How do I make sure that Windows is up-to-date?

Hello Leo Nootenboom,

I have clicked the Windows Update notification in Lockergnome's NewsLetter.
A fast running menu showed up and a bar was filled up.
Should this program be downloaded and used in stead of WINDOWS UPDATE ?
Have things been changed in my WIN98SE after
I ran the program from Lockergnome ?
I have seen the word SETTING passing by, however
within the second another menu appeared.

Where can I find more details about what to do ?

Best regards,
Adriaan Ruiter
NL

That video requires Macromedia Flash in order to be viewed, and it sounds like you have things set to automatically isntall without prompting. It simply means you should now be able to view the video.

My question is simply this. When I scan Windows XP (home edition) with Spybot SSD, I get a report indicating that a threat "Windows Security Center.AntiVirusDisableNotify" has been detected and fixed. Would this problem prevent me from getting the most recent Windows updates?
When trying to get updates I always get zero found .
Thank you,
Ted ...

Maybe.

I would: run the system file checker http://ask-leo.com/what_is_the_system_file_checker_and_how_do_i_run_it.html, get and run an up-to-date anti virus package http://ask-leo.com/viruses_how_do_i_keep_myself_safe_from_viruses.html, and get an additional anti-spyware program and run that too http://ask-leo.com/spyware_how_do_i_remove_and_avoid_spyware.html

I've been reading through the INTERNET trying to find a solution to this problem - "Could not start the Automatic Updates service on Local Computer. Error 1058: The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or has no enabled devices associated with it." I'm running Windows XP Professional with SP2 - I had SP3 when this started and removed it. I've been all over the web and tried all the re-start solutions I could find. I am at my witt's end. Please help.

Steve

smajero@msn.com

My driver update service I noticed that drivers were also compatable for vista and i am using xp pro i updated all drivers except a few w/o problems and am wondering why Microsoft didn't include this in their automatic update process, i use driver agent with no problems

> Microsoft on occasion automatically downloads AND installs updates even with this setting

IIRC, this is true, but limited to security problems *with Windows Update itself*, in which case a lot of normal mechanisms are bypassed.

IMO this is understandable, and in context, perfectly acceptable.

Why? Well, if you have a problem with as OS vendor doing things to your computer that you don't explicitly know about, then to be honest you have way bigger problems than an occasional mandatory update -- you're using a proprietary OS, it's doing things you don't know about all the time. If you consider that unacceptable, then Windows is not the OS for you; use an open source one. On the other hand if you do consider it acceptable, mandatory updates don't really change anything.

But choosing to run a proprietary OS and then being paranoid about the OS vendor updating it is just silly.

On my XP I have Windows Update turned off.
I understand that Microsoft releases updates on Tuesday.
By Friday Microsoft has fixed all the bugs in the updates that third party testers have reported.
On Friday afternoon I go to Windows Update and only download the high priority updates.

Windows update is only the appetizer. Avoiding updates to other popular applications is just as dangerous as not having anti-virus software.

Secunia's PSI is very complete, but its also complex and wants to run constantly in the background.

They also offer a simpler online product, one that doesn't have to be installed at all - the OSI or Online Software Inspector. For an intro to that service see

Free, Comprehensive Windows Patch Notification: Secunia

It requires Java and it doesn't check as many applications as PSI. But, with the 80/20 rule, its probably good enough. My experience has been that it's hard enough to get a clean bill of health from OSI.

The Windows 7 option about allowing all users to install bug fixes (excuse me, "changes") means that a standard/restricted Windows 7 user can install patches without any UAC interruption. If this is off, then a standard user needs to supply an admin password to install patches.

Windows Update, in Automatic Mode, does not always load all of the critical updates.

It seems that some of the Updates require a more recent Windows Genuine Authorization check before they will download & install. Also, Service Packs will not install automatically.

A recent laptop with Vista did not have any SPs installed. It took about four hours to download and install these over a wireless cable-based ISP connection.

Personally, I turn Windows (Microsoft) Update off, and run it manually. Otherwise, it runs automatically at bootup - and hogs resources - and I'd rather have a working PC faster. I don't mind being out of date for a week or two if I get lazy with these updates.

Now my antivirus - that is the only program I allow for automatic updates.

Great website Leo - thanks as always!

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