WARNING..... Latest windows updates...

I just installed the latest Windows updates today, upon reboot I had lost my wireless connection & my antivirus did not load. I went to do a system restore & noticed something had created a restore point in SR, apparently it was one of the ms updates as I had not installed anything else today. It was called Software Distribution Service 2.0. Luckily I was able to restore back to before this was installed on my pc but after googiling the problem I found that it's causing a lot of people grief including messing up system restore. Link below, the only fix at the moment is to turn of auto updates. SW


http://www.google.com/search?q=softw...netscape:en-US

One of my XP Pro setups has Automatic Updates set to On. Haven't noticed any problems yet but, out of curosity just checked System Restore and the "Software Distribution Service 2.0" you mentioned has been up to something ... once on the 13th and twice on the 14th:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by System Restore

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 08:42:07 AM Software Distribution Service 2.0
Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 02:06:16 AM Software Distribution Service 2.0
Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 10:07:13 PM Software Distribution Service 2.0

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Wonder if the activity on the 14th was Microsoft updating a buggy patch ... twice?

I have Automatic Updates turned OFF and I`m still getting it

I installed the Updates on Wednesday
There are 2 instances of “Software Distribution Service 2.0” on Wednesday, 13 minutes apart.

1 instance of it on Friday. Where did this come from :confused:
I didn`t install anything then.

My understanding is that it only runs with Windows Updates to create the System Restore Point.

Elaine

I only had the one instance yesterday but im checking system restore every few hours to see if it appears again, according to that link I posted in the OP a lot of people are getting multiple instances of it. SW

Sidewinder

Is it appearing with Automatic Updates turned OFF, or did you not turn it off yet?

Elaine

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dunedin

Sidewinder

Is it appearing with Automatic Updates turned OFF, or did you not turn it off yet?

Elaine

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Yea I turned it off shortly after reading the complaints about it, so far no re-appearance. SW

Please tell me ....Where does one go to to check these settings. I went to system restore but don't see these???

Poppy

Just click on all the BOLD dates. Each day shows all the restore points available.
You will see “Software Distribution Service 2.0” listed when you installed the latest Updates. Then maybe at a later time/date when you did not install an Update.

If you don`t see it, then you don`t have the problem :)

Elaine

Thanks Elaine :)
....I checked and don't have the entry on any date.

I have 6 and counting :)
3 in just one day

But no problems!

I just have one entry for "System Checkpoint". My Automatic Updates are set to "Notify only".

One explanation of Software Distribution Service 2.0
http://www.techzonez.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18118
It is a legitimate part of the Windows Update process. It generates a System Restore Point when you install a Windows Update.
If, you have Windows Defender installed, you will find that it generates a lot more Restore Points than are really needed. This is a bug in the current WD engine, but MS has done nothing about it yet.

Jim,

Quote:

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One explanation of Software Distribution Service 2.0

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............installing a Windows Update.

I know about this one, but is there another reason for it appearing? I thought this was its sole purpose.

It made 2 Restore Points on Wednesday when I installed the Updates for this month and then it made another on Friday.
Why? :confused:
I have Automatic Updates turned off.

Elaine

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Welshjim

One explanation of Software Distribution Service 2.0
http://www.techzonez.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18118
It is a legitimate part of the Windows Update process. It generates a System Restore Point when you install a Windows Update.
If, you have Windows Defender installed, you will find that it generates a lot more Restore Points than are really needed. This is a bug in the current WD engine, but MS has done nothing about it yet.

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From what I can see here, it appears the Auto-System-Updates and Auto-WindowsDefender-Updates are two different things.

System: Windows XP Pro SP2 w/ALL updates, Auto-Update = On

All of the following System Restore points were created automatically by this system last week:

Code:

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Sunday, September 10, 2006 - 01:16:44 PM Software Distribution Service 2.0

Monday, September 11, 2006 -

Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 11:28:15 AM Windows Defender Checkpoint

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 08:41:07 AM Software Distribution Service 2.0

Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 10:07:13 PM Software Distribution Service 2.0
Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 03:16:04 AM Installed Paint.NET v2.72
Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 02:37:18 AM Installed Clear Cache feature for Internet Explorer
Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 02:06:16 AM Software Distribution Service 2.0

Friday, September 15, 2006 - 04:39:42 AM Windows Defender Checkpoint

Saturday, September 16, 2006 -

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Note the four separate "Software Distribution Service 2.0"'s and two separate "Windows Defender Checkpoint"'s.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dunedin

Jim,

............installing a Windows Update.

I know about this one, but is there another reason for it appearing? I thought this was its sole purpose.

It made 2 Restore Points on Wednesday when I installed the Updates for this month and then it made another on Friday.
Why? :confused:
I have Automatic Updates turned off.

Elaine

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System Restore > Restore my computer to an earlier time > Next > Help

Quote:

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[-]System checkpoints

System Restore creates restore points on a regular basis even if you have not made any changes to the system. System Restore automatically creates these restore points:

• every 24 hours of calendar time
  or
• every 24 hours your computer is turned on

If your computer is turned off for more than 24 hours, System Restore creates a restore point the next time you start the computer. The computer must be idle for a few minutes before System Restore creates a scheduled restore point.

Selecting a scheduled restore point restores Windows XP Professional and programs to the state that they were in at that time. Any files with data file name extensions (such as .doc, .htm, .xls, and so on) and all files in the My Documents folder are not restored.

[-]Program name installation restore points

When you install a program by using the latest installers such as InstallShield and Windows XP Professional Installer, System Restore creates a restore point. Use these restore points to track changes made to your system or to restore your computer to the state it was in before you installed the program.

Selecting this restore point removes installed files and registry settings, and restores programs and system files that were altered by the installation. Any files with data file name extensions (such as .doc, .htm, .xls, etc.) and all files in the My Documents folder are not restored.

To revert the changes made by a program that does not use one of the specified installers, select the most recent restore point before the program was installed.

[-]Windows XP Professional Auto Update restore points

If you use Windows XP Professional automatic update to receive downloaded updates automatically, System Restore creates a restore point before installing the updating software. If items are downloaded, but not installed, a restore point is not created. A restore point is created only when the new components start to install. Use these restore points to track changes you made to your system or when these updates might conflict with other products on your computer.

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Here are a couple of different ways to get to the above, (and more):

1. Click Start | Help and Support. Type in understanding system restore and press [Enter]. Click the Understanding System Restore in the left pane. In the right pane, click the plus sign ("[+]") to the left of Provides several types of restore points.
   
   
2. Click Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore. (Or click Start | Run, type in %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe and press [Enter]). On the Welcome to System Restore page, select Restore my computer to an earlier time (if not already selected), and then click Next. Click Help in the top right corner. Click the plus sign ("[+]") to the left of Provides several types of restore points.

SpywareDr,

Yes, I`ve known all that about System Restore for years. When System Restore makes one of its regular restore points it is called "System Checkpoint"

I posted a quote from Jim about "Software Distribution Service 2.0" and my post was referring specifically to how many times it had made a restore point.

Elaine

Whoops. Sorry for the confusion. :( :)

Okay dokey :)

Wear your specs next time :D :D

Elaine

Now that you mention it, getting close to needing a new pair . . . Maybe this time I'll get some big purple ones like Bistro(!?) :D

Oh yeah....They`re cooool!

But do you have Bistro`s good looks? He can REALLY carry them off. :D :D

Elaine

Hmmm, I dunno. What do you think:

http://www.spywaredrguide.com/Virtua...ages/s331b.gif

:)

Och no. These don`t suit you at all.

This is more your style, don`t you think
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/692/eyescoolkt5.gif

Elaine

I know nobody wants to hear this, being a "I told you so",can be very annoying"

but the reason I never set updates to install automatically is because of this BS

from MS. There are so many horror stories about MS updates. Look back in VDr

and you'll see an upswing in PC problems everytime Redmon sends out updates.