Re: How do I make Windows/Microsoft Update really honestly automatic?

Anon wrote:
> I have a very small business with three pcs running Windows 2000 and
> XP Home and a home with five pcs running XP Pro and XP Home. The work
> pcs run 24 hours but the home pcs run only when needed. They are all
> connected to reliable broadband. I use a hardware firewall only. Virus
> checker is Etrust Antivirus. I have no server version of Windows nor
> any budget for this. My users cannot be trusted to have admin rights
> nor to reliably update anything. Just lately I seem to be spending my
> life running round from pc to pc checking and running updates - the
> pc shuffle.
> The problem is that no setting of Windows or Microsoft Update seems to
> work without some sort of user intervention. I have set them all to
> "Automatic recommended" settings but no dice. I understand the updates
> come out on a "Tuesday" (whenever wherever) but by Friday midday
> (Australia Eastern) none of the PCs has upgraded. The pcs run as users
> and when I log in as admin I find that the upgrades have not been
> completed. Sometimes I see they have been downloaded but won't install
> until the user chooses an install upgrade and reboot option. Sometimes
> nothing has been done at all. In each case Start/Microsoft Update runs
> fine and completes the updates perfectly - just as long as I am there
> clicking away. So round the circuit of all eight pcs I go again.

If the users are not admins and you choose the "Automatically download and
install" - then the only choice they should get is to reboot.

> My questions:
>
> 1. Exactly what date and time and time zone do the updates appear on
> "Tuesday"? If I am to do the pc shuffle I would like to know just when
> to start.

Do the updates Daily. Do them at 4PM.

> 2. Is there a foolproof way to set Windows 2000 and XP to guarantee
> that the updates will download and install and reboot if necessary
> without any user intervention at all and preferably email me to say it
> has
> been done?

See above for XP - I think with 2000 - well, upgrade.

> 3. Will we ever see a version of Windows that can install stuff
> without having to reboot?

No.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


.

Relevant Pages