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Uncommanded Update Check

S

Scott

Flightless Bird
A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.

This morning, Wednesday, I was surprised to get an alert for a Silverlight
update.

Does anyone know why this happened? Would another program like McAffee
(which I have installed now), or Microsoft Security Essentials (which I plan
to replace McAffee with) independently check for updates?

Thanks
Scott
Los Angeles
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
[X-post to Windows Update]

Enervating, ain't it, especially when it's something stupid like a
Silverlight update (which prolly won't install anyway)?

Tip: Select the "Notify Only" option instead of the "Automatic" option.
After doing so, no updates will download /or/ install without your explicit
approval.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Scott wrote:
> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.
>
> This morning, Wednesday, I was surprised to get an alert for a Silverlight
> update.
>
> Does anyone know why this happened? Would another program like McAffee
> (which I have installed now), or Microsoft Security Essentials (which I
> plan
> to replace McAffee with) independently check for updates?
 
M

MowGreen

Flightless Bird
Silverlight is the "Michael Myers" of updates ... just when you think
you've 'killed' the monstrosity by hiding ... it lives !
According to " Ask Leo ", resistance is futile :

What is Silverlight, and do I need it?
http://ask-leo.com/what_is_silverlight_and_do_i_need_it.html

I say ... take your 'Silverslight' and put it where the Sun don't
shine but the moon beams ! <eg>


MowGreen
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

banthecheck.com
"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked


PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

> [X-post to Windows Update]
>
> Enervating, ain't it, especially when it's something stupid like a
> Silverlight update (which prolly won't install anyway)?
>
> Tip: Select the "Notify Only" option instead of the "Automatic" option.
> After doing so, no updates will download /or/ install without your
> explicit approval.
 
H

Harry Johnston [MVP]

Flightless Bird
On 2010-01-21 12:00 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] told us that Scott wrote:

>> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
>> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.

Nope. This setting controls when updates are installed, not when they are
checked for or downloaded.

Harry.

--
"I wish that, just once, some terrorist would try something that you can only
foil by upgrading the passengers to first class and giving them free drinks."
- Bruce Schneier
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/12/separating_expl.html
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
Harry Johnston [MVP] wrote:
> On 2010-01-21 12:00 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] told us that Scott wrote:
>
>>> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
>>> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.
>
> Nope. This setting controls when updates are installed, not when they are
> checked for or downloaded.

<rhetorical questions, all>

So why the prompt to install (we assume) a Silverlight update on a Wednesday
morning?

Is the update-in-question KB979202, which didn't hit WU until Tuesday, 19
Jan-10?
 
H

Harry Johnston [MVP]

Flightless Bird
On 2010-01-21 1:52 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

>>>> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
>>>> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.
>>
>> Nope. This setting controls when updates are installed, not when they are
>> checked for or downloaded.
>
> <rhetorical questions, all>
>
> So why the prompt to install (we assume) a Silverlight update on a
> Wednesday morning?

Rhetorical answer: because that's when the update finished downloading? I'm not
sure what you're getting at - Automatic Updates always tells you as soon as
updates are available to install.

> Is the update-in-question KB979202, which didn't hit WU until Tuesday,
> 19 Jan-10?

Third Tuesday of the month - also normal for non-security updates.

Harry.

--
"I wish that, just once, some terrorist would try something that you can only
foil by upgrading the passengers to first class and giving them free drinks."
- Bruce Schneier
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/12/separating_expl.html
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
Harry Johnston [MVP] wrote:
> On 2010-01-21 1:52 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>
>>>>> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
>>>>> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.
>>>
>>> Nope. This setting controls when updates are installed, not when they
>>> are
>>> checked for or downloaded.
>>
>> <rhetorical questions, all>
>>
>> So why the prompt to install (we assume) a Silverlight update on a
>> Wednesday morning?
>
> Rhetorical answer: because that's when the update finished downloading?
> I'm not sure what you're getting at - Automatic Updates always tells you
> as
> soon as updates are available to install.

But you said the setting was for when updates were installed. Wednesday is
not Thursday.

>> Is the update-in-question KB979202, which didn't hit WU until Tuesday,
>> 19 Jan-10?
>
> Third Tuesday of the month - also normal for non-security updates.

Yes, but none are listed for Jan. 20th in KB894199 as one would expect.
 
S

Scott

Flightless Bird
Thanks to all for your comments. It inspired me to use the tried and true
method of carefully reading the words in the box I'm trying to change. The
options in the Automatic Updates box mentions download and installing only.
Help states XP will routinely check for new updates and provide an alert. I
received an alert (icon blight), the Silverlight update did not download
automatically.

The big picture is that I'm trying to reduce the startup burden for my
notebook which has ballooned from less than a minute to about 3:30. I did
discover there were four scheduled tasks that I was unaware of. First was an
Ad-Aware Update, which is no longer on my computer. The other three were
Google tasks as a result of installing Google Earth.

Thanks
Scott
Los Angeles



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:etAai0mmKHA.5612@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Harry Johnston [MVP] wrote:
>> On 2010-01-21 1:52 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>
>>>>>> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
>>>>>> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.
>>>>
>>>> Nope. This setting controls when updates are installed, not when they
>>>> are
>>>> checked for or downloaded.
>>>
>>> <rhetorical questions, all>
>>>
>>> So why the prompt to install (we assume) a Silverlight update on a
>>> Wednesday morning?
>>
>> Rhetorical answer: because that's when the update finished downloading?
>> I'm not sure what you're getting at - Automatic Updates always tells you
>> as
>> soon as updates are available to install.
>
> But you said the setting was for when updates were installed. Wednesday
> is not Thursday.
>
>>> Is the update-in-question KB979202, which didn't hit WU until Tuesday,
>>> 19 Jan-10?
>>
>> Third Tuesday of the month - also normal for non-security updates.
>
> Yes, but none are listed for Jan. 20th in KB894199 as one would expect.
 
H

Harry Johnston [MVP]

Flightless Bird
On 2010-01-21 8:37 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

>>> So why the prompt to install (we assume) a Silverlight update on a
>>> Wednesday morning?
>>
>> Rhetorical answer: because that's when the update finished
>> downloading? I'm not sure what you're getting at - Automatic Updates
>> always tells you as soon as updates are available to install.
>
> But you said the setting was for when updates were installed. Wednesday
> is not Thursday.

But it didn't install the update - not unless the user asked it to, anyway.

The setting doesn't stop WUA from *telling* the user that the update is
available, or offering to install it before the scheduled time.

>> Third Tuesday of the month - also normal for non-security updates.
>
> Yes, but none are listed for Jan. 20th in KB894199 as one would expect.

KB894199 only includes stuff distributed in Windows Update. There used to be
corresponding documents for Microsoft Update stuff (such as Silverlight) but the
last one I can find is from August:

<http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/ee412245.aspx>

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/ee412245.aspx

I've already complained loudly to MS about the lack of complete and up to date
information. I do have some hope this will improve in the future, but few
expectations in the short term.

Harry.

--
"I wish that, just once, some terrorist would try something that you can only
foil by upgrading the passengers to first class and giving them free drinks."
- Bruce Schneier
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/12/separating_expl.html
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Flightless Bird
> The big picture is that I'm trying to reduce the startup burden for my
> notebook which has ballooned from less than a minute to about 3:30.

Help! My computer is slow!
http://miekiemoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/help-my-computer-is-slow.html

OT: See http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33827


Scott wrote:
> Thanks to all for your comments. It inspired me to use the tried and true
> method of carefully reading the words in the box I'm trying to change. The
> options in the Automatic Updates box mentions download and installing
> only.
> Help states XP will routinely check for new updates and provide an alert.
> I
> received an alert (icon blight), the Silverlight update did not download
> automatically.
>
> The big picture is that I'm trying to reduce the startup burden for my
> notebook which has ballooned from less than a minute to about 3:30. I did
> discover there were four scheduled tasks that I was unaware of. First was
> an
> Ad-Aware Update, which is no longer on my computer. The other three were
> Google tasks as a result of installing Google Earth.
>
> Thanks
> Scott
> Los Angeles
>
>
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:etAai0mmKHA.5612@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Harry Johnston [MVP] wrote:
>>> On 2010-01-21 1:52 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>>
>>>>>>> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
>>>>>>> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.
>>>>>
>>>>> Nope. This setting controls when updates are installed, not when they
>>>>> are
>>>>> checked for or downloaded.
>>>>
>>>> <rhetorical questions, all>
>>>>
>>>> So why the prompt to install (we assume) a Silverlight update on a
>>>> Wednesday morning?
>>>
>>> Rhetorical answer: because that's when the update finished downloading?
>>> I'm not sure what you're getting at - Automatic Updates always tells you
>>> as
>>> soon as updates are available to install.
>>
>> But you said the setting was for when updates were installed. Wednesday
>> is not Thursday.
>>
>>>> Is the update-in-question KB979202, which didn't hit WU until Tuesday,
>>>> 19 Jan-10?
>>>
>>> Third Tuesday of the month - also normal for non-security updates.
>>
>> Yes, but none are listed for Jan. 20th in KB894199 as one would expect.
 
J

Joan Archer

Flightless Bird
Ouch <lol>

--
Joan Archer
http://www.freewebs.com/crossstitcher

"MowGreen" <mowgreen@nowandzen.com> wrote in message
news:eZncYyimKHA.6096@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Silverlight is the "Michael Myers" of updates ... just when you think
> you've 'killed' the monstrosity by hiding ... it lives !
> According to " Ask Leo ", resistance is futile :
>
> What is Silverlight, and do I need it?
> http://ask-leo.com/what_is_silverlight_and_do_i_need_it.html
>
> I say ... take your 'Silverslight' and put it where the Sun don't
> shine but the moon beams ! <eg>
>
>
> MowGreen
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
> banthecheck.com
> "Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked
>
>
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>
>> [X-post to Windows Update]
>>
>> Enervating, ain't it, especially when it's something stupid like a
>> Silverlight update (which prolly won't install anyway)?
>>
>> Tip: Select the "Notify Only" option instead of the "Automatic" option.
>> After doing so, no updates will download /or/ install without your
>> explicit approval.
 
S

Scott

Flightless Bird
Thanks for this link. I have already done the things mentioned there but it
did remind me of something else. I had not done a disk error check for a
long, long time on this computer.

I am surprised that it made a big difference. It cut 1 minute off the
startup time. Other items are working much faster too. For example, after
clicking the start button there was a three to five second wait for the
menu to appear, now it comes up instantly.


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:uMX8G9vmKHA.1652@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> The big picture is that I'm trying to reduce the startup burden for my
>> notebook which has ballooned from less than a minute to about 3:30.
>
> Help! My computer is slow!
> http://miekiemoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/help-my-computer-is-slow.html
>
> OT: See http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=33827
>
>
> Scott wrote:
>> Thanks to all for your comments. It inspired me to use the tried and true
>> method of carefully reading the words in the box I'm trying to change.
>> The
>> options in the Automatic Updates box mentions download and installing
>> only.
>> Help states XP will routinely check for new updates and provide an alert.
>> I
>> received an alert (icon blight), the Silverlight update did not download
>> automatically.
>>
>> The big picture is that I'm trying to reduce the startup burden for my
>> notebook which has ballooned from less than a minute to about 3:30. I did
>> discover there were four scheduled tasks that I was unaware of. First was
>> an
>> Ad-Aware Update, which is no longer on my computer. The other three were
>> Google tasks as a result of installing Google Earth.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Scott
>> Los Angeles
>>
>>
>>
>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:etAai0mmKHA.5612@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Harry Johnston [MVP] wrote:
>>>> On 2010-01-21 1:52 p.m., PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>>> A few days ago I changed the automatic update settings (Control
>>>>>>>> Panel->Security) to only check for updates each Thursday at 8am.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Nope. This setting controls when updates are installed, not when they
>>>>>> are
>>>>>> checked for or downloaded.
>>>>>
>>>>> <rhetorical questions, all>
>>>>>
>>>>> So why the prompt to install (we assume) a Silverlight update on a
>>>>> Wednesday morning?
>>>>
>>>> Rhetorical answer: because that's when the update finished downloading?
>>>> I'm not sure what you're getting at - Automatic Updates always tells
>>>> you
>>>> as
>>>> soon as updates are available to install.
>>>
>>> But you said the setting was for when updates were installed. Wednesday
>>> is not Thursday.
>>>
>>>>> Is the update-in-question KB979202, which didn't hit WU until Tuesday,
>>>>> 19 Jan-10?
>>>>
>>>> Third Tuesday of the month - also normal for non-security updates.
>>>
>>> Yes, but none are listed for Jan. 20th in KB894199 as one would expect.
>
 
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