Windows automatic updating

vusys1

For the last few days my Laptop has been searching and trying todownloading windows (vista) updates as recommended. However the problem is, it slows down everything else and the status bar seems to stick at about the 30-40% mark. It gets so bad and takes ages that I switch the Auto updater off and have to restart the laptop. The laptop is a Toshiba satellite 2.6ghz,3g ram etc so dont know why it should take so long to download and to slow everything up.

Anyone have any ideas of how to speed it up or is it case of just leave it until it completes, which appears it could take a while.

thanks

aerostar

Just leave it on overnight and see what happens.

Sublime_2

Can't you choose to update what you want only, rather than letting windows do it all automatically. Sometimes solves issues.

JasX

Sublime wrote: »

Can't you choose to update what you want only, rather than letting windows do it all automatically. Sometimes solves issues.

Also, and MUCH more likely, is OP will forget to do this daily and will end up with a machine swamped with viruses and malware and substantially bigger problems.

By all means do manual updates to bring FORWARD the automatic thing and get it out of the way but whatever you do definitely do NOT turn off automatic security updates.

vusys1

It has always been switched on, this has only been happening the last few days? it doesnt get that far as to tell me what updates are available just that the searching just goes on & on & on with no end result:(

I will let it run overnite and see what happens.

A.Penny.Saved

I came across this site which has worked very well for me. It downloads all the requested updates to the hard drive and then installs them in the correct order. It will update windows, office, dotNet among other things. You only ever have to download them once, after which they can be installed when you want them which for any windows re-installs or multiple operating system/PC installs considerably faster.

http://www.autopatcher.com/

Sparhawke

JasX wrote: »

Also, and MUCH more likely, is OP will forget to do this daily and will end up with a machine swamped with viruses and malware and substantially bigger problems.

By all means do manual updates to bring FORWARD the automatic thing and get it out of the way but whatever you do definitely do NOT turn off automatic security updates.

Actually I only do it once every few months and never get swamped, the trick is to know where you are heading on the internet and to make sure your wireless is secure.

There is a well known MAJOR issue that has long been known to occur with automatic updates where it can take hours to complete, better than switching it off completely is to set aside one special hour or two when you are not using the computer in order to update all programs.

I do this on a Sunday morning between 11am-2pm because America for the most part is still asleep.

jayme1

set the updater to notify you but not download the updates

that should stop the update process, then go through each update and install one by one, the one that fails leave to the end, then check for updates again and try the faild one one more time, that should work then.

then either set it back to auto update or leave it on notify (but if you leave it on notify be sure you install the updates asap as they show up (you can just select them all and update in one go after you have done them individually this one time)) I certainly wouldnt leave it months between updates, but as soon as they pop up update then or asap.

free4440273

as jayme states, that sounds best/ and 'troublesome' updates, you can disable by right-click/ disable/

vusys1

prob solved,apparantly code error 8000fff,regedit,sorted.

Sparhawke

JasX wrote: »

Also, and MUCH more likely, is OP will forget to do this daily and will end up with a machine swamped with viruses and malware and substantially bigger problems.

By all means do manual updates to bring FORWARD the automatic thing and get it out of the way but whatever you do definitely do NOT turn off automatic security updates.

To return to this thread breifly, I have not done a spyware check for literally over 2 years because it takes way too long and because I cannot be bothered.

Did one yesterday to check how much of a mess my computer was in and it had ONE tracking cookie.

ONE!!!

People that tell newbies that they are going to be swamped with malware and viruses and end up destroying their computer are the biggest problems we have right now.

All tracking cookies do is tell websites where you have been so that they can tailor adverts to you, simply removing them endlessly makes it so that a lot of little sites that actually make it work cannot survive.

Sure, you can get them but only if you go looking for dodgy sites and if you do not have a firewall.

The only thing all this hysteria really does is put money in Nortons bank balance. It was hysteria 10 years ago, it was hysteria 5 years ago and in a decade it will still be hysteria.

(The only people who profit from a climate of fear are those selling the weapons)