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404 Comments
- rcardona2k, on 10/10/2007, -16/+216What part of "Turn Off Automatic Updates" does Microsoft NOT understand???
- LilBambi, on 10/10/2007, -17/+177Adrian is right!!
"These updates without notification is a slippery slope. I just don’t like the idea of having updates foisted upon systems without being aware that they are coming in and having the option to postpone them. Why? Simple. IT’S MY PC!!! If a user chooses not to have updates installed automatically, Microsoft needs to respect this decision. Period. If this is not possible, notifications should be made after the update has been installed clearly identifying the updates, describing what it does and giving users a way to roll back the system if they want to."
Except I would go one step further...they should never be updating anything surreptitiously, ever! - blorc, on 10/10/2007, -25/+134What a bunch of *****.
- koolkazam, on 10/10/2007, -30/+117If they actually do these stealth updates i will change Operating Systems to either Mac or Linux.
- Puppetfunk, on 10/10/2007, -12/+64XP? How could you! You dirty, dirty whore! Oh God! I'm in love with a whore! What? do I need to pay you now!?
- jwaters, on 10/10/2007, -25/+71This article AGAIN?
Article is false. Microsoft explains what is happening here: http://blogs.technet.com/mu/
Summary: If you have updates off, this isn't happening, period. If you have it to not install but notify, this is happening. If it didn't happen, you wouldn't be presented with the list of available updates. - Aythun, on 10/10/2007, -16/+61You ruined it at the end with the "go with apple" part. Sorry.
- IntaglioSunSet, on 10/10/2007, -17/+61Yes, Microsoft is screwing with your system behind your back! This is very interesting and Windows has a lot of explaining to do. They have no right to play with your computer without your permission, shame on Microsoft for violating peoples trust.
- toast1226, on 10/10/2007, -10/+49Let the truth be known: (as quoted below from jwaters)
"This article AGAIN?
Article is false. Microsoft explains what is happening here: http://blogs.technet.com/mu/
Summary: If you have updates off, this isn't happening, period. If you have it to not install but notify, this is happening. If it didn't happen, you wouldn't be presented with the list of available updates."
The reason being Windows Updates needs to update itself to be able to push out updates or notify you of updates. So the files involved here are WU-related files. - phaseblue, on 10/10/2007, -2/+35Yeah good point, I'm getting pretty tired of these expensive-ass Linux updates. Especially after what the distro cost.
- Phocion55, on 10/10/2007, -4/+34Gonna have to did you down. Linux distros like Ubuntu offer free updates on a DAILY basis.
Clearly you've never used Linux before. - Wyzard, on 10/10/2007, -5/+33Microsoft owns the copyright on the operating system. That doesn't give them any special rights of control over the computers where it happens to be installed.
- iPeeFreely, on 10/10/2007, -49/+74This is just wrong, if a user chooses not to update their system that should be their choice, especially if they are using it as a testing machine, and want to keep it in a certain way. Users pay enough for the OS so it should be THEIR choice, not forced on them, just coz MS forgot to include something in the full patch and want to hide the fact that they are useless. This just shows another reason to avoid the microsoft, and go with Apple.
- Lylepalooza, on 10/10/2007, -6/+25Charles, noooo! Get outta my head, Charles!
- gemlarin, on 10/10/2007, -13/+31I know I am going to get buried, but I have this to say.
1. Read your EULA, Microsoft owns the OS, you have only purchased the right to use it. If they want to update the OS they own, they have the right to.
2. If you don't like it, don't use Microsoft products.
3. I own my car, however every time I bring it to the dealer for an oil change they flash updates into my ECU without my knowledge because they are fixing problems and updating standards.
4. Focus your energy on bigger issues, like the war in Iraq or feeding the hungry instead of whining over a undisclosed update. Priorities. - jdaniel284, on 10/10/2007, -14/+31I've already had to take my 360 offline permanently because of this crap. I am about to do the same for my Windows machine. There is no reason any Microsoft product should ever be allowed to connect to a network, really.
- DiamondIce, on 10/10/2007, -2/+19Well, EULA's aren't legally binding contracts (No way to confirm the person is who they say they are, no way to witness the contract) so they really don't count for anything.
- Griiih, on 10/10/2007, -1/+16What's next Microsoft allowing the government access to our computers?
- subxero37, on 10/10/2007, -17/+32The scary thing is not that they're doing it. The scary thing is that there is, indeed, a backdoor into Windows systems that allows remote installation/update operations to take place. God help us if a hacker (or anyone...) were to figure out how this mechanism works.
Someone please tell me I'm wrong, and that my fear is unjustified. - xStainDx, on 10/10/2007, -11/+26While I undertstand the principle in this case all that was updated WAS WINDOWS UPDATE. All those files there mentioned in the blog make windows update actually work so your machine stays secure. In this specific case I have no gripes about this update.
- indy500fan, on 10/10/2007, -1/+15Yep, I can confirm this. I have Automatic Updates completely turned off, and mine weren't updated. Still using 5.0... versions of those file apparently.
- venom8599, on 10/10/2007, -1/+15That's because you actually have updates disabled. Some people seem to be under the impression that setting Windows Update to one of the Notify settings means that automatic updates are off, while the truth is that Windows Update will update itself under those settings so that it can display any newer updates.
- iFungus, on 10/10/2007, -6/+20Well, I heard about this Windows ME that sounded pretty good.
- TheWiseNoob, on 10/10/2007, -14/+27That is one of the many reasons you should switch to Mac or Linux. If you want to stay with Windows, I recommend Windows 2000 because it was the last good OS Microsoft made.
- CosmicJustice, on 10/10/2007, -17/+30This a ***** article. It's not true. The explanation has been posted many times but people here don't want to hear that they just want to bitch about it. You know people you CAN format that drive and quit running that evil Windows. But then what would you have to bitch about?
- venom8599, on 10/10/2007, -2/+14As Microsoft has said (link at the end of this post), turning automatic updates off will result in Windows Update not updating anything--not even itself like in this update. The problem is that some people seem to have the misconception that setting automatic updates to provide a notification means that automatic updates are off. They aren't. There's only one off setting: "Never check for updates."
Post from program manager of Windows Update: http://blogs.technet.com/mu/archive/2007/09/13/how-windows-update-keeps-itself-up-to-date.aspx - Aythun, on 10/10/2007, -2/+13No, because Ubuntu does not follow a rolling release scheme, they release milestones every 6 months. There's still frequent software updates.
- OKeric, on 05/12/2008, -5/+16Well lets just hope it's not some kind of bomb that goes off and kills your operating system if you are using a pirated version... lets just hope it doesn't think that you're using a pirated version when in fact you are using a legit copy.
- FutureGuy, on 10/10/2007, -4/+15yes Apple is all about choices. /sarcasm
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -9/+20Who the ***** cares?
- Ajajadude, on 10/10/2007, -5/+15I dunno about you, but Windows never converses with me.
- statix, on 10/10/2007, -7/+17Theres no reason they should be doing this at all, it doesn't really make sense. What kind of update is so secretive that if the users found out, they wouldn't install it? Maybe this has something to do with the backdoor they were debating about putting in? O.o
edit: it seems that the update was supposed to be pushed around the 24th of August, so whatever happened, happened two weeks ago. Correct me if I am wrong. - nybble41, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10On a modern Windows system you should name your scripts with a .cmd extension, not .bat. The .cmd files run in cmd.exe (the 32-bit native Windows shell), whereas .bat files run in the command.com DOS compatibility environment. A simple batch script that just executes external programs will work in either, but native .cmd files are preferable when legacy support is not specifically required. At minimum it should involve less overhead.
- seanc6610, on 10/10/2007, -9/+19If it was apple though, that automatically updated my itunes without telling me, the headline would be along the lines of:
"GREATEST FEATURE EVAR: APPLE UPDATES WITHOUT EVEN BOTHERING YOU!!1!!" - ranjcar, on 10/10/2007, -23/+32Thanks for bringing the dirt out to the light. But what is surprising about that? It is the way MSoft does business.
- inactive, on 10/28/2007, -3/+12On the plus side, after the wall-to-wall Apple coverage on Digg the past few weeks it's nice to see Microsoft finally hit the front page.
- jennamalia, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11Automatic updates disabled on XP, and I'm still at version 5.4.3790.2180 04AUG 2004, 05:00).
I guess they missed one, or that this article isn't factually correct.
(I manually update from windowsupdate.com site so that I can control what's installed.) - niallabrown, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12LOL, people who use windows are funny..... not to bright.... but funny.
- Po0p, on 10/10/2007, -4/+12its seems like it updates the windows update program checker as well as other things. Nothing to make a big deal about.
- javaroast, on 10/10/2007, -2/+10Sorry, it doesn't say they can update without my approval at least that I can see, and I do believe there are some laws about unauthorized software installations.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/proeula.mspx
2. AUTOMATIC INTERNET-BASED SERVICES. The Software features described below are enabled by default to connect via the Internet to Microsoft computer systems automatically, without separate notice to you. You consent to the operation of these features, unless you choose to switch them off or not use them. - MioTheGreat, on 10/10/2007, -2/+10But if they didn't do this, and WU wasn't displaying all of the available updates for those people....we'd have digg articles about how Microsoft is being insecure.
Ah. Damned if you do.....Damned if you don't.... - rmxz, on 10/10/2007, -3/+11"They have no right to play with your computer without your permission, shame on Microsoft for violating peoples trust."
Actually, if you read their License Agreement that you apparently agreed to if you use Windows - yes, they do reserve exactly such rights for themselves. Agreed that it's an immoral violation of people's trust -- but that's par for the course for Microsoft, and it appears they do have the legal rights to do so. - reddfox321, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9And to think you turned away that homely but pleasant Linux girl down the street. Word is she had some work done and shes a bombshell now!
- iFungus, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10Yup, and Windows "upgrades" every 5 years.
- Tenoq, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10It could be pre-installed though, and you've agreed to nothing at all.
- Fordi, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10Yeah, who wants daily minor boosts in functionality and stability? Not me, no sir.
Dude, unlike Windows, updates in Linux aren't strictly bugfixes; there's over a thousand packages in a Linux distro, and your package manager makes sure you've got the latest version of *all* of them. - venom8599, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10It's an update to Windows Update, to ensure it keeps working and can download/notify users of new updates.
- WaterDragon, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10Long ago, someone posted this solution on digg. There are 2 simple scripts, to stop and start Windows BITS (Service). (You can simply copy and paste the required text into notepad, and make it a .bat file)
'''...Late in 2004, Microsoft changed things in Windows Update. Windows Update now has requirements in place which requires 3 system services be set in a specific way. The 3 services are, Automatic Updates, BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service), & Event Log. Failure to have them running and set to Automatic results in the following error screen:
I for one do not like anything installing onto my computer without my knowledge. Leaving the Automatic Updates in Automatic mode is allowing Microsoft to install things onto my computer without my knowledge, so for me, I always like this disabled. Of course this means I occasionally have to go and check the Windows Update Site for Updates, but I’d rather do that than allow anything to be installed without my knowledge. Many people feel the same way when it comes to Automatic Updates.
Now that Microsoft has made it a requirement when accessing Windows Update, it is a major annoyance for those of us who prefer to keep Automatic Updates Off. We have to go and turn on Automatic Updates (and the other two services, BITS service and Event Log), then we can update our system. After updating, we have to go back and disable Automatic Updates.
This annoyed me so much that I finally decided to come up with an easier, faster way to start the required services. To do this, first open up notepad, then type the following:
sc config wuauserv start= auto
sc config BITS start= auto
sc config ERSvc start= auto
sc start wuauserv
sc start BITS
sc start ERSvc
start %SystemRoot%system32wupdmgr.exe
Then save the file and name it whatever you want, but make sure to end the file name with .bat So for example my file is named: StartServicesForWindowsUpdate.bat
Then you need a batch file to stop the services after you are done updating. To do this, open notepad again, then type the following:
sc config wuauserv start= disabled
sc config BITS start= demand
sc stop wuauserv
sc stop BITS
This stops the BITS service and sets it to manual mode and it stops the Windows Update Service and sets it to disabled. The Event Log service should be kept running.
Then save the file and name it whatever you want, but make sure to end the file name with .bat So for example my file is named: StopServicesForWindowsUpdate.bat
Save these files wherever you want. I keep mine on my start menu for quick access. To do this I simply drag the icon to the start menu:
[THANKS to the unknown Digger who posted this originally.] - Buelldozer, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10I'm sorry but you are wrong and your own article contradicts you. If I set my WU to "notify" that means I want to be NOTIFIED of available updates. No where am I agreeing, at that time, to let updates automatically install themselves.
Notify means just that and nothing more. Notify means "Tell me", it does NOT mean "Tell me and then install."
These are not grammatical games, this is plain English. - InetRoadkill, on 10/10/2007, -12/+18I'm still using W2k just to avoid ***** like this. ***** microsoft and their midnight tampering.
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