How to: switch off Windows updates
It’s not difficult to get me started about what I don’t like about Windows but the “yellow shield of death” surely has to be up there. When that yellow shield appears in the bottom left of my screen, with it’s stupid little exclamation mark in the middle of it, I want to sling my laptop across the room. It is of course, the dreaded Windows Update which just sits there glaring at me intently like my dog when it needs a walk.
Click on it and you’re given two options - update Windows automatically or a personalized update. Select either and you’re reassured that you can continue working while Windows updates itself. Henceforth, your hard drive grinds away like it’s going to explode for the next hour and any work performed during this time is like wading through treacle. But it’s when the update is done that really gets me. Windows Update harasses you every 5 minutes like a bully that you need to shut-down and update now for the updates to take effect. Would it really have killed Microsoft to have produced an operating system by now that doesn’t require restarts after every single update?
The good news is that at least Microsoft have allowed us to disable automatic Windows Updates. Simply go to the Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, System Properties and then select the Automatic Updates tab. Remember however that from now on, you’ll have to update Windows manually by going to the Windows Update site which is quite important because updates usually fix security holes and issues.
Posted at 11:34 pm on Sep 25th
Yeah, I know what you mean. I just gave in the other day and, thru a momentary brain fart, said “go ahead” to the update of Service Pack 3. I knew after I hit the button I wasn’t going to get to go to bed on time. It started to ask me for permissions, so I knew I needed to stick around or it would still be at it for breakfast. Lo and behold it got done a half hour later and said something was wrong and would have to UNINSTALL!!!! I then had to babysit and give Reverse permissions, after which it needed to reboot AGAIN, and then had the nerve to tell me Windows might not work properly. Well, I haven’t seen anything wrong since and I am NOT a Windows basher by any means—I think we are all fortunate to have what we have because of Bill—-but I can see why some people are. When it all works we are SO lucky to have what we have. When it doesn’t, we are all so Dead in the Water.
Anybody wanna say something about this Service Pack 3? That little yellow shield is still sitting there calling. I just don’t have the energy or time to tackle it again. I still don’t have IE7 for the same reason. Tried to install it three times and decided I don’t need it that bad. I use Firefox anyhow.
Posted at 9:33 am on Sep 26th
I feel for you David. Service Pack 3 doesn’t sound that essential according to Microsoft’s blurb but I’m sure it probably fixes some potential security problems so it’s worth having. Just leave it updating overnight or something!
“Windows® XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released updates for the operating system. This update also includes a small number of new functionalities, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system. This white paper summarizes what is new in Windows XP SP3.”
“http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=68C48DAD-
BC34-40BE-8D85-6BB4F56F5110&displaylang=en
Posted at 4:18 pm on Oct 14th
>>”Would it really have killed Microsoft to have produced an operating system by now that doesn’t require restarts after every single update?”
Um…it doesn’t. If system files are in use during the update, then a restart is required to update them. If not, then no restart.
>>”…quite important because updates usually fix security holes and issues.”
You’ve answered your own dilemma. Drop the paranoia and allow the security updates. Or would you rather be part of a botnet?
Honestly, we can’t people either learn to use their OS correctly, or quit whining and find a new one? Ubuntu works quite well and is easy to use. Or you could just keep whining until someone thinks you’re pitiful.
Posted at 5:09 pm on Oct 14th
I actually “stopped whining” a long time ago since this was written and switched to Mac. Also, paranoia wasn’t the reason I disabled automatic updates. It was purely so I, rather than Microsoft, could choose when updates would inconvenience me.