Auto updates...

[Boerseun]

I don't have automatic updates turned on on any of my machines. My bandwidth is slightly limit, and I don't want to have to waste it on crap.

 

Nonetheless, I have a sneaky feeling that quite a couple of patches have been published, which I now lack because of this. I'm running XP SP2 on all my machines.

 

My question now, is this:

 

Does XP download all the patches and fixes to a set location on the hard drive, from where it then installs? In other words, can I take my laptop to an internet cafe, and download all the patches and fixes, go home and then physically copy all those files to my other machines?

 

If I update all my machines over the net, I'll reach my bandwidth cap in a minute.

 

Ideas?

[Buffy]

Don'tcha just love Microsoft?

 

I haven't done it in awhile, but it used to be possible, and probably still is for most of the hoi polloi, but its painful.

 

First you have to find out what all the patches *are*, then you need to find them on the MS support site and download them individually (usually they have an ID number thats mentioned in the update itself.

 

As you probably know from your former career B, they continue to have to make these available for all those corporations that have impenetrable firewalls, and centralized update policies. Unfortunately, they don't make it easy unless you have a corporate license, but I'm pretty sure you can still get to them all.

 

I know this isn't terribly helpful, but hopefully it will point you in the right direction....

 

Patching the patches,

Buffy

[jackson33]

to check out patches placed, go to *settings* and click *control panel* then click *add - remove hardware*. you will find any Microsoft patch or program placed on your hard drive. you can check out or remove very easily. my system could not or changed to much for *service pack II*, which i deleted.

as for security or program updates, however i have been receiving the automatics, generally monthly for 5 years, never had a problem and maintain a 80% empty space on the drive.

 

if you do not clean out you folders and cookie's regularly, you might find this a better way to control the limits. these science forums alone, add a good many every time you log on. go to locate files, check hidden and each item your comfortable with, enter science and search. the same for any subject, but if you just delete all cookies, most is removed.

 

by the way, if you choose to pick you time for updates the system reads all your needs and updates accordingly. it goes into your system, reads your needs and will pick up needs from your registration date. may be a rather lengthy list....

[Buffy]

to check out patches placed, go to *settings* and click *control panel* then click *add - remove hardware*. you will find any Microsoft patch or program placed on your hard drive. you can check out or remove very easily.

Warning: this only applies to patches that were constructed to be removed, and *many* patches are not! This will only give you a partial list...

my system could not or changed to much for *service pack II*, which i deleted.

Another warning: XPSP2 is a pretty important one if you use any MS dev tools (and who knows what else): some stuff will not install now unless you have sp2....

if you choose to pick you time for updates the system reads all your needs and updates accordingly. it goes into your system, reads your needs and will pick up needs from your registration date. may be a rather lengthy list....

This is a good way to pick up the list of updates, but you still need to dig to get the ids for them and download them separately for your other systems.

 

This stuff can be had much more easily if you have a MS TechNet subscription, but its not cheap...

 

Extortion by Update,

Buffy

[jackson33]

Buffy; an expert i am not, just gave from my experience viewpoint.

 

SP2, i let download, for what you say, an important item. as i recall however, many systems, apparently mine is one of, cannot handle. this was non-deletable so had to go the *previous date* routine. took it off that way, then the next day my auto system tried again. i did not check for download but it shows as an item on programs but does nothing or take any space. supposed this to let MS, know i had refused...

 

after my rant, checked out my folders on *google*, which had not done for awhile. i opened more memory on this one search, than all the patches has taken in total, the point of my post. personally i would rather not pick and choose security patches, since whatever is there has done very well for me.

i have not crashed, since i started with the auto's...

[Boerseun]

What I want to know, is if MicroShaft downloads a *single* file for a particular update, which it then executes for installation *after download* from your harddrive. And whether it then deletes that particular file after installation, or if I can still access the single file in order to copy it to my other machines.

 

Is there a particular folder in XP which is designated the *automatically downloaded update folder*?

 

If so, where?

 

What I want to do is to

C:WindowsSystem32WhereEverTheHellTheUpdatesAreCopy [downloaded update file] My OtherMachines

 

...and none of this <add/remove programs> crap. It doesn't work properly. Besides, how do you copy the source files using that...?

[Buffy]

What I want to know, is if MicroShaft downloads a *single* file for a particular update, which it then executes for installation *after download* from your harddrive.

:hihi: Joking right?

 

Nope, when you have updates turned on, it will show you a list (if you've asked for approval of them) and then skip the "express install" option, and each of these is a separate install executable. It has to work this way because the custom install step lets you choose which ones you want to install. As a result, some recent "updates" have had 4 or 5 things in them, and if you've gone months, then its easily dozens!

And whether it then deletes that particular file after installation, or if I can still access the single file in order to copy it to my other machines.

 

Is there a particular folder in XP which is designated the *automatically downloaded update folder*?

:hihi: Mostly it follows the "whatever we feel like rule:"

 

You'll notice your windows folder littered with folders like "$NtUninstallBLAH" which is where SOME of them get put.

 

Others go in one of your Temp folders. Some clean themselves up, and others don't.

 

This is all about the autoupdates though. The downloaded updates can be run from wherever you want, and I generally have them all in their own folders by group.

...and none of this <add/remove programs> crap.

Amen!

 

Besides, how do you copy the source files using that...?

What source files? :hihi:

 

Nothing ventured, must be Microsoft,

Buffy

[jackson33]

may be wrong, but i don't think your computers are inter-connected. if they are its called shared and all the computers would be protected or receive the same protections. if not then each could be by the same method as any one. if some are for internal use only, never on line, you wouldn't need patches to begin with.

 

give this add-remove stuff a little more credit. its best to check occasionally if nothing else, for programs which can cause problems to begin with. i am kind of thinking you have one or so on there now, from you discussion. currently i have two that come in through google, Gads Adv. and something called Instant Access. i delete early and they give no problem, but takes a week or so for them to stop.

 

i do not know if this was even a question, but most files can be off-loaded to a CD and picked up by another computer when inserted. i don't know about protected material, would think some how they have a system to protect sensitive material from hackers and may involve this non-deletable material as mentioned....

[Boerseun]

Jackson, don't break your head over the issue.

 

I used to work in an environment where we managed updates for thousands of machines using MOM and SMS. I have no issue with that.

 

My machines are connected. They have wires running to them, not just carrying 220V 50Hz AC...[/X-Files tune]

 

It's called a LAN...

 

And since I've built my LAN in my office after going to business for myself, I have expressly blocked auto updates because Microsoft aren't consistent in their methods, my bandwidth is limited, etc.

 

Problem is, I'm not using SMS or MOM now. I don't particularly need it for such a small network. But I do want to keep my machines up to date. What Buffy said is true - XP SP2 is critical, no less for using USB2. And just now a similar update might be in the works, and I miss out on it. Since leaving the IT industry, I haven't really been keeping up to date on developments - I personally find it soul-suckingly boring. But it might become an issue without me knowing about it.

 

Another question:

 

I have six machines here. One of them is the internet connection. If I turn on auto updates, it will download an individual copy of the same update six times, no? THAT BURNS MY ***. And THAT's why I want to take my laptop to an internet cafe with high-speed connection and download the update files, and then go back to my network and install it from my laptop to my other machines. Ya dig?

 

I feel like I'm getting shafted. MicroShafted.

[Buffy]

I feel like I'm getting shafted. MicroShafted.

You are.

 

There is a method to Microshaft's madness: they see forcing users to do updates over the internet is a great way to catch scofflaws by having them to have to phone home regularly. One of the insideous updates in the last year was the "Genuine Advantage" update, which had no purpose other than to inspect your license key and shut down your system if it thought you were illegitimate. It caused so many problems that there was an "update" to it that most of us suspect simply turned it off. (those of us doing auto update with "ask me" enabled were able to avoid it completely, but it updated most folks without any warning whatsoever).

 

They know that their big customers can't do this, so they provide a mechanism like what you're asking for, but only if you're a TechNet subscriber or are very diligent in reverse engineering the update lists yourself (as far as I've been able to find). Folks like you are the exception so they feel safe in telling you to go Cheney yourself.

 

Microgreed is totally sucky,

Buffy