Windows Update

Subject: Windows Update 12/10/2009, 15:37

Repa,

I went to windows site to see if Dec. updates were available, and this window keeps popping up.

Microsoft Windows Component Publisher. It appears as if I'll have to install this, in order to get any new updates. Am I correct? What is your advice on this?

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/10/2009, 19:59

wcturner wrote:: Repa,

I went to windows site to see if Dec. updates were available, and this window keeps popping up.

Microsoft Windows Component Publisher. It appears as if I'll have to install this, in order to get any new updates. Am I correct? What is your advice on this?

You are correct. There has been a recent update to the Microsoft Windows Component Publisher that is needed in order for you to properly scan for updates. It is an ActiveX component used between your browser (Internet Explorer) and the Microsoft Updates web page to aid in the proper scanning and retrieval of available updates. Go ahead and let it install.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/11/2009, 00:57

Thanks, Repa.

Something else I've often wondered about is even though we use firefox primarily, we still need the windows updates, especially the security updates.? correct?

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/11/2009, 02:22

wcturner wrote:: Thanks, Repa.

Something else I've often wondered about is even though we use firefox primarily, we still need the windows updates, especially the security updates.? correct?

Indeed we do!

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/11/2009, 16:20

OK, I got the Microsoft Windows Component Publisher.

And, after that all that was offered was XP Service Pack 3(SP3) and then, Microsoft.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 .NET Framework 3.5 Family Update for .NET versions 2.0 through 3.5 (KB951847) x 86

Then it said; If no up dates appear below, see the options to the left.

1) I assume that Microsoft has not released any new updates for December as yet?

2) Is there any way to stop microsoft from keep offering the framework stuff I listed above?

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/11/2009, 22:35

wcturner wrote:: OK, I got the Microsoft Windows Component Publisher.

And, after that all that was offered was XP Service Pack 3(SP3) and then, Microsoft.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 .NET Framework 3.5 Family Update for .NET versions 2.0 through 3.5 (KB951847) x 86

Then it said; If no up dates appear below, see the options to the left.

1) I assume that Microsoft has not released any new updates for December as yet?

I assume so.

2) Is there any way to stop microsoft from keep offering the framework stuff I listed above?

Yes, uncheck the item(s) you don't want. When you do that, the item expands. Then, check the box at the bottom of the expansion where it says "Don't show this update again."

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/12/2009, 16:56

Hey, Repa,

1) Are the updates late this month?

2) Have you ever installed Windows Service Pack 3 / KB 936929, this is one they keep wanting me to install? I don't want to get it if you didn't.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/12/2009, 21:10

I recently did a windows update. If you have the following KBs in your Add/Remove programs, then I think you have the latest updates:

KB976325
KB970430
KB971737
KB974318
KB974392
KB955759
KB973904

I haven't downloaded and installed SP3 yet. Still thinking about it and doing more research.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/13/2009, 00:15

I don't have any of those KBs. No updates at all for December. And, I only have one from last month, November.

Do you have any idea why I'm not being offered the ones you listed?

And, how would I go about getting them? I also will need the Malicious Removal Tool, to put in the folder on my desktop.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/13/2009, 01:35

You won't see the updates unless "Show updates" is checked - near the top middle-right of your Add/Remove Programs window. Do you have that checked? There were several updates in November.

You can get the Malicious Software Removal Tool here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=ad724ae0-e72d-4f54-9ab3-75b8eb148356

If you don't have the updates for December try running Windows Update manually from here using the "custom" option:

http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/13/2009, 02:54

Repa,

I have "Show Updates" box checked, but, I haven't installed any for December. Reason being is that Windows didn't show me any when I went to their website and used the custom option, as I do each month.
And, I only install the Security updates now, as you do.

That's how I got the Microsoft Windows Component Publisher on Friday by using the custom option, and it popped up.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/13/2009, 03:08

I normally click the Start menu and then click the "Windows Update" to get the updates manually using custom option, from my "Owner" account desktop.

Since I need to be in IE browser, I can't get to windows now, cause I'm using Firefox, plus, I'm not in "Owner" Admin level either..

How can I determine if I missed any Security Updates from last month, November,2009?

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/13/2009, 12:59

You need to be in the Owner/Administrator level using IE to do Windows Update. You can find what updates have been successfully done on your computer by clicking the link in the left column of Windows Update under "Options" that says "Review your update history."

Try doing the following, making sure you are in the Owner/Administrator account when doing any or all of the below:

1. Click Start > Run
2. In the text box, type or copy and paste the following command exactly as shown:

regsvr32 Inseng.dll

And click ok. You should receive the RegSvr32 confirmation that the DllRegisterServer function succeeded.

3. Do the same as above with each of the following commands:

regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll

regsvr32 Ole32.dll

regsvr32 Urlmon.dll

regsvr32 Mssip32.dll

Now try running Windows Update and see if that fixes your problem.

If not, I suggest you find a restore point that is at least a day or several days before you installed the Microsoft Windows Component Publisher, and restore your system to that date and then try the process all over again.

If that doesn't work, try resetting Windows Update components by going here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Carefully follow the directions given in the “Fix it for me” section. This will give you a Wizard that will give you prompts to follow for doing this. Or, you can do it yourself by going to the section “Let me fix it myself” and following the instructions there, but I think you will want to run the wizard and let them do it for you.

After completing the resetting of Windows Update components, try running Windows Update again and hopefully the security updates will now show to be available to you.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/15/2009, 00:00

Got the updates, Repa. There were 17 updates total, but, I only installed the 4 Security updates, plus the Malicious Removal tool.
1) Is that what you did?

2) I've got IE version 6.0. Even though we use Firefox on a regular basis, do I need the version 8.0 that I saw while at Windows site?

Repa, I just want to say that you're a computer GENIUS!!!

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/15/2009, 00:48

wcturner wrote:: Got the updates, Repa. There were 17 updates total, but, I only installed the 4 Security updates, plus the Malicious Removal tool.
1) Is that what you did?

So, which of the instructions that I gave you in the last post worked?

I installed the 7 December updates I gave you in a previous post above. There were several in November also. When doing Windows Update, I don't install SP3, nor the Net Framework updates, nor IE8, nor the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal tool (from Windows Update - I get the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal tool from download.microsoft.com and run the application myself). I let Windows do all the other updates in the "critical updates" list, whatever they are.

2) I've got IE version 6.0. Even though we use Firefox on a regular basis, do I need the version 8.0 that I saw while at Windows site?

I installed IE8 on one of my computers, had problems with it that I couldn't resolve and uninstalled it and went back to IE6.

Repa, I just want to say that you're a computer GENIUS!!!

Thanks!

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/16/2009, 01:48

1) So, which of the instructions that I gave you in the last post worked?

I only had to do 1., 2., 3., of the first section, where I typed into the "Run" box. When I got to #3, I typed regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll into the run box, and it failed. So, I proceeded to type in the other 3 to see if they would succeed, and they did. Then, I went back & tried regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll again, and that time it also succeeded. Then I returned to Windows Update. Upon returning to run Windows Update again I saw that the updates that you had listed, plus the others at the bottom half of the page, were still faded out. That's when I noticed the box right above the faded out update, and I re-read what it said next to the box, that if I didn't want the update that was available at the top of the page, that I could check that box and install any or all the updates at the bottom of the page. That's when I got to thinking that I might have been able to do that before I started this original post. Dumb, huh? Anyway, I got them.

2) Of the updates that you listed, I install all except these 2:
KB970430, and, KB971737. I didn't install these 2 because I did not think that they are critical, security updates. Am I wrong? Do I need to go back and install them also? They didn't have "Security" next to the KB number, and I didn't click it to expand so I could read about them. Are they Security updates? And, if not, why did you install them also?

3) In November, 2009, I only installed KB969947 Security update. And, KB 890830 into my desktop folder, The Malicious Software Removal Tool. Do you have a list of the November updates that you installed? And, How would I go back and be able to get them?

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/16/2009, 17:53

wcturner wrote:: 1)
2) Of the updates that you listed, I install all except these 2:
KB970430, and, KB971737. I didn't install these 2 because I did not think that they are critical, security updates. Am I wrong? Do I need to go back and install them also? They didn't have "Security" next to the KB number, and I didn't click it to expand so I could read about them. Are they Security updates? And, if not, why did you install them also?

I usually install all critical updates offered except SP3, IE8 and Net Framework. I had problems in the past with IE8 and Net Framwork and had to uninstall them. Net Framework, in my opinion, makes your computer more vulnerable and is not needed by most users except developers unless there is a program on your computer that requires it, which you shouldn't have. I am still debating about SP3 - I haven't ruled it out yet, but still researching. As I mentioned above, I download the Malicious Software Removal Tool from download.microsoft.com, so I don't select that from Windows Update either. You can go ahead and install those 2 KBs.

3) In November, 2009, I only installed KB969947 Security update. And, KB 890830 into my desktop folder, The Malicious Software Removal Tool. Do you have a list of the November updates that you installed? And, How would I go back and be able to get them?

If you didn't get all the November updates, they would still be available for you to select when you run Windows Update.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/17/2009, 00:08

1) Repa, I do the Malicious Software Removal Tool the same way you do, & I do not select it either.

2) First chance I get I'm gonna try to remove/uninstall that Net Framework junk. I looked at those in Add/Remove recently, and there's a bunch of them to be removed too!! I hope I can do it without calling on you again. We'll see.

3) I'm not sure I'm understanding the difference in "Critical Updates", and "Security Updates"? As a matter of fact, I thought they are one and the same? What is the difference?

4) So, are these 2 considered "critical updates"; KB970430, KB971737 ? These are the 2 I need to go back and install, as you said.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/17/2009, 00:37

wcturner wrote:: 1)
2) First chance I get I'm gonna try to remove/uninstall that Net Framework junk. I looked at those in Add/Remove recently, and there's a bunch of them to be removed too!! I hope I can do it without calling on you again. We'll see.

If Net Framework came with your PC, you might want to consider leaving the original installation of it on. My laptop came with it installed, and I decided to uninstall the first updates to it that I did because it caused problems, but I did leave the original installation from Dell on it. There could be something on your system requiring it. If you decide to try to remove it, be sure you set a new restore point before doing so, so you can recover if something should not work properly afterward.

3) I'm not sure I'm understanding the difference in "Critical Updates", and "Security Updates"? As a matter of fact, I thought they are one and the same? What is the difference?

Don't know, but critical updates include security updates and are always shown when you do a Windows Update. Optional updates for Windows and hardware can be found in the left-most column.

4) So, are these 2 considered "critical updates"; KB970430, KB971737 ? These are the 2 I need to go back and install, as you said.

Yes, all critical updates are automatically offered when you run Windows Update.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/17/2009, 01:13

Well, I don't know if Net Framework came on my computer or not. But, it must have, because I haven't installed any of those updates on my computer. And, I've never had Windows Automatic Updates turned on to install them automatically. For a while, I did have Windows Update to notify me when updates were available, but, that function is turned off now.

So, I don't know how Net Framework, any of it got on here.?

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/17/2009, 03:24

wcturner wrote:: Well, I don't know if Net Framework came on my computer or not. But, it must have, because I haven't installed any of those updates on my computer. And, I've never had Windows Automatic Updates turned on to install them automatically. For a while, I did have Windows Update to notify me when updates were available, but, that function is turned off now.

So, I don't know how Net Framework, any of it got on here.?

If it is working OK as is, don't bother with it. Don't fix what isn't broken.

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/20/2009, 01:50

Repa,

1) I installed, KB970430, and, KB971737, but, before I did I read their description, and I still was unable to determine that they are critical, security updates. Please tell me what I am missing???

2) And, to be sure that I understand, I do not need to install any of the Net Framework updates, even though some say they are "Security Updates"? Is this correct?

3) This update, KB976098, said that it enables the computer to adjust the computer clock in 2009, which is almost over. So, I don't suppose that I need this one, do I?

Subject: Re: Windows Update 12/20/2009, 09:22

wcturner wrote:: Repa,

1) I installed, KB970430, and, KB971737, but, before I did I read their description, and I still was unable to determine that they are critical, security updates. Please tell me what I am missing???

Normally, you would install all High Priority Updates listed, whether critical, security or otherwise, unless you have a reason not to. These 2 are for authentication of things you might download, or a website might try to download. I don't download .Net Framework because they cause a problem on my computer. I don't download IE8 because the menu bar is black (can't see the menu items), and I can't find a permanent fix for it - I can fix it, but the bar comes back black the next time I reboot. If these programs aren't causing you a problem, you can download them.

2) And, to be sure that I understand, I do not need to install any of the Net Framework updates, even though some say they are "Security Updates"? Is this correct?

Up to you. As I said, I don't because they caused a problem and I uninstalled them. If you download them and they don't affect your performance, don't worry about it. If they do, uninstall them and restore your computer to the time before you did the install. I think I mentioned once before that this is mainly for developers, but there may be some applications on your computer that require it to run or update properly. I would have no way of knowing which those would be.

3) This update, KB976098, said that it enables the computer to adjust the computer clock in 2009, which is almost over. So, I don't suppose that I need this one, do I?

Yes, you do. This update supersedes and replaces update 970653, which was released in August 2009. This update also includes additional time zone changes that were signed in to law after update 970653 was created.

» Please Read: Latest IE Security Threat
» ZoneAlarm and Windows Update Problem
» Windows Update KB2964358
» 1 windows update failed
» windows update - what to tell my neighbor

Just noticed that when I went to logon that there is an ad under the Geeks Logo that says, "your Download Manager might be outdated. Do you want to install it now?" Don't fall for it! Ignore it!