Automatic Updates - MVP please read and respond?

In a related thread (Windows update v5,where is the history....) there has
been much discussion on the automatic update to v5 even when the Automatic
Updates settings were set to allow the user to review and choose updates to
install after a notification. Now in v5 there is a choice of turning off
the Automatic Updates completely (evidenced by a red shield with an "x"
through it in the CONTROL PANEL|AUTOMATIC UPDATES section). I have chosen
that option. DOES IT WORK?

Derek (who has obviously taken time to really look into this problem) posted
a link to the Microsoft site where a toolkit can be downloaded to
"temporarily" disable the Automatic downloads.
(I quote from the site:
Since SP2 will start to be delivered to PCs running Windows XP or Windows XP
with SP1 via AU starting on August 16, these customers would like to
temporarily block the delivery of SP2 in order to provide additional time
for validation and testing of the update. In response to these requests,
Microsoft is providing this set of tools.
Please note that the mechanism to temporarily disable delivery of Windows XP
SP2 will be available for a period of 120 days (4 months) from August 16. At
the end of this period, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP
and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems. )

My questions:
Will using the Control Panel setting accomplish the same thing, and totally
disable any automatic updates? If not, do we need this toolkit?

After the "temporary" period described for blocking SP2, will this toolkit
then re-set the automatic updates and download SP2 without my review and
consent?

I do not want SP2. Certainly not until I am convinced it will not mess up my
system. I have had enough trouble with buggy updates in the past. I
understand SP2 is more like an UPGRADE, not an update. It should be MY
CHOICE whether I have it on my system or not. So how do I make sure
permanently that Microsoft cannot download and install it without my
permission?

I really need answers to these questions from an MVP. Please please please.
THANK YOU.
Georgia

I am not an MVP, but it is very lear to anyone who understands
English that the Microsoft temporary tool is only to be used for
people who want to allow automatic updates in general but not to allow
SP2 while the general setting to disallow automatic updates is for
knowledgeable people (like me and may you too) who do not want to
allow any automatic updates but just select through manual invocation
of Windows Update what they want to allow.


On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 08:34:19 -0400, "Parkers-Georgia & Bob"
<> wrote:

>In a related thread (Windows update v5,where is the history....) there has
>been much discussion on the automatic update to v5 even when the Automatic
>Updates settings were set to allow the user to review and choose updates to
>install after a notification. Now in v5 there is a choice of turning off
>the Automatic Updates completely (evidenced by a red shield with an "x"
>through it in the CONTROL PANEL|AUTOMATIC UPDATES section). I have chosen
>that option. DOES IT WORK?
>
>Derek (who has obviously taken time to really look into this problem) posted
>a link to the Microsoft site where a toolkit can be downloaded to
>"temporarily" disable the Automatic downloads.
>(I quote from the site:
>Since SP2 will start to be delivered to PCs running Windows XP or Windows XP
>with SP1 via AU starting on August 16, these customers would like to
>temporarily block the delivery of SP2 in order to provide additional time
>for validation and testing of the update. In response to these requests,
>Microsoft is providing this set of tools.
>Please note that the mechanism to temporarily disable delivery of Windows XP
>SP2 will be available for a period of 120 days (4 months) from August 16. At
>the end of this period, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP
>and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems. )
>
>My questions:
>Will using the Control Panel setting accomplish the same thing, and totally
>disable any automatic updates? If not, do we need this toolkit?
>
>After the "temporary" period described for blocking SP2, will this toolkit
>then re-set the automatic updates and download SP2 without my review and
>consent?
>
>I do not want SP2. Certainly not until I am convinced it will not mess up my
>system. I have had enough trouble with buggy updates in the past. I
>understand SP2 is more like an UPGRADE, not an update. It should be MY
>CHOICE whether I have it on my system or not. So how do I make sure
>permanently that Microsoft cannot download and install it without my
>permission?
>
>I really need answers to these questions from an MVP. Please please please.
>THANK YOU.
>Georgia
>

"Jerome M. Katz" <jerrymkatz@> wrote in message
news:...
> I am not an MVP, but it is very lear to anyone who understands
> English >>

I understand English very well and I am very computer literate.

>>that the Microsoft temporary tool is only to be used for
> people who want to allow automatic updates in general but not to allow
> SP2 while the general setting to disallow automatic updates is for
> knowledgeable people (like me and may you too) who do not want to
> allow any automatic updates but just select through manual invocation
> of Windows Update what they want to allow.>>

It is unclear just what will happen with the toolkit once the period of time
expires. Since I have now opted to NOT allow any Automatic Updates, I wanted
verification from an MVP that this option WILL do as it is supposed to.
Given that my previous option to notify me and allow me to review and choose
was OVERRIDDEN by the v5 update, which I had NO choice in reviewing or
installing - I have to wonder if turning off Automatic Updates totally in
the Control Panel is 100% functional.

Still hoping an MVP will chime in here.
Georgia

>
>
> On Sun, 15 Aug 2004 08:34:19 -0400, "Parkers-Georgia & Bob"
> <> wrote:
>
> >In a related thread (Windows update v5,where is the history....) there
has
> >been much discussion on the automatic update to v5 even when the
Automatic
> >Updates settings were set to allow the user to review and choose updates
to
> >install after a notification. Now in v5 there is a choice of turning off
> >the Automatic Updates completely (evidenced by a red shield with an "x"
> >through it in the CONTROL PANEL|AUTOMATIC UPDATES section). I have
chosen
> >that option. DOES IT WORK?
> >
> >Derek (who has obviously taken time to really look into this problem)
posted
> >a link to the Microsoft site where a toolkit can be downloaded to
> >"temporarily" disable the Automatic downloads.
> >(I quote from the site:
> >Since SP2 will start to be delivered to PCs running Windows XP or Windows
XP
> >with SP1 via AU starting on August 16, these customers would like to
> >temporarily block the delivery of SP2 in order to provide additional time
> >for validation and testing of the update. In response to these requests,
> >Microsoft is providing this set of tools.
> >Please note that the mechanism to temporarily disable delivery of Windows
XP
> >SP2 will be available for a period of 120 days (4 months) from August 16.
At
> >the end of this period, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows
XP
> >and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems. )
> >
> >My questions:
> >Will using the Control Panel setting accomplish the same thing, and
totally
> >disable any automatic updates? If not, do we need this toolkit?
> >
> >After the "temporary" period described for blocking SP2, will this
toolkit
> >then re-set the automatic updates and download SP2 without my review and
> >consent?
> >
> >I do not want SP2. Certainly not until I am convinced it will not mess up
my
> >system. I have had enough trouble with buggy updates in the past. I
> >understand SP2 is more like an UPGRADE, not an update. It should be MY
> >CHOICE whether I have it on my system or not. So how do I make sure
> >permanently that Microsoft cannot download and install it without my
> >permission?
> >
> >I really need answers to these questions from an MVP. Please please
please.
> >THANK YOU.
> >Georgia
> >
>

Parkers-Georgia & Bob wrote:

> In a related thread (Windows update v5,where is the history....) there has
> been much discussion on the automatic update to v5 even when the Automatic
> Updates settings were set to allow the user to review and choose updates to
> install after a notification. Now in v5 there is a choice of turning off
> the Automatic Updates completely (evidenced by a red shield with an "x"
> through it in the CONTROL PANEL|AUTOMATIC UPDATES section). I have chosen
> that option. DOES IT WORK?
>
> Derek (who has obviously taken time to really look into this problem) posted
> a link to the Microsoft site where a toolkit can be downloaded to
> "temporarily" disable the Automatic downloads.
> (I quote from the site:
> Since SP2 will start to be delivered to PCs running Windows XP or Windows XP
> with SP1 via AU starting on August 16, these customers would like to
> temporarily block the delivery of SP2 in order to provide additional time
> for validation and testing of the update. In response to these requests,
> Microsoft is providing this set of tools.
> Please note that the mechanism to temporarily disable delivery of Windows XP
> SP2 will be available for a period of 120 days (4 months) from August 16. At
> the end of this period, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP
> and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems. )
>
> My questions:
> Will using the Control Panel setting accomplish the same thing, and totally
> disable any automatic updates? If not, do we need this toolkit?

If you set Automatic Updates to Off in the Control Panel, Automatic
Updates will never install or offer to install any updates for/to you,
neither SP2 or any other update.


> After the "temporary" period described for blocking SP2, will this toolkit
> then re-set the automatic updates and download SP2 without my review and
> consent?

No. The tool just sets a registry setting in your computer, and this
have only effect if WU is enabled on your computer (postponing the
SP2 update to 16. December but letting all other updates through).



--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

THANK YOU TORGEIR!!!


"Torgeir Bakken (MVP)" <Torgeir.Bakken-> wrote in message
news:%...
> Parkers-Georgia & Bob wrote:
>
> > In a related thread (Windows update v5,where is the history....) there
has
> > been much discussion on the automatic update to v5 even when the
Automatic
> > Updates settings were set to allow the user to review and choose updates
to
> > install after a notification. Now in v5 there is a choice of turning
off
> > the Automatic Updates completely (evidenced by a red shield with an "x"
> > through it in the CONTROL PANEL|AUTOMATIC UPDATES section). I have
chosen
> > that option. DOES IT WORK?
> >
> > Derek (who has obviously taken time to really look into this problem)
posted
> > a link to the Microsoft site where a toolkit can be downloaded to
> > "temporarily" disable the Automatic downloads.
> > (I quote from the site:
> > Since SP2 will start to be delivered to PCs running Windows XP or
Windows XP
> > with SP1 via AU starting on August 16, these customers would like to
> > temporarily block the delivery of SP2 in order to provide additional
time
> > for validation and testing of the update. In response to these requests,
> > Microsoft is providing this set of tools.
> > Please note that the mechanism to temporarily disable delivery of
Windows XP
> > SP2 will be available for a period of 120 days (4 months) from August
16. At
> > the end of this period, Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows
XP
> > and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems. )
> >
> > My questions:
> > Will using the Control Panel setting accomplish the same thing, and
totally
> > disable any automatic updates? If not, do we need this toolkit?
>
> If you set Automatic Updates to Off in the Control Panel, Automatic
> Updates will never install or offer to install any updates for/to you,
> neither SP2 or any other update.
>
>
> > After the "temporary" period described for blocking SP2, will this
toolkit
> > then re-set the automatic updates and download SP2 without my review and
> > consent?
>
> No. The tool just sets a registry setting in your computer, and this
> have only effect if WU is enabled on your computer (postponing the
> SP2 update to 16. December but letting all other updates through).
>
>
>
> --
> torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
> Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
> the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx