Use of Windows Automatic Updates (How to configure?)

I have XP Pro/SP2 on my PC. I also have a dialup internet connection
which I know is very slow.

I have declined to install SP3 on my PC because of the many reports I
have read that indicate endless reboot problems and very little real
value.

I have declined to turn on Windows Updates in the automatic mode
because of my dialup connection and because there are some updates I
do not want. These unwanted updates include SP3 and other rather
large downloads. In these cases, I use another PC with a broadband
connection and download an update like SP3 to a disk file which I
could install on my dialup PC via a USB flash drive.

The real point of this post is not SP3, but whether or not I can
configure Windows Update to be automatic, but NOT to download &
install SP3 or perhaps some other download I do not want.

David wrote:
I have XP Pro/SP2 on my PC. I also have a dialup internet connection
which I know is very slow.

I have declined to install SP3 on my PC because of the many reports I
have read that indicate endless reboot problems and very little real
value.

I have declined to turn on Windows Updates in the automatic mode
because of my dialup connection and because there are some updates I
do not want. These unwanted updates include SP3 and other rather
large downloads. In these cases, I use another PC with a broadband
connection and download an update like SP3 to a disk file which I
could install on my dialup PC via a USB flash drive.

The real point of this post is not SP3, but whether or not I can
configure Windows Update to be automatic, but NOT to download &
install SP3 or perhaps some other download I do not want.

Open Control Panel, Security Center, click the "Automatic Updates" link
at the bottom of the window, select "Notify me but don't automatically
download or install them".

Are the two computers within ~200 feet of each other? If so, a wireless
router, and card, could be a solution. See if a neighbor has a wireless
router.. offer $10 a month for access.. leech off of any unsecured
signal (network) near you!

--
Joe =o)

On Nov 11, 4:56*am, David wrote:
I have XP Pro/SP2 on my PC. *I also have a dialup internet connection
which I know is very slow.

I have declined to install SP3 on my PC because of the many reports I
have read that indicate endless reboot problems and very little real
value.

I have declined to turn on Windows Updates in the automatic mode
because of my dialup connection and because there are some updates I
do not want. *These unwanted updates include SP3 and other rather
large downloads. *In these cases, I use another PC with a broadband
connection and download an update like SP3 to a disk file which I
could install on my dialup PC via a USB flash drive.

The real point of this post is not SP3, but whether or not I can
configure Windows Update to be automatic, but NOT to download &
install SP3 or perhaps some other download I do not want.

If AU tells you there is stuff to download/install you have an option
to install it or not.

You can configure AU to just notify you things are available to
download but not automatically download them so you can review and
choose what you want.

If you choose not (like for your SP3 update), you can also choose not
to be reminded of that update again.

You may find all this easier to understand and manipulate by going to
the Windows Update section of Internet Explorer where you an choose
what you want, choose your notification and intensity method, see what
things you have previously declined, change your mind, etc.

For example, Microsoft encouraged me to install IE8, but I don't want
to. I told it never to ask me again, but I can still go to the
Windows Update page and download it later if I feel like it.

[Crosspost to Windows Update newsgroup]

Inline....

David wrote:
I have XP Pro/SP2 on my PC. I also have a dialup internet connection
which I know is very slow.

SP3 is available on CD for the price of shipping. See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389

I have declined to install SP3 on my PC because of the many reports I
have read that indicate endless reboot problems and very little real
value.

Horse hockey! Properly installed, you shouldn't have any problems.

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 was
available from 14 April 2008 thru May 2009. Such support will cost you
US$59 per incident now. (You snooze, you lose)

I have declined to turn on Windows Updates in the automatic mode
because of my dialup connection and because there are some updates I
do not want. These unwanted updates include SP3 and other rather
large downloads. In these cases, I use another PC with a broadband
connection and download an update like SP3 to a disk file which I
could install on my dialup PC via a USB flash drive.

You can configure Automatic Updates such that only the updates you want are
downloaded and installed. You can even control when they're downloaded and
when they're installed.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

The real point of this post is not SP3, but whether or not I can
configure Windows Update to be automatic, but NOT to download &
install SP3 or perhaps some other download I do not want.

You can "hide" SP3 and any other updates via Automatic Updates and Windows
Update website. However, note that computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be
offered any further critical security updates, Automatic Updates will cease
to function, and Windows Update website will not be available after 12 April
2010 until SP3 is installed.

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP2 fully patched
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...66ae41add7dd2b
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

I have followed your recommendations and configured Windows Update to
download & install only those updates I want. Thanks for the help!

I must also reiterate that what I said about Win XP SP3 was correct.
When SP3 first came out, a large number of users who tried to install
SP3 ended up with the installation failing part of the way through the
install & the computer going into an endless reboot cycle. The only
way out of the endless reboot that I've heard of was through the use
of a restore point. The problem was limited to users of HP & 1 other
brand that I can't remember. HP & the other PC MFG had apparently
done something wierd in violation of Microsoft's recommendations. I
know the story is true because my co-worker had an HP machine &
experienced exactly what I have described. He restored his machine
using a restore point, downloaded a patch from HP's web site & then
successfully installed SP3.

Check it out. Its true & not Horse hockey!

David

On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:58:11 -0500, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
wrote:

[Crosspost to Windows Update newsgroup]

Inline....

David wrote:
I have XP Pro/SP2 on my PC. I also have a dialup internet connection
which I know is very slow.

SP3 is available on CD for the price of shipping. See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389

I have declined to install SP3 on my PC because of the many reports I
have read that indicate endless reboot problems and very little real
value.

Horse hockey! Properly installed, you shouldn't have any problems.

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 was
available from 14 April 2008 thru May 2009. Such support will cost you
US$59 per incident now. (You snooze, you lose)

I have declined to turn on Windows Updates in the automatic mode
because of my dialup connection and because there are some updates I
do not want. These unwanted updates include SP3 and other rather
large downloads. In these cases, I use another PC with a broadband
connection and download an update like SP3 to a disk file which I
could install on my dialup PC via a USB flash drive.

You can configure Automatic Updates such that only the updates you want are
downloaded and installed. You can even control when they're downloaded and
when they're installed.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

The real point of this post is not SP3, but whether or not I can
configure Windows Update to be automatic, but NOT to download &
install SP3 or perhaps some other download I do not want.

You can "hide" SP3 and any other updates via Automatic Updates and Windows
Update website. However, note that computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT be
offered any further critical security updates, Automatic Updates will cease
to function, and Windows Update website will not be available after 12 April
2010 until SP3 is installed.

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP2 fully patched
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...66ae41add7dd2b

You're welcome & thanks for your feedback.

A very small (but admittedly vocal) minority of WinXP users encountered the
issue you reference upon installing SP3. The same issue arose when SP2 was
released. The original SP2-specific KB article was revised for SP3 and then
published by mid-May 2008 (IIRC), well before SP3 was released to Windows
Update:

Error message after you upgrade a computer that uses a processor other than
an Intel processor to Windows XP Service Pack 2 or to Windows XP Service
Pack 3: "STOP: 0x0000007E":
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953356

In addition to the above...

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 was
available from 14 April 2008 thru May 2009

....for anyone who'd encountered the problem.

And anyone who feared encountering the issue could have "hidden" SP3.

David wrote:
I have followed your recommendations and configured Windows Update to
download & install only those updates I want. Thanks for the help!

I must also reiterate that what I said about Win XP SP3 was correct.
When SP3 first came out, a large number of users who tried to install
SP3 ended up with the installation failing part of the way through the
install & the computer going into an endless reboot cycle. The only
way out of the endless reboot that I've heard of was through the use
of a restore point. The problem was limited to users of HP & 1 other
brand that I can't remember. HP & the other PC MFG had apparently
done something wierd in violation of Microsoft's recommendations. I
know the story is true because my co-worker had an HP machine &
experienced exactly what I have described. He restored his machine
using a restore point, downloaded a patch from HP's web site & then
successfully installed SP3.

Check it out. Its true & not Horse hockey!

[Crosspost to Windows Update newsgroup]

Inline....

David wrote:
I have XP Pro/SP2 on my PC. I also have a dialup internet connection
which I know is very slow.

SP3 is available on CD for the price of shipping. See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389

I have declined to install SP3 on my PC because of the many reports I
have read that indicate endless reboot problems and very little real
value.

Horse hockey! Properly installed, you shouldn't have any problems.

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support for WinXP SP3 was
available from 14 April 2008 thru May 2009. Such support will cost you
US$59 per incident now. (You snooze, you lose)

I have declined to turn on Windows Updates in the automatic mode
because of my dialup connection and because there are some updates I
do not want. These unwanted updates include SP3 and other rather
large downloads. In these cases, I use another PC with a broadband
connection and download an update like SP3 to a disk file which I
could install on my dialup PC via a USB flash drive.

You can configure Automatic Updates such that only the updates you want
are
downloaded and installed. You can even control when they're downloaded
and
when they're installed.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

The real point of this post is not SP3, but whether or not I can
configure Windows Update to be automatic, but NOT to download &
install SP3 or perhaps some other download I do not want.

You can "hide" SP3 and any other updates via Automatic Updates and
Windows
Update website. However, note that computers running WinXP SP2 will NOT
be
offered any further critical security updates, Automatic Updates will
cease
to function, and Windows Update website will not be available after 12
April 2010 until SP3 is installed.

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP2 fully patched
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...66ae41add7dd2b