Be careful of Microsoft Automatic Updates!

[JCitron]

Now this is something I usually turn off, but I've been really busy and forgot about this when I just recently resetup my PC. I've been working 12-16 hour days for the past month with all the new-hires and PC configs I've had to do!

Last night I was downloading a large number of updated assets. I did this quite late and let it run over night. I've done this in the past with database repairs, patches, etc. It beats watching pixels drip with nothing else to do! It's not like this was a lot of stuff either, I just was too achy and tired to wait for it to finish.

Anyway, I stayed home sick from work with a pneumonia bug. I got up and turned my monitor on, only to find that Microsoft automatically restared my PC with CM still running. The downloads were long done, but the program was still open when the restart happened!

What's the end result? A corrupted database that required an Extended Database Repair!

So having said this, make sure you turn of the automatic updates for Windows. They'll screw up your Content Manager if you're not careful!

John

 

[BillDinAZ]

John,
Rather than completely turn off automatic updates (although some say that is a good policy in general, as you likely know), you can set Windows so that the updates will be uploaded but not installed. The next time you shut down, there will be an icon on the button showing that updates are ready to install. But I don't think they will install until you are ready to shut down.

Bill

 

[tomurban]

John,
Rather than completely turn off automatic updates (although some say that is a good policy in general, as you likely know), you can set Windows so that the updates will be uploaded but not installed. The next time you shut down, there will be an icon on the button showing that updates are ready to install. But I don't think they will install until you are ready to shut down.

Bill

That is correct and is the way mine works.

tomurban

 

[RoysTrainz]

first of all get well soon and yes turn off that thing

Now this is something I usually turn off, but I've been really busy and forgot about this when I just recently resetup my PC. I've been working 12-16 hour days for the past month with all the new-hires and PC configs I've had to do!

Last night I was downloading a large number of updated assets. I did this quite late and let it run over night. I've done this in the past with database repairs, patches, etc. It beats watching pixels drip with nothing else to do! It's not like this was a lot of stuff either, I just was too achy and tired to wait for it to finish.

Anyway, I stayed home sick from work with a pneumonia bug. I got up and turned my monitor on, only to find that Microsoft automatically restared my PC with CM still running. The downloads were long done, but the program was still open when the restart happened!

What's the end result? A corrupted database that required an Extended Database Repair!

So having said this, make sure you turn of the automatic updates for Windows. They'll screw up your Content Manager if you're not careful!

John

John get well soon that sounds nasty.

I never let any prog update auto unless I am sure I decide the restart.
I had already 2 major crashes from TadDeamon EDR screwing up all my routes and stuff dl'd.
So I am very wary of QDR or EDR only if I by accident forgot to wait for TADdmn to finish and rebooted or closed.

regards,

Roy

 

[JCitron]

Bill and all,

That is what I usually do. Let it tell me there are updates, and do them myself manually. That is what I meant.

This bug is killing me. I can't even think straight, let alone walk straight. I've fallen down my stairs 3 times today - did the old backside slide down from the top to about the middle. I thought it was my slippers (Isn't this why they're called that!), but not. It's the old PD kicking in because I'm sick and the meds aren't working right!

Swell!

John

 

[OverlordNZ]

I turned off MS Updates ever since they tried to tell me I had an illegal version of XP Pro (that is legal and been using since 2006) and I should get Windows 7...

They did this kind of crap before, people would need to get a new activation key for XP Home/Premium, but MS would say they no longer support XP so no code. So these people were forced to 7. I have XP Pro..no activation key needed.

 

[Retro00064]

I turned off MS Updates ever since they tried to tell me I had an illegal version of XP Pro (that is legal and been using since 2006) and I should get Windows 7...

They did this kind of crap before, people would need to get a new activation key for XP Home/Premium, but MS would say they no longer support XP so no code. So these people were forced to 7. I have XP Pro..no activation key needed.

I wonder if I will have to follow in your footsteps once Windows Vista goes unsupported.

Regards.

 

[backyard]

I like Vista Home Premium

I like the "Download, but ask me first" mode.

It's likely that your Content Manager would have to update the database anyway, the restart just put it off...a minute...

An interesting note to this week's patch Tuesday, one of the updates did not install...you had to review the update before the Install Update button would show.

That particular update was to patch a vulnerability with Auto Run...it disabled AR for everything but CD & DVDs!

I hid the update for obvious reasons & because I have Norton 2011, that does an incredible job of security.

The last four letters of that update are 1026.

 

[belgian46]

Hello to all.

Just for information.

After I had bought my portable acer aspire 7540G ( windows 7 ) in 2010, I activated the automatic updates with the option ask me to install.


A lot of updates were installed and one update was a change to the videodrivers.

Result - portable became useless.

With the backup dvds I went to the basic settings and this time no activation of the automatic updates.

Since then no more windows updates have been installed and I had no problems with the portable.

I have a virus protection program on the portable running.

And what happened this week - I was connected to the www, but no visit to some website was done, when suddenly my virusscanner gave me a signal - a virus was detected.

The virusscanner did its job and removed the virus.

But what did I see - automatic updates were reactivated ( ) and I didn't do it.

I automatically changed the settings again and did a shut down of the portable.

No updates were installed.

Best regards

Kurt :wave:

 

[Wodger]

I turned off MS Updates ever since they tried to tell me I had an illegal version of XP Pro (that is legal and been using since 2006) and I should get Windows 7...

They did this kind of crap before, people would need to get a new activation key for XP Home/Premium, but MS would say they no longer support XP so no code. So these people were forced to 7. I have XP Pro..no activation key needed.

That's interesting - Microsoft stopped XP mainstream support in 2009 - hot fix and service packs. But will end extended support in 2014 (security updates only).
Your right with the activation technology being different with XP to vista or 7 - seems daft that they would ask you to have another serial.
I had the same row a few years back, when I was told that my serial was illegal - I ended up clearing the HDD again and reinstalling, and there was no problem.
For Vista, support with no service packs ended last year - no definite date for mainstream support ending, but I would imagine it would by the end of this year or beginning of next.

Pete

 

[JCitron]

That's interesting - Microsoft stopped XP mainstream support in 2009 - hot fix and service packs. But will end extended support in 2014 (security updates only).
Your right with the activation technology being different with XP to vista or 7 - seems daft that they would ask you to have another serial.
I had the same row a few years back, when I was told that my serial was illegal - I ended up clearing the HDD again and reinstalling, and there was no problem.
For Vista, support with no service packs ended last year - no definite date for mainstream support ending, but I would imagine it would by the end of this year or beginning of next.

Pete

This is good to know, Pete. I try to keep up on this stuff, but don't always because of my job load!

I recall there was an issue witht he MS patches saying that XP installs were bad, but they then released a new patch to solve that.

I can see support for the most unliked OS, outside of WindowME, ending without much fanfaire. Windows 7 came a long and quickly snuffed out Vista, so there's no loss with this as far as I'm concerned. Heck many big companies are still using XP and are just adopting Windows 7 now!

John

 

[shaneturner12]

It's true - from what I heard, Vista was seen as bloated and quickly slowed systems down (according to my sources, 2GB was seen as the recommended memory requirement, and 1GB as the minimum)

As for the automatic updates, it is usually best to set it to 'Download, but let me decide when to install' (that's probably not the exact words, but it's close) - be aware though, that it will increase shutdown time.

The thing I'm not looking forward to at the moment is Windows 7 SP1, which according to Microsoft OEM will be sometime soon - service packs always seem to take ages.

I've noticed though that Microsoft is not the only one that has a habit for requiring restarts after some updates - antivirus software is another classic one for that.

Shane

 

[PerRock]

I always turn off the auto-restart with MS updates. However one thing I have found, is that if you let them go to long without installing them MS will get tired of waiting and restart your system anyways. I had this happen to me last week (this is with both vista & 7)

peter