Lorne wrote:
> My computer is half way through a 7 hour process that can't be stopped.
>
> By chance I happened to look at the screen a few minutes ago and Windows
> said it had downloaded an update and will restart my computer if I do not
> press cancel within 5 minutes.
>
> I cancelled but the message has now come up again. I seem to have the
> choice of sitting by my computer for 3 hours waiting to cancel these
> messages until the process finishes or letting it reboot and losing 4 hours
> work.
>
> Is there a way to stop this?
>
> How can Microsoft write such stupid software that reboots the computer
> automatically ?
Microsoft built that feature in for people who don't like or want to
control what's happening to their own computers, but nevertheless need
the updates. Those who don't want this sort of thing to happen simply
configure Windows Update to notify them of the availability of Updates,
rather automatically installing them. It was your choice to leave the
default settings in place, so it's a bit unfair to blame Microsoft,
don't you think?
> It looks like in future I will have to turn off automatic
> updates and check nothing is about to install before I start this process
> and then remember to turn it back on again afterwards (or have the hassle of
> managing updates manually) but there is no reason to make me go through
> this.
>
>
Actually, there's *every* reason for you to "have to go through this"
if you want to assume control of your own computer.
No one should use the Automatic Updates, unless they take
precautions to ensure that no patches get installed without the user's
express permission, given only after he/she has researched each
individual patch to ensure that it applies and is necessary. Due to the
nearly infinite number of possible combinations of hardware, device
drivers, and applications on any given PC, it's impossible to guarantee
that all patches will be 100% harmless. In a very small number of
cases, patches and hotfixes can cause conflicts or other problems. So,
as with all changes to an OS, caution is advised.
In the overwhelming majority of cases, all "Critical" updates
should be installed. These address serious issues that can affect a
large number of computers. There will be only rare occasions when a
Critical update will not apply. Of special importance are those that
address security vulnerabilities. If people had installed the available
critical updates in July of 2003, the Blaster and Welchia worms would
not have spread throughout the Internet the following month. In the
unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control
Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to
uninstall the troublesome hotfix.
For the "Recommended" updates, simply study the information
provided to see if these updates apply in your specific situation. If
they don't apply, or you're not experiencing the problem(s) addressed,
you needn't install them. For instance, I have no use for WinXP's
MovieMaker, so I ignore any updates to it. Again, in the unlikely
event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's
Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the
troublesome hotfix.
In general, though, I've found it best *not* to download the
"Driver" updates from Windows Update, unless they're for a hardware
device originally manufactured by Microsoft. Device drivers provided
by each component's manufacturer's web site are likely to perform
better and offer more features than will the watered-down, "generic"
drivers that those manufacturers provide to Microsoft for distribution
via Windows Update.
--
Bruce Chambers
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