Windows Update not responding

[Foxy - Perth]

Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
office - lots of updates.
NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
computer is virtually unusable.
If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[Swiss]

Hi Foxy,

It seems MS Updates is still broken despite several press releases stating
otherwise.
The most useful link which has helped me is this one:>
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...2-713bffdaef91

After you follow the instructions update still takes an age but it does work.

It would be nice if MS could get their collective asses in gear and fix it
properly instead of the their customers having to scratch around for a
workaround solution.

"Foxy - Perth" wrote:

> Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
> updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
> Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> office - lots of updates.
> NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
> to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> computer is virtually unusable.
> If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
> I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[Mark M Morse]

Hello Swiss:

I used the Microsoft Updates web site about 80 minutes ago to update
a Windows 2000 laptop that was turned off for about two months. I
experienced no issues; 67 updates installed within 55 minutes.

~ Mark


Swiss wrote, in part
>
> It seems MS Updates is still broken despite several press releases
> stating
> otherwise.

[Foxy - Perth]

Thanks Swiss - I have reverted to Windows Update and am now able to do so.

Many Thanks

"Foxy - Perth" wrote:

> Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
> updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
> Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> office - lots of updates.
> NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
> to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> computer is virtually unusable.
> If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
> I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[Rick - Phoenix]

I have the identical problem on updates. XP Sp2. svchost.exe takes up 100%
of cpu and system hangs. Problem started after automatic updates. If I
start Windows Task Manager as early as possible during boot then when it
hangs I can end the process and then use the computer normally. If Task
Manager isn't open when the svchost.exe hits 100% Task Manager can't be
opened, the system hangs and I have to power off.

When I go to the Windows Update site and it runs the check for updates,
svchost.exe comes on again and the system hangs. If Task Manager is open I
can end the process and go on -- to this post. This is clearly an update
problem and Microsoft needs to get on it.

"Foxy - Perth" wrote:

> Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
> updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
> Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> office - lots of updates.
> NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
> to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> computer is virtually unusable.
> If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
> I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[ThatsIT.net.au]

"Foxy - Perth" <FoxyPerth@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4D80A7E0-2C5A-46E0-86CB-F04914B80EF4@microsoft.com...
> Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots
> of
> updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some
> time).
> Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> office - lots of updates.


try reinstalling win update agent

http://dev.thatsit.net.au/downloads/WSUS/


> NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage
> back
> to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> computer is virtually unusable.
> If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so,
> and
> I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[Stan]

On Fri, 11 May 2007 02:14:00 -0700, Swiss
<Swiss@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>It would be nice if MS could get their collective asses in gear and fix it
>properly instead of the their customers having to scratch around for a
>workaround solution.

Maybe the update site has the same problem as most of the updates
themselves have... Reading a lot of posts on this and a bunch of
other NG's shows that Black Tuesday offered more horror than normal
this time around. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that the update
engine is also broken so not as many victims can be touched by Black
Tuesday's wrath although this most recent one seems to have been
blacker than most as evident by all the posts.

Best advice ever offered on here was to treat updates like you would
treat new versions of their OS.... hide and watch before
installing/upgrading anything out of M$ Land and let others be the
unwilling Beta testers for this stuff. And... NEVER, EVER use M$'s
auto update. When you see that the worms have been worked out of a
update that you feel that you just have to have, goto M$'s Download
Center at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/s...displaylang=en
and do a search on the KBxxxxxx and download it and install it
locally. Also make sure you have your valued data backed up before
exposing your system to any M$ update and if you are one of those that
trust the auto update, then definitely back your valued data up before
each Black Tuesday.

[Computer_User]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/927891

"Rick - Phoenix" wrote:

> I have the identical problem on updates. XP Sp2. svchost.exe takes up 100%
> of cpu and system hangs. Problem started after automatic updates. If I
> start Windows Task Manager as early as possible during boot then when it
> hangs I can end the process and then use the computer normally. If Task
> Manager isn't open when the svchost.exe hits 100% Task Manager can't be
> opened, the system hangs and I have to power off.
>
> When I go to the Windows Update site and it runs the check for updates,
> svchost.exe comes on again and the system hangs. If Task Manager is open I
> can end the process and go on -- to this post. This is clearly an update
> problem and Microsoft needs to get on it.
>
> "Foxy - Perth" wrote:
>
> > Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
> > updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
> > Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> > office - lots of updates.
> > NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> > control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> > enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
> > to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> > 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> > computer is virtually unusable.
> > If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
> > I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> > custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> > continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> > Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> > I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[Roy Adams]

There is a possibility something else has been overlooked here - the
possibility that corruption that may exist in the hotfix tracking
files/database in "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\" and
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2\". There is a knowledgebase article detailing
how to clear this - and so far this has worked in all cases for me - around
150 workstations so far. I encountered this issue with Windows 2003 and
Windows XP over a year ago - but Microsoft were not open to looking into the
issue at the time. Once the new MSI.DLL is in, I have found it necessary to
run the following script to complete the process:-

Net Stop CryptSvc
If Not Exist "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old" MkDir
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old"
attrib -r -s -h
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\KB*.cat"
attrib -r -s -h
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
attrib -r -s -h
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
attrib -r -s -h "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\*tmp*"
Move
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\KB*.cat" "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old"
Erase
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
Erase
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
Erase "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\*tmp*"
If Exist "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2.old" RMDir /S /Q
"%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2.old"
Rename "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2" "CatRoot2.old"
Net Start CryptSvc

Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msi.dll"
Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msisip.dll"
Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msihnd.dll"
%SystemRoot%\System32\msiexec /unregserver
%SystemRoot%\System32\msiexec /regserver

for %%f in (%SystemRoot%\System32\msxml*.dll) do regsvr32 /s /u "%%f"
for %%f in (%SystemRoot%\System32\msxml*.dll) do regsvr32 /s "%%f"

net stop "Automatic Updates"
erase "%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*" /s /q
REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
PingID /f
REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
SUSClientID /f
REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
AccountDomainSID /f
net Start "Automatic Updates"
WUAUCLT /Reauthorize /DetectNow

/Roy Adams





"Foxy - Perth" wrote:

> Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
> updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
> Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> office - lots of updates.
> NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
> to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> computer is virtually unusable.
> If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
> I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[DanteMN]

This has happened on two of my PCs (non-Vista capable, oddly enough); I
choose to drop the Automatic Updates down to "Notify me but don't auto. d/l"
and restarted the PC. This issue was gone. This may not be as safe, but the
PC is now functional. I am monitoring the updates until I read any updates
from MS on this one.

I hope this helps.

Vr,

DanteMN

"Roy Adams" wrote:

> There is a possibility something else has been overlooked here - the
> possibility that corruption that may exist in the hotfix tracking
> files/database in "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\" and
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2\". There is a knowledgebase article detailing
> how to clear this - and so far this has worked in all cases for me - around
> 150 workstations so far. I encountered this issue with Windows 2003 and
> Windows XP over a year ago - but Microsoft were not open to looking into the
> issue at the time. Once the new MSI.DLL is in, I have found it necessary to
> run the following script to complete the process:-
>
> Net Stop CryptSvc
> If Not Exist "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old" MkDir
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old"
> attrib -r -s -h
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\KB*.cat"
> attrib -r -s -h
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> attrib -r -s -h
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> attrib -r -s -h "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\*tmp*"
> Move
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\KB*.cat" "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old"
> Erase
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> Erase
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> Erase "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\*tmp*"
> If Exist "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2.old" RMDir /S /Q
> "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2.old"
> Rename "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2" "CatRoot2.old"
> Net Start CryptSvc
>
> Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msi.dll"
> Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msisip.dll"
> Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msihnd.dll"
> %SystemRoot%\System32\msiexec /unregserver
> %SystemRoot%\System32\msiexec /regserver
>
> for %%f in (%SystemRoot%\System32\msxml*.dll) do regsvr32 /s /u "%%f"
> for %%f in (%SystemRoot%\System32\msxml*.dll) do regsvr32 /s "%%f"
>
> net stop "Automatic Updates"
> erase "%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*" /s /q
> REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
> PingID /f
> REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
> SUSClientID /f
> REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
> AccountDomainSID /f
> net Start "Automatic Updates"
> WUAUCLT /Reauthorize /DetectNow
>
> /Roy Adams
>
>
>
>
>
> "Foxy - Perth" wrote:
>
> > Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
> > updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
> > Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> > office - lots of updates.
> > NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> > control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> > enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
> > to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> > 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> > computer is virtually unusable.
> > If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
> > I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> > custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> > continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> > Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> > I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[Grampy]

I'm not sure I fully understand the issue. I have my system set for Update
notification ONLY. I manually download. Is it safe to manually download
these latest updates? Will I still experience hangs during the update
process?

How does one know when this issue is fixed? Does MS issue a bulletin or do
I need to count on the kndness of stranges to alert me to this a i did for
the problem notification? Is there a site to monitor?

Thanks from a computer semi-literate.

"DanteMN" wrote:

> This has happened on two of my PCs (non-Vista capable, oddly enough); I
> choose to drop the Automatic Updates down to "Notify me but don't auto. d/l"
> and restarted the PC. This issue was gone. This may not be as safe, but the
> PC is now functional. I am monitoring the updates until I read any updates
> from MS on this one.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Vr,
>
> DanteMN
>
> "Roy Adams" wrote:
>
> > There is a possibility something else has been overlooked here - the
> > possibility that corruption that may exist in the hotfix tracking
> > files/database in "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\" and
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2\". There is a knowledgebase article detailing
> > how to clear this - and so far this has worked in all cases for me - around
> > 150 workstations so far. I encountered this issue with Windows 2003 and
> > Windows XP over a year ago - but Microsoft were not open to looking into the
> > issue at the time. Once the new MSI.DLL is in, I have found it necessary to
> > run the following script to complete the process:-
> >
> > Net Stop CryptSvc
> > If Not Exist "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old" MkDir
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old"
> > attrib -r -s -h
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\KB*.cat"
> > attrib -r -s -h
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> > attrib -r -s -h
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> > attrib -r -s -h "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\*tmp*"
> > Move
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\KB*.cat" "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot.Old"
> > Erase
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{127D0A1D-4EF2-11D1-8608-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> > Erase
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\*tmp*"
> > Erase "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot\*tmp*"
> > If Exist "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2.old" RMDir /S /Q
> > "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2.old"
> > Rename "%SystemRoot%\System32\CatRoot2" "CatRoot2.old"
> > Net Start CryptSvc
> >
> > Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msi.dll"
> > Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msisip.dll"
> > Regsvr32 /s "%SystemRoot%\System32\msihnd.dll"
> > %SystemRoot%\System32\msiexec /unregserver
> > %SystemRoot%\System32\msiexec /regserver
> >
> > for %%f in (%SystemRoot%\System32\msxml*.dll) do regsvr32 /s /u "%%f"
> > for %%f in (%SystemRoot%\System32\msxml*.dll) do regsvr32 /s "%%f"
> >
> > net stop "Automatic Updates"
> > erase "%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\*" /s /q
> > REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
> > PingID /f
> > REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
> > SUSClientID /f
> > REG DELETE HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate /v
> > AccountDomainSID /f
> > net Start "Automatic Updates"
> > WUAUCLT /Reauthorize /DetectNow
> >
> > /Roy Adams
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Foxy - Perth" wrote:
> >
> > > Windows XP SP2, working perfectly thursday, downloaded and installed lots of
> > > updates from Windows Update site (computer hasn't been used for some time).
> > > Friday a.m. installed Office 2003, activated it. Installed WGA, updated
> > > office - lots of updates.
> > > NOW - if Windows/microsoft automatic updates are disabled (via msconfig OR
> > > control panel), computer boots and operates fine. If auto updates are
> > > enabled, a minute or so after booting is apparently finished (CPU usage back
> > > to 2% in Task manager), the svchost.exe that hosts wuauserv.dll goes to
> > > 98/100% and stays there for what seems an eternity, and of course the
> > > computer is virtually unusable.
> > > If by chance Windows Update gives up and cpu usage returns to 2% or so, and
> > > I run windows/microsoft update, same problem. When I choose express OR
> > > custom, the 'Checking for updates' screen comes up, the scroll thingy
> > > continuously moves left to right, and that's all that happens.
> > > Can anyone help please? Can I uninstall and reinstall windows update?
> > > I can't find any reference to this in Technet etc.

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

Grampy <Grampy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I'm not sure I fully understand the issue. I have my system set for
> Update notification ONLY. I manually download. Is it safe to
> manually download these latest updates? Will I still experience
> hangs during the update process?

Not during the updates as such, but you might get hit during the detection
phase of background automatic updates, just before they notify you. It is
the detection phase that causes the problem, not the updates. You only get
the problem in the detection phase if you have subscribed to "Microsoft
Update" rather than "Windows Update".

> How does one know when this issue is fixed? Does MS issue a bulletin
> or do I need to count on the kndness of stranges to alert me to this
> a i did for the problem notification? Is there a site to monitor?

See <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494>
"When you use Automatic Updates to scan for updates or to apply updates to
applications that use Windows Installer, you experience issues that involve
the Svchost.exe process"

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
rdhw@cam.ac.uk

[Grampy]

Thanks, Robin.

I am pretty sure I subscribe to Windows Update not MS Update. I didn't know
there was a differnce. What is the difference and why would I want to use
one over the other?



"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> Grampy <Grampy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm not sure I fully understand the issue. I have my system set for
> > Update notification ONLY. I manually download. Is it safe to
> > manually download these latest updates? Will I still experience
> > hangs during the update process?
>
> Not during the updates as such, but you might get hit during the detection
> phase of background automatic updates, just before they notify you. It is
> the detection phase that causes the problem, not the updates. You only get
> the problem in the detection phase if you have subscribed to "Microsoft
> Update" rather than "Windows Update".
>
> > How does one know when this issue is fixed? Does MS issue a bulletin
> > or do I need to count on the kndness of stranges to alert me to this
> > a i did for the problem notification? Is there a site to monitor?
>
> See <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932494>
> "When you use Automatic Updates to scan for updates or to apply updates to
> applications that use Windows Installer, you experience issues that involve
> the Svchost.exe process"
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
> rdhw@cam.ac.uk
>
>
>

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

Grampy <Grampy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I am pretty sure I subscribe to Windows Update not MS Update. I
> didn't know there was a differnce. What is the difference and why
> would I want to use one over the other?

Windows Update provides updates only for the Windows operating system.
Microsoft Update provides not only updates for Windows, but also updates for
Microsoft Office, Windows Defender, and other Microsoft products.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
rdhw@cam.ac.uk

[Grampy]

One more question...
Can I assume that the default (in XP) is Windows Update and one would need
to take action to enable MS Update?

"Robin Walker [MVP]" wrote:

> Grampy <Grampy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > I am pretty sure I subscribe to Windows Update not MS Update. I
> > didn't know there was a differnce. What is the difference and why
> > would I want to use one over the other?
>
> Windows Update provides updates only for the Windows operating system.
> Microsoft Update provides not only updates for Windows, but also updates for
> Microsoft Office, Windows Defender, and other Microsoft products.
>
> --
> Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
> rdhw@cam.ac.uk
>
>
>