Why does MANUAL update - update automatically?

I have set my Win 7 to Notify of updates and MANUALLY install.

But lately, as I shut down, WIN 7 advises me of 1 or more unannounced updates being installed, delaying my ability to turn off the PC for what can be several minutes.

Most of these updates are for the useless Defender, which to date has NEVER warned me of a problem. AVAST is lightyears ahead of this MS travesty.

That is precisely the reason I want to MANUALLY install the updates, so I can quickly shut down and turn off the PC. I do do the updates, but when I have the time to do them. Shutdown is NOT the time.

When I first installed Win 7, the first shutdown took 45 minutes for 13 unannounced updates. It took 3 more shutdown updates before I found the setting.

Up to last month, updates were announced and I did manually install them, but lately, even with the setting at Manual install, it still does it automatically.

Any way I can ENFORCE manual update?

 

I have the same settings that you have, but I have been figuring out a way to let Defender update itself with my intervention to no avail.

Maybe you could go into computer services and set Windows Update (wuauserv) to manual. One poster on another forum suggested a setting of disabled.

 

Hi JGB, Why not Download MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) if you don't have faith in Defender.
Install MSE and switch off Defender.
Have you read all the FAQ's on WU?
Go to Control Panel > Windows Update > Change Settings > How does automatic updating help me > Understand Windows Automatic Updating > and have a look at the info available.
I personally have used Auto update for years and always check for advise and manually instal. That way I don't get Bing installed or Drivers for hardware I have. Neil.

 

Retiredlearner,

I have no faith in any Microsoft "security" software. Instead of adding a layer of extra security, it should have been built into Windows from the get-go. MS has had years of other people showing them how, but they just don't.

AVAST (free) does an admirable job with nearly zero performance overhead, compared to other anti-virus addons. And it updates DAILY, automatically on boot up and every 6 hours (my choice) of system on.

The problem of going all manual on updates is that after a while the unwanted ones stack up and Win-7 starts nagging repeatedly to install, or as has happened, it says screw you and auto installs them anyway at a shutdown.

Its simpler to install unwanted updates to Defender and IE than to ignore them, even though I don't use either. Turning Defender off resulted in constantly being warned my system is vulnerable.

Like I said before Defender has NEVER alerted me to a threat, AVAST does so on a regular basis, Email and web browsing, as well as downloads.

 

You mean security updates / patches?

I always install necessary security patches as soon as they become available unless I hear of something gone awry. Any particular reason you let them accumulate from month to month?

 

Hi JGB, Each to his own. I haven't experienced any problems with MSE (6 years) in XP, Vista,W7 and now Defender in W8/8.1.
Prior to that I had experience with McAfee,ETrust,Norton,Avg,Avira and Avast. (Having built 8 Tower units for myself and family members and tried the AV's listed).
I found Avast less intrusive and currently use it on my Smartphones. I'll not go into further detail about the others as it's a long story. Suffice to say that Avast would be my 2nd choice to MSE. I've found MSE has given warning and quarantined any threats immediately.
I use WOT (Web of Trust) when on the web and recommend it to anyone as it warns of dodgy sites up front.
As I mentioned in my previous Post about WU and installing Security patches - if you don't install SP's and MS updates - you run the risk of problems with the OS not operating properly.
Most Moderators will advise getting Hardware updates from the Manufacturers site rather than from MS.
Just remember that it pays to use only ONE AV at a time. Two AV's operating at once MAY cause severe conflicts and SLOW down the PC.
You can stop warnings being issued to suit your needs. Cheers Neil.

 

I thought this issue (Win auto installing updates) was more or less solved, till this morning.

I was notified of 5 updates, 3 required, 2 optional.
I looked at the 3 required, and only 1 (the XP Service pack 3) was needed; if I use the old XP based Office apps, Excel, Powerpoint, Word, etc. which I do.
So I unchecked the other 2 (mainly for app developers), unchecked the 2 optionals and clicked --- Install.

I shoulda stayed in bed......

After about a minute, Update said install FAILED, with an error code.
Looking up the error code told me NOTHING, but directed me to a system performance scan for possible problems. I went there, really shouldn't have......

A scan showed my display was a bit slow (3.9) compared with the rest at around 6.9 to 7.3.

Checking into the display performance settings (Windows, not Nvidia) I looked at options, and decided the existing default was best, ie: no change. But, Win now would not exit without an "Apply" so I clicked apply.

After a long time, the screens flashed and went to a black background coupled with a really bad format for the toolbar. Dammed near unreadable.

An hour later, I got the "theme" background back, but NOT the toolbars.

In XP all that was in one place in "Display settings" but not so in Win 7.
I cannot find how to reset the toolbar "theme" back.

And, to make matters worse, my Firefox and Thunderbird dashboards and toolbars now follow the Win 7 unreadable format.

How do I reset the Win 7 toolbar format back to what I had earlier this morning?

I'm assuming that will also fix FF & Tbird. If not, I'll go to their BBS.

 

HI JGB, I'm getting confused
Why would you install XP SP3 to a Windows 7 OS?
This is for your MS Office no doubt.
Can you get into Safe Mode and uninstall XP SP3?
I'll change my drives and see what is in my W7 Pro installed updates history. Neil.
Is this the Service Pack that you installed:http://www.microsoft.com/en-nz/download/details.aspx?id=8 This is just SP3 for MS Office 2003
If your problem is around KB936929 - which is XP SP3 Update - then you may have a BIG problem.

 

The SP3 update downloaded but did not install. And I am NOT going to either.

I did the update because it said it was for Office 2002, which is what I have running under Win 7. Looking again at it, I notice it was published in May 1012!!!! And I cannot delete it either.

The Theme and Taskbar was reset after I followed a trail to find why it failed to install, and had to "apply" a "no change" display properties.

Now my screen is running slow on videos, even though it is set for high performance, and was never slow before yesterday.

I am going to repost my OP (revised) as a new thread to get more eyes on it.

 

Last night on shutdown, an unannounced (not listed) update self installed again.

It was none of the 5 listed on my pending updates, including the XP SP3 one, they are still there.

This morning I did some digging into MS help, and found out how to hide an update on the list, preventing (hopefully) being nagged to install them, every time I boot up.

Click on the unwanted update, right click and select hide. It goes gray.

We shall see tomorrow.

 

Hiding an update does work. It no longer appears at a later date, verified by my NOT seeing the same ID# reappear for update, at least so far.

After hiding the update(s), and "continuing" the process says that Win 7 is up to date, so far as the updates that were hidden.

I have hidden every single Defender update since with no problem.

But back to my OP, shutdown auto-updates without notice, it happened again last night.

And I noticed another update quirk... when I get a bunch of updates at a time, and I accept all for update, the update process starts right away. However on conclusion I notice a few updates had failed.

Way back when I first installed Win 7, any update that failed to install was re-listed the next day or so for update. They almost always installed again.

However lately, I get no such re-list for a failed update. It stays failed.

 

What update/updates fail to install?

 

The following recent failures are.....
------------------------------------------
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2957503)
Installation date: ‎6/‎11/‎2014 8:35 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80070308
Update type: Important
-------------------------------------
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 (KB2957689)
Installation date: ‎6/‎11/‎2014 8:35 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80070308
Update type: Important
---------------------------------------
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2939576)
Installation date: ‎6/‎11/‎2014 8:34 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80070308
Update type: Important
-----------------------------------
Update for Windows 7 (KB2800095)
Installation date: ‎6/‎11/‎2014 8:34 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80070308
Update type: Recommended
-------------------------------------
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2957189)
Installation date: ‎6/‎11/‎2014 8:34 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80070308
Update type: Important
-------------------------------------------
Update for Windows 7 (KB2952664)
Installation date: ‎6/‎11/‎2014 8:33 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80070308
Update type: Recommended
------------------------------------------
Security Update for Windows 7 (KB2957509)
Installation date: ‎6/‎11/‎2014 8:33 AM
Installation status: Failed
Error details: Code 80070308
Update type: Important
-------------------------------------

There are more from earlier times.

 

Hi JGB,

When you selected the option from the above - did you OK out or just close the page?

I have all the "Failed" updates you show in your last Post installed Successfully.
You can go to your Windows Update and check those updates for another install and see if they install correctly.
As I stated earlier I have my updates install as #2 option and have no problems and do not consider myself knowledgeable enough to not install Security Patches or Windows Updates or Windows Software updates to keep my computer safe and running OK. I do not select Bing updates or Hardware updates from MS. I go to the Hardware Manufacturer for their updates. Neil.

 

The updates that failed came in a batch with others that installed successfully.

I see no way to reinstall failed updates so I need some guidance here.

I also have decided #2 (download but I choose) was best and that is working.
I habitually choose to NOT install Defender or Outlook updates as I NEVER use either of them, and that seems to work OK too.

However I still get occasionally the phantom update that installs at shutdown with NO notification at all. THAT really irks me. And looking at the list again, I noticed that the last phantom install was indeed for Defender.

 

You need to install EVERYTHING that is Critical. Even if you don't use it.
As for the ones that didn't install, you can Google them one at a time and install them from MS that way.

 

I agree with MrBill. As has been explained before on this Forum - MS updates and patches (whether you use them or not) may have an overall effect on the operation of the OS and it's not as if they fill your HD up. Generally in KB's or MB's.
Even Security or Defender or MSE patches will have some effect on the OS. Neil.

 

Looks like MS are tricky fellows. So when you click on WU you will download all updates and install what you want then "HIDE" the rest. Then reset to Never check for updates.
What a Hassle. Neil.