Windows Update

  • Thread starter Thread starter William B. Lurie
  • Start date Start date
W

William B. Lurie

I hadn't looked for updates for a while, so
I went to Windows Update, and it went "Checking for
Latest Updates" and the green bars kept sliding across
forever.......it used to take a few minutes, now it's
forever.

What am I doing wrong?
 
William said:
I hadn't looked for updates for a while, so
I went to Windows Update, and it went "Checking for
Latest Updates" and the green bars kept sliding across
forever.......it used to take a few minutes, now it's
forever.

What am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Let me add that I checked Update History, and I couldn't
find anything that wasn't marked Green--successful, including
KB892130, the Genuine Advantage Tool........
 
Probably the WU client is out of date - try this url (ignore title)

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by
using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

If that's not the case, post again.

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


|I hadn't looked for updates for a while, so
| I went to Windows Update, and it went "Checking for
| Latest Updates" and the green bars kept sliding across
| forever.......it used to take a few minutes, now it's
| forever.
|
| What am I doing wrong?
 
TaurArian said:
Probably the WU client is out of date - try this url (ignore title)

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by
using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

If that's not the case, post again.
Click to expand...
That title doesn't really fit my description of the problem, Taur.
My Windows XP has been working just fine since I bought the PC with
XP Home + SP2 already installed 18 months ago. I have never had to
do a repair on it. I "Custom Install" updates regularly, as
recently as a month or two ago. I see your note about ignoring the
KB's title, so I'll go there and see if it helps. In the past,
Windows Update has always spend several minutes studying what
updates are available, and then I select all of the important ones
to download and install. This time it never stops looking......
 
TaurArian said:
Probably the WU client is out of date - try this url (ignore title)

Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by
using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144

If that's not the case, post again.
Click to expand...
I read that KB, Taur, and now I have more questions. First, how do
I know if I have an X64-based system? I have plain vanilla XP
Home with SP2, as OEM installed on my Compaq Presario.

Second, I prefer not to subscribe to "Automatic Updates"
because I want to opt out of certain hardware-related updates
that are not applicable. I always accept Critical Updates.
The KB article, as I read it quickly, implies that I have to
go the Automatic Updates route. So exactly what do I do if I just
want to continue selecting the Windows Update KB items which are
applicable?
 
See inline response William -

| TaurArian wrote:
| > Probably the WU client is out of date - try this url (ignore title)
| >
| > Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or
by
| > using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
| > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
| >
| > If that's not the case, post again.




| I read that KB, Taur, and now I have more questions. First, how do
| I know if I have an X64-based system? I have plain vanilla XP
| Home with SP2, as OEM installed on my Compaq Presario.


To find out if you have a 32 bit system (x86) -
Click Start, Select Run, now type in: msinfo32
Look at System type:



| Second, I prefer not to subscribe to "Automatic Updates"
| because I want to opt out of certain hardware-related updates
| that are not applicable. I always accept Critical Updates.
| The KB article, as I read it quickly, implies that I have to
| go the Automatic Updates route. So exactly what do I do if I just
| want to continue selecting the Windows Update KB items which are
| applicable?

The Automatic Update Service must be on *automatic*.

As for what you want to download or not download etc, keeping in mind not all available
updates are downloaded.
see: http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html

But if you want control then see:

HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
You can have automatic updates set to notify only.
 
TaurArian said:
See inline response William -

| TaurArian wrote:
| > Probably the WU client is out of date - try this url (ignore title)
| >
| > Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or
by
| > using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
| > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
| >
| > If that's not the case, post again.




| I read that KB, Taur, and now I have more questions. First, how do
| I know if I have an X64-based system? I have plain vanilla XP
| Home with SP2, as OEM installed on my Compaq Presario.


To find out if you have a 32 bit system (x86) -
Click Start, Select Run, now type in: msinfo32
Look at System type:



| Second, I prefer not to subscribe to "Automatic Updates"
| because I want to opt out of certain hardware-related updates
| that are not applicable. I always accept Critical Updates.
| The KB article, as I read it quickly, implies that I have to
| go the Automatic Updates route. So exactly what do I do if I just
| want to continue selecting the Windows Update KB items which are
| applicable?

The Automatic Update Service must be on *automatic*.

As for what you want to download or not download etc, keeping in mind not all available
updates are downloaded.
see: http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html

But if you want control then see:

HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
You can have automatic updates set to notify only.
Click to expand...
Thanks again, Taur.
I checked and I have X86. So that pins one thing down.
I followed the steps in KB943144 and did net stop wuauserv
to stop Automatic Update.
I then went to Windows Update and it still did the forever
search, and so I stopped it and restarted the system......
and it still thinks I have Automatic Update ON.

I guess my next step is KB306525 as you referenced above.
I DO want to be notified of updates, but I want the privilege
of rejecting some.
 
William said:
Thanks again, Taur.
I checked and I have X86. So that pins one thing down.
I followed the steps in KB943144 and did net stop wuauserv
to stop Automatic Update.
I then went to Windows Update and it still did the forever
search, and so I stopped it and restarted the system......
and it still thinks I have Automatic Update ON.

I guess my next step is KB306525 as you referenced above.
I DO want to be notified of updates, but I want the privilege
of rejecting some.
Click to expand...
As a follow-on, I think that I may have broken loose
a solution. Even though it told me that KB892130 has installed,
I installed it again. That led me to a sequence where I was
able to configure AU the way I want it....namely, TELL me
when there are updates, but let me use CUSTOM mode to select
what to download and install. I'm not sure which of the .NET
Frameworks caused some other software major grief last year,
but whatever .NET I have now, works, and I'm afraid to
install more of them unless I have to.

When I have some time, I'll go around WU again to see if it
is set to do what I like. And thanks for the leads, Taur.
 
TaurArian said:
See inline response William -

| TaurArian wrote:
| > Probably the WU client is out of date - try this url (ignore title)
| >
| > Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or
by
| > using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
| > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
| >
| > If that's not the case, post again.




| I read that KB, Taur, and now I have more questions. First, how do
| I know if I have an X64-based system? I have plain vanilla XP
| Home with SP2, as OEM installed on my Compaq Presario.


To find out if you have a 32 bit system (x86) -
Click Start, Select Run, now type in: msinfo32
Look at System type:



| Second, I prefer not to subscribe to "Automatic Updates"
| because I want to opt out of certain hardware-related updates
| that are not applicable. I always accept Critical Updates.
| The KB article, as I read it quickly, implies that I have to
| go the Automatic Updates route. So exactly what do I do if I just
| want to continue selecting the Windows Update KB items which are
| applicable?

The Automatic Update Service must be on *automatic*.

As for what you want to download or not download etc, keeping in mind not all available
updates are downloaded.
see: http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html

But if you want control then see:

HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
You can have automatic updates set to notify only.
Click to expand...
As happens so often with these links and KBs, I think I
reset it per 306525 above so that I am still in Automatic
Updates but they do not download or install except when
I select them. So it is more properly Automatic
Notification of Available Updates, not Automatic Update.
So presumably I am now in the mode where I should be able
to follow links to download SP3.

Not so. I got to 322389 and it told me that, since this is
a one-PC-one-computer system, I should get the Update for SP3
from Windows Update.

So I went back to Windows Update. CATCH-22. I couldn't find a
place there for downloading SP3. What now?
 
William said:
As happens so often with these links and KBs, I think I
reset it per 306525 above so that I am still in Automatic
Updates but they do not download or install except when
I select them. So it is more properly Automatic
Notification of Available Updates, not Automatic Update.
So presumably I am now in the mode where I should be able
to follow links to download SP3.

Not so. I got to 322389 and it told me that, since this is
a one-PC-one-computer system, I should get the Update for SP3
from Windows Update.

So I went back to Windows Update. CATCH-22. I couldn't find a
place there for downloading SP3. What now?
Click to expand...
Funny thing happened on the way back to Windows Update.
It must have been JUST updated itself, this morning,
because this time it offered me the option to download
and install SP3. I can't swear that it wasn't there
before, but I couldn't find it.

This time I asked for it, it downloaded and installed,
very cleanly (except for the length of time it sat at
various places, while I wondered if it was still alive
or had 'hung'. It could use 'Patience please' in a lot
of places.....but eventually it finished, and I seem to
be in operation.

Thanks for the guidance, Taur........
 
Pleased it's finally worked William.

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


| William B. Lurie wrote:
| > TaurArian wrote:
| >> See inline response William -
| >>
| >> | >> | TaurArian wrote:
| >> | > Probably the WU client is out of date - try this url (ignore title)
| >> | >
| >> | > Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from
| >> Microsoft Update, or by
| >> | > using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation
| >> | > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943144
| >> | >
| >> | > If that's not the case, post again.
| >>
| >>
| >>
| >>
| >> | I read that KB, Taur, and now I have more questions. First, how do
| >> | I know if I have an X64-based system? I have plain vanilla XP
| >> | Home with SP2, as OEM installed on my Compaq Presario.
| >>
| >>
| >> To find out if you have a 32 bit system (x86) -
| >> Click Start, Select Run, now type in: msinfo32
| >> Look at System type:
| >>
| >>
| >>
| >> | Second, I prefer not to subscribe to "Automatic Updates"
| >> | because I want to opt out of certain hardware-related updates
| >> | that are not applicable. I always accept Critical Updates.
| >> | The KB article, as I read it quickly, implies that I have to
| >> | go the Automatic Updates route. So exactly what do I do if I just
| >> | want to continue selecting the Windows Update KB items which are
| >> | applicable?
| >>
| >> The Automatic Update Service must be on *automatic*.
| >>
| >> As for what you want to download or not download etc, keeping in mind
| >> not all available updates are downloaded.
| >> see: http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html
| >>
| >> But if you want control then see:
| >>
| >> HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
| >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
| >> You can have automatic updates set to notify only.
| >>
| > As happens so often with these links and KBs, I think I
| > reset it per 306525 above so that I am still in Automatic
| > Updates but they do not download or install except when
| > I select them. So it is more properly Automatic
| > Notification of Available Updates, not Automatic Update.
| > So presumably I am now in the mode where I should be able
| > to follow links to download SP3.
| >
| > Not so. I got to 322389 and it told me that, since this is
| > a one-PC-one-computer system, I should get the Update for SP3
| > from Windows Update.
| >
| > So I went back to Windows Update. CATCH-22. I couldn't find a
| > place there for downloading SP3. What now?
| Funny thing happened on the way back to Windows Update.
| It must have been JUST updated itself, this morning,
| because this time it offered me the option to download
| and install SP3. I can't swear that it wasn't there
| before, but I couldn't find it.
|
| This time I asked for it, it downloaded and installed,
| very cleanly (except for the length of time it sat at
| various places, while I wondered if it was still alive
| or had 'hung'. It could use 'Patience please' in a lot
| of places.....but eventually it finished, and I seem to
| be in operation.
|
| Thanks for the guidance, Taur........
 
TaurArian said:
Pleased it's finally worked William.
Click to expand...
Right on. I notice that some of these advisories and KBs
have an issue date within the past week. I'm suspecting
(but can't prove) that the Microsoft site for WU didn't have
that download available when I went there first, but had
it posted by the time I got back there, later this same
day. I would call that an ordinary instance of Elmer's Law.
But I'm all updated now, and seem to be working. So we
can close this thread, and I thank you again.
 
William, should you have any further problems with Windows Updates, you can post directly
to the WU Newsgroups - you do need to tell them what Operating System you have as they
deal with Vista and Windows 2000 as well etc.

Windows Update newsgroup:
(OE newsreader)
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate
or
(Web)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&lang=en&cr=US

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


| TaurArian wrote:
| > Pleased it's finally worked William.
| >
| Right on. I notice that some of these advisories and KBs
| have an issue date within the past week. I'm suspecting
| (but can't prove) that the Microsoft site for WU didn't have
| that download available when I went there first, but had
| it posted by the time I got back there, later this same
| day. I would call that an ordinary instance of Elmer's Law.
| But I'm all updated now, and seem to be working. So we
| can close this thread, and I thank you again.
 
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