Lately, I’ve noticed that every time I go to shut down my computer (XP, obviously), I get an option to shut down and install updates, or to shut down without installing them.
So, figuring that I might need whatever they are, I choose to have them installed. It’s usually 1 or 2 of them, but sometimes more.
And the next time I shut down, I’m prompted to go through this process again. It continues and happens several times a day, nearly every day.
What’s up with this? There never used to be so many updates asking to be installed upon shutdown. Am I just reinstalling the same ones because they didn’t “take” the first few times, or are they really all different?
I get a few once a week. I think yours are not fully installing. Next time, click on the icon, and watch them update. Note that names of the updates. Then if it happens again, see if the names are the same.
I would suggest turning off Automatic updates, then visiting the Windows Update site and clicking ‘custom’, then you’ll not only get to see what they are in detail, but you’ll get a status report on whether they installed correctly.
In many cases, this fixes a ‘stuck’ update so that Automatic Updates, when switched back on again, will start behaving, but I’d recommend leaving it switched off and applying the updates manually by going to Windows Update periodically.
Just went to the Windows Update website and discovered that the same update was successfully installed six days in a row! I turned off the automatic update feature as suggested and will check in periodically for customized updating. Thanks Mangetout.
There isn’t necessarily a need to turn off automatic updates – though with the exception of critical updates that get issued in between times, you only really need to update every “Patch Tuesday” (first Tuesday of the month) or so. All the same, if you see one of the updates is constantly getting installed, you can open the update manager and uncheck it, telling it not to ask you about that update again. After that you should have no further problems with that update.
It sounds to me like Windows was not setting the flag that told itself that it had already installed that update, which sent it into an infinite loop of downloading and installing it.
Possibly not, but for users savvy enough to use Windows Update themselves, I think it’s a good idea - Automatic Updates can be a bandwidth hog and can sometimes annoy you by asking you every few minutes to restart the machine until you comply.
The update history indicates that it has been downloading and reinstalling a security update repeatedly. How and where do I tell it to stop?
It was not able to install Service Pack 3. I have had issues with the Windows Installer that I’m trying to fix.
Open your control panel (Start->Settings->Control Panel) and then load the Automatic Updates applet. (If you’re using the Windows XP style control panel instead of the “classic” style, switch to “Classic View.” I’ve no idea where it’s hiding in the XP styled panel as I’ve never used it.) You should be presented with a few options on how you want the automatic updater to behave. Check the radio box beside “Notify me but don’t automatically download or install them.” Now, whenever there is an update available, Windows will let you know about it, but will not do anything until you tell it.
Now, when there is an update available you should get a little balloon above a little yellow icon telling you that updates are available. That little yellow icon is Update Manager. Open it up and you should see a list of what updates are available. Beside each will be a checkbox. You can uncheck whatever updates you do not want. Once you’re finished and tell it to do whatever you want to do with the remaining updates, you will be given the option not to be informed about the unchecked updates again. Choose that option. You should no longer be bothered by it.
ETA: Incidentally, there is no Service Pack 3 for Windows XP. The last service pack was 2. I’d be concerned about what that thing is, because unless I’ve missed something big recently, that ain’t coming from Windows Update. Last I heard, the release date for SP3 was pushed back to 2008.
No, the one that keeps repeating is Security update for CAPICOM KB931906.
Yes, you folks are correct about SP3 being for Office. Don’t know why it keeps trying to download that one.
Next time, click on the icon, and watch them update. Note that names of the updates. Then if it happens again, see if the names are the same.