Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for February 2012

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/10/ms_patch_tuesday_feb_pre_alert/

 

Among other updates, I got 3 of them for .Net Framework. Two of them were small updates; another one is ~17MB - this one came flagged as important, bug not selected. All other updates came selected.

It's not the first time I notice this kind of behavior in Windows Update, though. Have you experienced the same?

 

me too, m00n

 

@m00n:
@test:
I noticed this behavior, both yesterday and in past updates, as well, FWIW.

Further, I have one XP machine on which I keep getting offered exactly the same "High-priority updates" for .NET; Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 SP2 (KB2633880) and Update to .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 for the .NET Framework Assistant 1.0 x86 (KB963707).

Although BOTH of the aforementioned updates are offered via WU, they are also BOTH shown as being installed. Moreover, the "download size" for both updates is shown as "0 KB" (i.e., downloaded and ready to install despite the fact that they're both installed). I'm completely baffled and, since those two updates are already installed, have chosen to simply hide them.

 

Indeed, really odd occurrence. Today, I went to make sure a relative of mine updated her Windows 7 system. She hadn't turned on the laptop for two days, so the updates haven't been applied.

In my system, the update for Silverlight came selected, but in her system came deselected. .Net Framework update (~17MB) also came deselected.

This can be problematic, because many users may think they're just not needed?. I also don't think they would be automatically installed, at some point in time; or would they?

 

Although I'm not at all certain, I don't believe something like that one .NET Framework update would be automatically installed at *any* point; it's a "Reliability Update", not a security update. As such, it resolves certain specific issues which not all users may have experienced and/or are currently experiencing.

I suppose if we determined that haven't run into any of the enumerated issues, we didn't need to install the update. Regardless, it would be a relatively simple matter for MS to clarify all of this, rather than just label the update as "Optional".

 

The Silverlight's one was/is a Critical update. In my relative's system, Silverlight update came deselect, though.

You're right about the other .Net Framework update.

 

Strange, but JRViejo's explanation does make sense. I was never offered the Silverlight update because I'm using v5 (and, I believe that update affected v4?).

 

That makes sense for the .Net Framework.

On the other hand, Silverlight update was selected in my system, but not in my relative's system. The updates were exactly the same. It's the same operating system version. I'd imagine that the updates installation sequence would be applied in the same way?

 

I suppose it's Microsoft on its best.

 

Yep. In the process of troubleshooting my issue with being offered the same updates, despite the fact that they show as being installed, one of the MS suggestions was to download the updates (from MS Downloads) and then simply click to install them in safe mode. Uh, is it me or is it them? I was under the impression that the Windows installer doesn't run in safe mode without adding a special reg entry(ies).