Re: which updates?

Given how much trouble it is to download SP3, would I do better right now to
download the other updates (except for IE7) and hold off on SP3?

Doesn't really matter: You'll need to install the other updates (i.e., those released in June, August, and September) anyway.

To be able to use Windows Update website, the current version of the WGA-related ActiveX Control must be installed. (It's frequently updated; ditto for a similar ActiveX Control needed to use Office Update website.) Do not confuse this with the WGA Notifications tool (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474), which is still an optional install (and also frequently updated).

About Robert's post: Leave the exploration of using bitsadmin for another time. While it's not exactly rocket science, it may be a tad over your head. Get the machine fully patched first.


Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you, Robear! After the brief message when I turned the computer back
on, nothing more happened; and I did a System Restore before receiving your
message. (I won't do that again, however, unless I'm in real trouble. For
now, I'm working with a new computer that has nothing on it other than a few
programs.) After the Restore, I was notified of one update (same as when I
started before). I allowed that one, and it installed. Now I'm back to
having 22 updates, including SP3.

Given how much trouble it is to download SP3, would I do better right now to
download the other updates (except for IE7) and hold off on SP3?

Also, when I went to the Updates website, thinking it might be easier to
download SP3 from there (it has been much easier to do with the smaller
updates on my old computer--and I can see what's happening during the
download and install), I got this message: "To use this latest version of
Windows Update, you will need to upgrade some of its components," and then
it lists several things. It doesn't mention it by name, but one of the
components is Windows Genuine Advantage--which I've heard people complain
about.

Can I assume that since I've been able to use the Updates website for my old
computer, I already have WGA on it? It looks like there's no way to avoid
installing it, since the button after the list is "download and install"--no
choices allowed.

Sorry to keep pestering you, Robear. I thought I had at least this sort of
thing fairly well under control on the old machine, but new things (for me)
pop up on the new machine.

Jo-Anne

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uFm95KgFJHA.4056@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Well, I had already turned off the computer.

Best not to do that; however, AU will usually resume where it left off
when you restart the machine and it syncs with the server.

...The last message
in the log, about 10 minutes ago, is that Windows Update Client
successfully
detected 22 updates. I hope that doesn't mean it's planning to install
them
all, given that I checked only SP3.

No, AU just had to sync with the server again. Downloading/installing is
still governed by your AU settings (e.g., Notify Only).

...Would I be better off at this point
doing a System Restore and trying again sometime next week?

No, no, no, no, no! Don't ever use System Restore right off the bat to
correct what you think might be an Automatic Updates or Windows Update
problem!

Also, is there any way to observe the download and installation?

No. If you want to micromanage such installations, use Windows Update
website; Otherwise, just leave the machine alone, running & connected to
the internet. It may take several hours for SP3 to download & fully
install. (BTW, you'd still have to approve the installation by agreeing to
the EULA, even if you had AU configured to Automatic.)

Downloading will stop, of course, if and when you disconnect the machine
from the internet or turn it off.


Jo-Anne wrote:
Well, I had already turned off the computer. But when I turned it back on
a
few minutes ago, it seemed to be starting something again. The last
message
in the log, about 10 minutes ago, is that Windows Update Client
successfully
detected 22 updates. I hope that doesn't mean it's planning to install
them
all, given that I checked only SP3. Would I be better off at this point
doing a System Restore and trying again sometime next week?

Also, is there any way to observe the download and installation?
Sometimes
that happens from AU, but most of the time it doesn't. And how would I
stop
the download if I wanted to? I don't see any way to do that.

Jo-Anne

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23FncnKeFJHA.4228@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Don't touch the machine! Don't cancel the install! Go clean house for
a
while and check back with the machine every now and then. If there's a
real problem, you'll see a related error message eventually.

It took AU over 2 hours to get WinXP SP3 downloaded and installed here
in
July, I assume due to excessive server demand. You're prolly seeing the
same thing. (I wouldn't have attempted doing this on a Saturday or 4
days
after Patch Tuesday myself.)

Jo-Anne wrote:
It's been 40 minutes since I started the download/install of SP3 (at
about
12:05 p.m), and it looks like nothing is happening. I checked the
Windows
Update log, and the last entry was at 12:05; it says "Checked download
status and it changed. Downloading is paused." Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

"Jo-Anne" <naples@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uOyspPcFJHA.5440@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I've started the SP3 update through automatic updates. Is there any
way
to
see the progress of the download and install? Right now, all I can see
is
the occasional flashing signal that something's going on.

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23BTFgNcFJHA.768@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Do as you wish but those are my recommendations.

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you, Robear! I'll follow your directions completely.

Jo-Anne

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u5iDndWFJHA.4736@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I thought we'd already covered this?

1. Install (only) SP3 (via Automatic Update, Windows Update, or
manually)
& reboot twice.

2. Go to Windows Update | Select CUSTOM & scan | Install any
critical
security updates (only) offered by Windows Update.

3. Install IE7 per instructions in my reply to your earlier thread;
reboot
twice.

4. Return to Windows Update | Select CUSTOM & scan | Install the
Root
Certificates update (listed in Optional category).
--
~PA Bear


Jo-Anne wrote:
Tonight I decided it was time to update my new laptop to SP3. It
currently
is running WinXP Pro SP2. I clicked on the Automatic Update shield
and
discovered 22 available updates, including SP3 and IE7. My
question:
Would
it be best to uncheck everything but SP3 for now and do the rest
after
I
know for sure that SP3 has been installed?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

.