how do you update windows?

every time i go to WU i get an error; eventually i get past the error message by enabling automatic updates in services to automatic. then, after enabling automatic updates, every time i connect to the internet my FW gives me an alert because automatic updates wants to check for an update, i deny it. this eventually goes away after a few days/reboots because automatic updates in services sets it's self to manual. so next time i go to WU i get an error again. and so it goes on... and on

is there an easier way around this? thanks

 

i know i ramble on abit so i'll try and make this clear,
i can get WU to work, but only after going to>services.msc>automatic update. and changing the setting from manual to automatic. after a few days or reboots, the setting changes back from automatic to manual by its self; if i then go to WU i get the error message, and have to change the setting back to automatic and it will then work.

after successfully updating, when i then connect to the internet WU tries to connect to WU, which i dont allow.

ron-XP SP2? Do you have it off in the security center in the control panel?
XP SP2- yes
Do you have it off in the security center in the control panel-yes

LWM- its in the trusted zone, and i just have a green tick when i visit WU

should i post the WindowsUpdate.log for today? it doesnt have anything personal on it does it?

i think this is the error- 80072efd.

 

Could it be possible it is disabled in a prog like SafeXP?

 

correct. i really asked the question firstly, to see it automatic update service disables itself for anyone else?

secondly, when it's enabled, it checks for an update when i connect to the internet and i have to deny it with my FW, and it gets tedious having to do it, which i dont like having to do

 

i dont use SafeXP. but, i have xp antispy. but i dont think thats it because it doesnt disable straight away, but about 2/3 days later. i'll have a think to see if its anything im doing thats disabling automatic update in services

 

i might try it, but i'll have to wait a couple of days, because thats how long it takes to disable it's self, before i'll know if that's it. and i dont want to use the internet for that long with window's default settings.

i think i'll just have to wait until my FW doesnt ask to connect to WU, then see what i did before-hand.

 

Hello iceni,

secondly, when it's enabled, it checks for an update when i connect to the internet and i have to deny it with my FW, and it gets tedious having to do it, which i dont like having to do quote by you.

Once the service is set to auto - manual doesn't work as you've found out, wuauclt.exe runs - this is the MS update "agent". So if you don't want to connect to AU, instruct the Firewall to block permenantly. You can still go to the site manually and have the system scanned for needed updates. Or simply shut AU off in the control center, the AU service will still run.

As to why the AU service reverts to manual, the only reason that I can think of is that AU may have to have the Task Schedular service running. Have not tested this, so this is speculation. Creating auto restore points by XP's System Restore needs the TS service running for example and AU may be another instance of needing that service on.

Regards - Charles

 

hello and thanks, zcv . when i find out why the service keeps on changing i'll block it with my firewall. thanks.