Windows installing stuff without permission?

tincat

I was pottering about getting kids stuff ready for school tomorrow (or today, however you look at it), when I heard windows xp logging off. I hadn't been at the computer for over half an hour. When I looked, the computer was rebooting itself, and when it got back in to windows, a small popup on the bottom toolbar said that windows had to install a vital update which required booting up afterwards!

Can anyone say how I can find out what they've updated? This has never happened before and sometimes I leave my computer on for a few days at a time. I'm worried it's some kind of hack attempt?

If it really is windows and legitimate, surely I have to agree to any updates or installations before they can go ahead? I know this sounds completely over the top, but I feel as though I've been, how shall I put it.........violated!!!!!

Any clarity to donate?????:p

PasturesNew

It sounds like it is set to automatically download the latest Microsoft updates and to install them. When it's installed them it gives you a minute or two to decided if you want to reboot or not... and if you aren't there it does it anyway.

To turn it off, if you have XP, Start, Control Panel, System
Automatic Updates tab

You'll see your choices there.

If you've not got XP, try searching HELP for "Windows Update".

albertross_2

It's legit, Microsoft knows best!?, if it wants to shutdown and lose your work it will, unless you go through this:

start,run

gpedit.msc

Local Computer Policy, Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Update. No auto restart for scheduled Automatic update installations, set to enabled.

start, run
notepad c:\windows\windowsupdate.log

to find out what the update was

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Windows update is usually second Tuesday of month, so that'll be right.

If you are not normally knocking around at that time of the morning, and you leave your computer on all night, then you may have been getting automatic updates for years.

You can check updates and dates by going to Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove, and make sure the Show Updates box is ticked.

BillScarab

Personally I always set mine to notify me when new updates are available but not to download and install them automatically. That way I know they are there but can choose when to install them.

tincat

Thanks all.

I've changed the automatic updates to notify me but not to automatically download. It had been set to automatically update at 03.00.

I'm just surprised as I am quite often up very late, but my computer has never rebooted itself. If the updates are only once every week/month, then maybe it's just fluke that the computer hasn't been on at that time before?

However, I went throught the gpedit.msc and now I know how to look and change those settings feel much better. :T