Auto Update Changes--SP2 Download Status in Limbo?

I've always had my Windows Update set on automatic...great way to get updated without thinking about it much...then ocassionally checking for non-critical updates. Recently, however, I started hearing about the problems with SP2...one radio computer commentator even went as far as to say "DON'T INSTALL!" (at least for a while yet). So I decided to switch my Windows Update to "Notify but don't automatically download or install. "

Well, even with the new setting, I'm getting the update icon in my lower right tray indicating that there is a VERY slow download continuing (I'm up to 42% now after about a week of noticing it). The icon is not always present though...it comes and goes while I am online (56k modem connection). I have a suspicion that the SP2 had already started downloading before I switched my Windows Update delivery option.

Do you folks think that this is what is happening? If so, is there a way to stop the download? I'm afraid that if it started in the completely Automatic mode, it might already be in motion to continue until it is installed. Or am I worrying about when I really don't have to worry. I have the McAfee Security Center with VirusScan, Personal Firewall Plus, and Privacy Service--none of which I think is on the list of programs that start acting up when SP2 is installed. Otherwise, I'm pretty much just a Microsoft Office/IE user...nothing too fancy (though I do use AOL IM even though I'm an earthlink subscriber).

Thoughts? It just seems odd that I am seeing the download icon periodically and it's clearly downloading something BIG!

Thanks for the help/suggestions/advice. I greatly appreciate it!

RJ29

 

RJ29--I cannot tell you whether you can stop that download or stop it from installing. However, have you tried right-clicking on that download icon to see if you have any options?
If you are on dialup, you can expect the download to take 4-15 hours (if I have done the math correctly). The download is probably in the range of 75 to 90MB, and although you say you have a 56K connection, I would guess the actual download rate is at best in the range of 49kb (or 6KBps) and could be half or even less than that.
SP2 might work out fine for you, so it would not be the end of the world if you cannot stop things. But there are some things you should consider doing before the install.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

 

Hello RJ29,

No, don't know how to stop the download if that's what is happening. But it will make it's presence known prior to install, it asks at the beginning of the install for the acceptence of the EULA - I think it will do that, at that point you can stop it. Someone else that installed it from WU can verify that the EULA procedure is followed.

I installed SP2 from a disc, so I don't know for sure where it downloads to. There is a hidden folder called WUTemp which is the likely candidate.

If you don't know how to view hidden folders: Bring up the drive > Tools > Folder options > view tab > scroll down to "view hidden files and folders" and check.

Regards - Charles

I'm a slow typer Jim

 

charlesvar--Yes, but you remembered about the EULA, which should permit RJ29 to abort the installation if still desired. Good point.

 

Hi Jim,

On a side topic - question for you on ZA. Rockit is looking for 3rd party firewalls - I gave him the resouce load for Sygate, could give him the ZA load? This is in the Security/Virus section - Firewall Yes? or No? thread.

Regards - Charles

 

charlesvar--Download for ZoneAlarm (firewall only and free) is
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

 

Hi Jim,

Sorry, not getting across what I meant:

This is what I mean: A reference point: the Sygate resident is showing 8.6+ MB in TM. Welshjim uses ZA free on XP - if reads this he can tell you what the load for it is. I meant the resource load of ZA on XP.

From this thread/post
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=35032 Post #18

Regards - Charles

 

charlesvar--Have not had XP long enough to know how to measure things like Resources. In Task Manager, Performance tab, the difference in running ZA versus not is about +12MB as measured by Page File Usage. There is no difference in CPU Usage. Is this what you wanted to know? In Win98 I could pull up Resource Meter, but have not found the equivalent in XP, unless what I have just reported is it.

 

Hi Jim,

About 12MB's sounds right.

Its under the process tab that you would see the individual breakdown of RAM usage per program and OS process.

Used the word "resource" and forgot that that means something else in 9X OSes - in XP its RAM with no seperate category for resources.

Regards - Charles

 

charlesvar--vsmon.exe shown as using 10.2 MB. zlcient.exe uses an additional 3.7MB.
Where do I learn how to translate a PID into the name of the program?

 

Hi Jim,

In this thread http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=36210 see Newt's post #4.

He gives instructions on how to run tasklist.exe The list generated has the PID # for each process. It struck me, of course, that's the way to tie the Task Manager entries to that list that breaks out individual svchost.exe entries.

Understand that this is not exactly what you asked, but this does tell you which svchost is doing what.

Regards - Charles

PS: Real early - no coffee yet, so hope I'm making sense