rife with thunderstorms often requiring a quick shutdown. As I try to turn my computer off to protect it, it will go through a series of these updates. While it’s doing that, lightning and rapid electricity fluctuations endanger my computer.

Reply | Quote

http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/vistaprivacy.aspx?ln=en-us

Scroll down to Required Updates and read the part about:

Update Services are “turned on” if you choose one of the following settings:
(i) install updates automatically, (ii) download updates automatically and
choose whether to install them, or (iii) receive notifications about updates and
choose whether to download and install them. Windows Update service is “turned
on” and set to “install updates automatically” when you choose the recommended
option during Windows Out Of Box Experience (OOBE) setup.

If you turn on the Update Services, regardless of which “turned on” setting
you have chosen, required updates to some components of the service will be
downloaded and installed automatically without further notice to you. If you
would prefer not to receive required updates, turn off the Update Services.

Reply | Quote

Hope I’m not in the wrong place….new here. After reading the posts concerning Win updates, I would like to ask a question or two here. I purchased an older Xp Pro machine that runs perfectly….unlike the $1600 Win 7 Pro machine sitting on my desk that has been replaced 3 months after purchase and the 2nd machine now acts exactly like the first….so it’s just sitting here. Sorry…going too far afield here. My question is apparently the XP Pro machine has not be regulaly updates…if at all. Is there such a thing as a ‘all-in-one’ update process to get ‘caught up’? I realize this is probabaly a stupid question….but you won’t ever know the answer if you never ask the question! LOL

Reply | Quote

This phenomenon has been absolutely exasperating to me, living in a region rife with thunderstorms often requiring a quick shutdown. As I try to turn my computer off to protect it, it will go through a series of these updates. While it’s doing that, lightning and rapid electricity fluctuations endanger my computer.

You can shut down without installing updates via Ctrl-Alt-Del then clicking the power button icon at bottom right: How to Shutdown Without Installing Updates in Windows 7

Or press Alt-F4 from the desktop for a drop-down menu.

Is there such a thing as a ‘all-in-one’ update process to get ‘caught up’?

No; Windows Update will work out which individual updates are needed by that particular computer.

Bruce

Reply | Quote

Hope I’m not in the wrong place….new here. After reading the posts concerning Win updates, I would like to ask a question or two here. I purchased an older Xp Pro machine that runs perfectly….unlike the $1600 Win 7 Pro machine sitting on my desk that has been replaced 3 months after purchase and the 2nd machine now acts exactly like the first….so it’s just sitting here. Sorry…going too far afield here. My question is apparently the XP Pro machine has not be regulaly updates…if at all. Is there such a thing as a ‘all-in-one’ update process to get ‘caught up’? I realize this is probabaly a stupid question….but you won’t ever know the answer if you never ask the question! LOL

1. Make sure Service Pack 3 is installed. To do this, right-click on “My Computer” and select “Properties”. A box appears which tells you which version of XP you have and which Service Pack. If necessary, go to Windows Update and download & install SP3.

2. Create a complete system “image” (a backup copy of XP plus all programs, everything in My Documents. etc.) using any one of several free backup/imaging utility programs such as Easeus ToDo, Paragon, etc. Make sure the backup image is created/saved on a different hard drive than the drive on which XP is installed. Be sure to create an “emergency boot disc/rescue disc” when the option is presented (usually after the image backup process is complete).

3. Go back to Windows Update and check for updates. It should provide a list of all available updates. Some are security updates, some are not, and you should take some time to read what each one is to see if you want it. For example, one update that’s usually offered is a Language Pack which gives you dozens of different languages for XP Pro. Many people simply don’t need that. Also, Windows Secrets urges caution when updating .NET Services because sometimes those updates cause computers to crash and become unusable. (The backup System Image you just made can get things back to normal if this happens.)

After installing the desired or necessary updates, run Disc Cleanup or, better still, run CCleaner to tidy up your system. Then run XP’s Disc Defragmenter. Over the next day or two make sure all your programs, internet browser, games, etc. are still working, then …..

4. Create another system backup image, but DO NOT delete the previous backup image. Now you have two complete backups that you can “restore” in case of problems.

Reply | Quote

Have a look at this post from earlier today

http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//147235-Microsoft-releases-out-of-band-update-to-update-the-Windows-Update-Agent

Reply | Quote