Vista automatic update

[Bill Morris]

I'm getting a popup from Microsoft that has no option to shut it off other than temporarily and for how long (10 minutes, 4 minutes, or 1 miniute), and I've seen various scare stories about it like this one on Slashdot:

Echostorm writes with word that Windows Vista SP1, which began rolling out via Automatic Update, has left some users' machines unbootable. The update loops forever on "Configuring updates: Stage 3 of 3 — 0% complete. Do not turn off your computer." "Shutting down"... restart and loop. Echostorm notes having found traces of what sounds like the same bug in early beta releases of SP1. It's unclear how many users are affected. So far there is no word on a fix from Microsoft.

How can I make it stop?

 

[Santaman]

Remove Vista from your harddrive and install a better OS, I suggest Windows 3.11

 

[Brent]

Open up Windows Update - click on Change Settings on the left column - Select Never Check for Updates

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I have the same problem. I can't fix it by using windows update because the computer never fully boots up. I would love to never have it check for updates, but it didn't occur to me until now to do that and now it's too late.

 

[Bill Morris]

Mine is a Japanese version. The only options are now, later, and how long before it comes back. And just now it was showing a progress bar until I stopped it by clicking on "Upgrade later." Right-clicking doesn't produce the option to close it, and it's also immune to Alt-Ctrl-Del. I don't want this shit. I just want it to go away.

I'd better just shut the machine off and check with you guys later.

 

[Twilight]

Yup, this problem broke today and is apparently fairly widespread. Absolutely ridiculous. Ugh, Microsoft.

Turn off automatic updates for now. I'd wait to get SP1 until it's released in its entirety, not in these incremental bundles.

 

[TerriO]

Yeah, I have had a stable version of Vista ever since I got this new computer, but this morning after an "update" I got the first BSOD that I've ever gotten on a non-Windows 3.1 machine. (Yes, seriously.)

Time to do some work on it when I get out of the office, I see.

 

[Brent]

Weird, I always keep my Vista up to date via Windows Update, I made the Updates released this week, haven't had any problems yet.

 

[Twilight]

Brent said:
Weird, I always keep my Vista up to date via Windows Update, I made the Updates released this week, haven't had any problems yet.

Only select users will get the SP1 incremental packs this early - most of us will get SP1 early to mid March.

The updates that were released last night were small security fixes in accordance with the regular schedule - those weren't the SP 1 packs. You'll know it when you get them - they're big and take forever to install (or they don't install at all, apparently )

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yay, I fixed the problem by hitting F8 over and over until an update screen came up. Then I restored it to Wednesday.

 

[TerriO]

Alidar Jarok said:
Yay, I fixed the problem by hitting F8 over and over until an update screen came up. Then I restored it to Wednesday.

Noted for when I get home. Thank you. :thumbsup:

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Seriously, everything I read had said "hit F8 at the appropriate time". That's completely useless to me, since I have no idea what the appropriate time is, the best advice is to hit it over and over again until it works.

 

[StolenThunder]

In my experience, hitting it over and over until it works is generally considered the appropriate time.

 

[D Man]

Now that's troubleshooting. Sounds like a solid OS overall. Wouldn't something so widespread like this have cropped up during testing over at Microsoft? I can understand a few isolated problems here and there with any update, that's to be expected...this seems a lot larger in scope, though.

 

[Dude]

StolenThunder said:
In my experience, hitting it over and over until it works is generally considered the appropriate time.

 

[Bill Morris]

Anyway, after shutting off the computer then starting it up again several hours later, the problem was gone. Maybe a lot of people complained, and Microsoft stopped transmitting that virus. A temporary reprieve. This thing needs a change of OS.

Okay, I took Brent's suggestion and set "Never check for updates." That would have been easier to find and do if it were an English-language version.


How come you have to click on START to shut a computer off, anyway?

 

[Amaris]

StolenThunder said:
In my experience, hitting it over and over until it works is generally considered the appropriate time.

But you have to use a precision tool like a hammer or possibly piano.


J.

 

[rType]

I installed the update in question last night, no issues.

 

[Charlie Kelly]

I wouldn't recommend anyone to turn off Automatic Updates permanently as you'll miss all the security fixes. At the very least go onto to the update site and download them manually.

Charlie

 

[137th Gebirg]

Keeping mine at XP until I don't see threads like this any more.