MS updates downloads...but..

[stevejr]

I have the automatic updates ticked to " download but let me choose when to install " so I can have the options of what to install or not, but after the download finishes, the download icon disappears and the download gets attached to the 'turn off" button...??

This has happened before and I can't remember what, if anything, that I did to correct it....

If it weren't for IE8 ( which I do not want) being included in the updates, then I probably wouldn't mind, but I just prefer having some say-so as to what gets installed.

[SpywareDr]

There are a few Windows Update configuration options available in Group Policy. Click Start | Run, type in gpedit.msc and press [Enter]. Navigate to the following in the left pane:

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update

Each of the following four options can be configured as Not configured, Enabled or Disabled:

Remove access to use all Windows Update features

This setting allows you to remove access to Windows Update.

If you enable this setting, all Windows Update features are removed. This includes blocking access to the Windows Update Web site at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, from the Windows Update hyperlink on the Start menu, and also on the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. Windows automatic updating is also disabled; you will neither be notified about nor will you receive critical updates from Windows Update. This setting also prevents Device Manager from automatically installing driver updates from the Windows Update Web site.

Do not display 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option in Shut Down Windows dialog box

This policy setting allows you to manage whether the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option is displayed in the Shut Down Windows dialog box.

If you enable this policy setting, 'Install Updates and Shut Down' will not appear as a choice in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, even if updates are available for installation when the user selects the Shut Down option in the Start menu.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option will be available in the Shut Down Windows dialog box if updates are available when the user selects the Shut Down option in the Start menu.

Do not adjust default option to 'Install Updates and Shut Down' in Shut Down Windows dialog box

This policy setting allows you to manage whether the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option is allowed to be the default choice in the Shut Down Windows dialog.

If you enable this policy setting, the user's last shut down choice (Hibernate, Restart, etc.) is the default option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, regardless of whether the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option is available in the 'What do you want the computer to do?' list.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, the 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option will be the default option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box if updates are available for installation at the time the user selects the Shut Down option in the Start menu.

Note that this policy setting has no impact if the User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update\Do not display 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option in Shut Down Windows dialog box policy setting is enabled.

Enable Windows Update Notifications

The policy specifies which notifications may still be displayed to a user when the “Remove access to use all Windows Update features” policy is enabled. When both policies are enabled you can configure one of the following notification options:

0 = Do not show any notifications

This setting will remove all access to Windows Update features and no notifications will be shown.

1 = Show restart required notifications

This setting will show notifications about restarts that are required to complete an installation.

Note: If this policy is disabled or not configured then no notifications will be given to the user when the “Remove access to use all Windows Update features” policy is enabled. This policy has no effect if the “Remove access to use all Windows Update features” policy is disabled or not configured

In your case, it sounds like you want the second one, "Do not display 'Install Updates and Shut Down' option in Shut Down Windows dialog box", set to "Enabled".

If you also want to delete the update(s) that are waiting to be installed, first, stop the "Automatic Updates" service. Click Start | Run, type services.msc and press [Enter]. Right-click Automatic Updates and select Stop. Close the Services console window.

(Note: Before you do the next step, make sure you have a good backup).

Second, delete the content of either of the following folders:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Restart the system, (the Automatic Update service should then auto-restart itself).

If you plan to update manually, disable (turn off) Automatic Updates. Note that even then, Automatic Updates will continue to download any pushed update. For example and update to the Windows Update agent software.

[stevejr]

Thanks, SpywareDr....that ought to do it.

[stevejr]

Okay...just 'enabled" the 2nd option...thanks again.

[SpywareDr]

You're more than welcome.