Need Help With Automatic Updates!

[mismis29]

I am running Windows Xp Professional on a stand-alone home computer (Service Pack 1).

It seems that I am no longer able to configure Automatic updates to my personal preferences. When I click on 'Automatic Updates' in my 'System' through the "Control Panel", everything is greyed and I am not able to select the "Notify me when...."option. There is a green check mark next to 'Automatic (recommended)', however, there is no 'dot' to indicate that this option is selected. Also, under the option "Turn off Automatic Updates", there is a red 'X' but there is a 'dot' to indicate that this option is selected.

I have been able to set my own preferences for automatic updates ever since I had my computer, but today I checked to see that everything was normal concerning the updates and found this problem. I can't recall doing anything that would affect this. Why am I not able configure Automatic Updates' anymore?? ??? Please help!

Thank you.

[ronjor]

I would guess you need sp2. The screenshot you show is version 5 of windows updates.

You could go to the site and see if it will reinstall for you also.

http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us

[mismis29]

Thanx for the quick reply :)

I know it is, but up to today, it hasn't been a problem. I don't think I should have to install sp2 to rectify the problem. What if someone doesn't want sp2 at all? Shouldn't any settings that one makes to their system remain even if they don't decide to upgrade? I should still be able to access these options.

[ronjor]

Can you go to the link and see if it offers to reinstall?

You are right in that you probably don't have to install sp2.

[mismis29]

I followed the link and it suggests that I install sp2 ( since I have not yet done so). However, I don't want to at the moment.

BTW, my 'Windows Update' used to look like this (check below), but today it looks like the previous image I posted. It's strange that it has changed. I would much rather be able to configure it myself, if you know what I mean ;) How can I get it back to this?? ???

[ronjor]

Does it offer to turn on automatic updates without installing sp2?

[ronjor]

You are the administrator of the computer, right? You are not in the "user" mode?

[mismis29]

It offers to turn on automatic updates for me. When I proceed with the option to let Microsoft do it, I am asked to install something called "Windows Security Advisor". I don't know what this is, but I really don't want updates installed unless I know what they are first. I'd rather choose to download or not.

If this "Security Advisor" the actual windows update option that was previously accessible to me, then why did I lose it in the first place?

I'm sorry if I'm a little ignorant concerning these things. I just get a little panicked when things that were previously working fine are suddenly not working, knowing that I haven't done anything to change them :-\

Thanx for your help :)

[mismis29]

Yes I am. I can either log on as "Computer Administrator" or "Administrator".

[ronjor]

-{ Quote: "Yes I am. I can either log on as "Computer Administrator" or "Administrator"." }-

The windows update screenshot remains the same no matter which way you log in?

I understand what you are saying about installing unknown programs. It is irritating putting up with all that stuff when all you want to do is update windows.

You could try running scandisk on a reboot and see if that helps.

I really don't why things break for no apparent reason in Windows.

[Cochise]

Could it be that Darling Bill has moved the Goal-posts with SP2 so that no up-dates can be obtained without installing the 'Devil incarnate' ;D.....anybody else finding this prob?.....mismis doesn't appear to have had this befre so why now all of a sudden?.....I can't be too knowledgeable on this because I have never D/Ld an update ever.....aren't I naughty.. ;D ;)


Cochise, 8)

[mismis29]

ronjor - yes, the screen remains the same no matter which account I use to log on. I did perform a scandisk on reboot, and everything 'seems' to be normal. Perhaps I accidently did something to cause this problem, but I don't see what I could have possibly done.

cochise - Who knows, you may be right! Perhaps Microsoft secretly locked me out of "windows update' so I am forced to downloaded sp2! You never know. LOL

[ronjor]

Good to hear it's working.

[mismis29]

Ronjor - The scandisk showed that there was nothing wrong with my computer, but my problem still remains :(

[ronjor]

I used version five of windows update before sp2 came out. It was a beta.

You can do a search for wuweb.dll and rename it wuweb.dll.old and go to the windows update site and see if it will reinstall for you.

[mismis29]

Do you mean re-install the actual automatic windows update option on windows xp? If it doesn't work, then what would that mean concerning the updates? What I mean is, if I can't fix the problem, then are the updates automatically downloaded and installed?

P.S. In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that I was prompted to download the "Windows Security Advisor". Would happen to know what that is?

Thanx so much for your time and patience. I really appreciate all of your help.

[ronjor]

Window Security Advisor scans your system and suggests what you need to protect your computer.

We all know what that is. :)

If you will search for the .dll I mentioned and rename it and try win update again, it should reinstall the update program.

Be sure to show hidden files in folder options before searching.

Also, try system restore and go back to yesterday or day before.

[Cochise]

It all sounmds very sneaky to me mismis love....Beware the Judder-man ;D


Cochise, 8)

[TheSnowGuy]

http://www.autopatcher.com/



Perhaps worth reading.......I've never used this.....cause I wont use XP........so whatever you decided...its at your own risk........

[TheSnowGuy]

"So, if you haven't heard, the newest APXP release is out. It's for those of you not wanting to upgrade to SP2 (turns out there's a lot of you out there"


Clip from above posted website......



By the way....this is "donate-ware"....no actual fee

[TheSnowGuy]

WARNING....to newbees and in-experience users


Please do not play around with "UN-OFFICIAL SOFTWARE"
leave such things to the experts and highly experience to test.....they in turn will advise its worthyness or lack thereof.

[mismis29]

Ronjor - When I rename the .dll and go to windows update, I receve a message asking if I want to install and run "Windows Update". Is that what you mean? DO you think that will solve my problem?

Thanx a bunch :)

[ronjor]

-{ Quote: "Ronjor - When I rename the .dll and go to windows update, I receve a message asking if I want to install and run "Windows Update". Is that what you mean? DO you think that will solve my problem?

Thanx a bunch :)" }-


I don't know if it will solve your problem. It is worth a try.

Or you could leave that .dll file named old as is and try to get v4 of windows update.

Anytime you get graphics that are grayed out, a file is missing or corrupted.


http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/


You might want to look at this forum and see what others are doing also.


http://www.dslreports.com/forum/microsoft

[mismis29]

Hi Ronjor,

Thanx for the links. I posted my question in the forum that you suggested. Hopefully someone will have a suggestion.

As for the other two links you provided, when I click on them, I am automatically brought to the v5 page instead of the v4 page-very strange.

Anyway, thanx for your help; I greatly appreciate it. If you think of anything else, I would be happy to hear it.

Thanx again :)

[ronjor]

mismis29,

I guess I'm stumped.

I know how you feel about sp2. A lot of people feel that way.

That is a strange problem you have there.

Let us know what the cure is when you find it so we can stow it in the memory banks. :)

[mismis29]

>:( Well, it seems that SP2 was installed without my knowledge(I see four related to SP2 in the "Ad/Remove" list). I really don't understand why this happened since I had the updates configured to notify me, and I did not download it. Another weird thing that's happening now is, when I go to the automatic update page it list SP2 as an update that I still have to install.

I wanted to back up my system before I decided whether I wanted SP2 or not. My question is, can I remove the SP2 updates via "Add/Remove" and have my computer back to normal?? I really don't want SP2-Until I have time to think about it).

Please help me. I don't want this 'thing' on my computer ;)

Thank you for your time and patience.

[bigc73542]

-{ Quote: "It offers to turn on automatic updates for me. When I proceed with the option to let Microsoft do it, I am asked to install something called "Windows Security Advisor". I don't know what this is, but I really don't want updates installed unless I know what they are first. I'd rather choose to download or not.

If this "Security Advisor" the actual windows update option that was previously accessible to me, then why did I lose it in the first place?

I'm sorry if I'm a little ignorant concerning these things. I just get a little panicked when things that were previously working fine are suddenly not working, knowing that I haven't done anything to change them :-\

Thanx for your help :)" }-


This is what I believe it wants to install so it can remind you if there are updates available. Just one of the new security add ons from MS.

[mismis29]

Okay, but why would SP2 have been installed if I didn't choose to install it, and can I remove it?

Thanx.

[bigc73542]

-{ Quote: ">:( Well, it seems that SP2 was installed without my knowledge(I see four related to SP2 in the "Ad/Remove" list). I really don't understand why this happened since I had the updates configured to notify me, and I did not download it. Another weird thing that's happening now is, when I go to the automatic update page it list SP2 as an update that I still have to install.

I wanted to back up my system before I decided whether I wanted SP2 or not. My question is, can I remove the SP2 updates via "Add/Remove" and have my computer back to normal?? I really don't want SP2-Until I have time to think about it).

Please help me. I don't want this 'thing' on my computer ;)

Thank you for your time and patience." }-


if you had sp2 installed you would not see any windows update entrys unless you intentionally checked the box to see updates.

[ronjor]

Have you seen these threads?

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=45969

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=47621

[bigc73542]

you can also go to start/my computer/view system information and it will tell you which service pack you have installed.

[mismis29]

Umm, yes, I've seen that thread. It didn't really help me . Sorry.

[ronjor]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875350&Product=winxp


Since you only have a partial install this may not help. Something to look at.

[mismis29]

bigc- I checked, and under System Info it still says Service Pack 1.

ronjor - I did go to that link to check it out before. I just need to know that if I do remove the four SP2 items, will my computer be back to the way it was? (Below is what shows up in my "Add/Remove" list concerning SP2).

It's not that I'm having any great problems with SP2 (besides the update problem and my computer is a little slow), I just want to be able to decide if I want SP2, or anything else. I don't feel I need right now.

Btw, 'System Resore' has never worked for me, but I was told that I need to clear the resore points on a regular basis, but I haven't done so yet. Hopefully the 'add/remove' method will do the trick.

I have no idea when they were installed, so I'm not sure what restore point to use if system restore does work.

Anyway, thank you so much for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. :)

[ronjor]

I would set a restore point and give it a try.

[bigc73542]

before I got sp2 I had some updates that showed sp2 just like those in the screen shot those are just regular win hot fixes. I wouldn't delete them because it will just ask you to install them again.

[mismis29]

What would you suggest bigc? I just want my system back the way it was :'( :'(