Automatic Updates settings being overridden

I have two HP Pavillion notebooks, one slightly older than the other, both
running XPHome, SP2. I am their only user/administrator. The Windows
Automatic Updates setting I've always used is Notify me but don't
automatically install them. I always click Apply before exiting the dialog
box. Recently both computers settings return to the preferred/default
Automatic setting I think when the computer is shut down and started again.
But not always, as now I'm noticing. This only got my attention when the
Automatic Updates box started loading in the middle of my work. I checked
Restart Later and went on working. It happened so often, I finally started
confirming my settings were as I wanted them after restarting. They aren't.
They are reverting to the default Automatic. I've asked several techs who do
this for a living; no ideas. This is my first post here. I am not a computer
novice or new to Windows.

Which antivirus/security suite is installed on these systems ?
FWIW, I've never seen such behavior on any system I maintain or own.


MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Sandy Sue wrote:

> I have two HP Pavillion notebooks, one slightly older than the other, both
> running XPHome, SP2. I am their only user/administrator. The Windows
> Automatic Updates setting I've always used is Notify me but don't
> automatically install them. I always click Apply before exiting the dialog
> box. Recently both computers settings return to the preferred/default
> Automatic setting I think when the computer is shut down and started again.
> But not always, as now I'm noticing. This only got my attention when the
> Automatic Updates box started loading in the middle of my work. I checked
> Restart Later and went on working. It happened so often, I finally started
> confirming my settings were as I wanted them after restarting. They aren't.
> They are reverting to the default Automatic. I've asked several techs who do
> this for a living; no ideas. This is my first post here. I am not a computer
> novice or new to Windows.

Well, join the crowd. I sought out MS help in confusion and a certain amount
of desperation. Thought it for sure was something I was/wasn't doing, but
aside from not being new to Windows, absolutely coming up blank. The Help
section doesn't even mention the "Apply" step, just OK.

Security installed is: Norton antivirus (not their other products) 2006, but
the subscription is up on one of these computers 7/22.

"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> Which antivirus/security suite is installed on these systems ?
> FWIW, I've never seen such behavior on any system I maintain or own.
>
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
> Sandy Sue wrote:
>
> > I have two HP Pavillion notebooks, one slightly older than the other, both
> > running XPHome, SP2. I am their only user/administrator. The Windows
> > Automatic Updates setting I've always used is Notify me but don't
> > automatically install them. I always click Apply before exiting the dialog
> > box. Recently both computers settings return to the preferred/default
> > Automatic setting I think when the computer is shut down and started again.
> > But not always, as now I'm noticing. This only got my attention when the
> > Automatic Updates box started loading in the middle of my work. I checked
> > Restart Later and went on working. It happened so often, I finally started
> > confirming my settings were as I wanted them after restarting. They aren't.
> > They are reverting to the default Automatic. I've asked several techs who do
> > this for a living; no ideas. This is my first post here. I am not a computer
> > novice or new to Windows.
>

Was the problematic notebook ever on a network at work ? Perhaps Group
Policy is involved in the resetting of the AU options.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============


Sandy Sue wrote:

> Well, join the crowd. I sought out MS help in confusion and a certain amount
> of desperation. Thought it for sure was something I was/wasn't doing, but
> aside from not being new to Windows, absolutely coming up blank. The Help
> section doesn't even mention the "Apply" step, just OK.
>
> Security installed is: Norton antivirus (not their other products) 2006, but
> the subscription is up on one of these computers 7/22.
>
> "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
>
>
>>Which antivirus/security suite is installed on these systems ?
>>FWIW, I've never seen such behavior on any system I maintain or own.
>>
>>
>>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
>>===============
>> *-343-* FDNY
>>Never Forgotten
>>===============
>>
>>
>>Sandy Sue wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I have two HP Pavillion notebooks, one slightly older than the other, both
>>>running XPHome, SP2. I am their only user/administrator. The Windows
>>>Automatic Updates setting I've always used is Notify me but don't
>>>automatically install them. I always click Apply before exiting the dialog
>>>box. Recently both computers settings return to the preferred/default
>>>Automatic setting I think when the computer is shut down and started again.
>>>But not always, as now I'm noticing. This only got my attention when the
>>>Automatic Updates box started loading in the middle of my work. I checked
>>>Restart Later and went on working. It happened so often, I finally started
>>>confirming my settings were as I wanted them after restarting. They aren't.
>>>They are reverting to the default Automatic. I've asked several techs who do
>>>this for a living; no ideas. This is my first post here. I am not a computer
>>>novice or new to Windows.
>>

Nope, just retired little ol' me and the machines.
Actually there are two notebooks doing this, but not consistently.
Yesterday, the newer one crashed Windows and I had to set it up again
(hallelujah for backups). I've only done this once before but the Geek Squad
assured it me it wasn't rocket science, so gave it a try. It's up, new
Norton and Zone Alarm on. In the process of rounding up 84 Windows Updates
(and 2 more appeared while in that process). NOW I read about another
community member advising someone on a dialup of the steps to download
updates, save for install later. Oh, well. I'm almost done. Fortunately,
seems to be going ok.

In the reboots of this computer, the Update setting that I changed from the
default as one of the first things, seems to be holding throughout the
reboots. But the other Notebook is still having the issue.

Could forced shutdowns change a setting? Even if a setting had not been
changed during that work session?

There's:
- forced computer (incl Windows) shutdowns with cold starts,
- just restarting Windows,
- Windows computer shutdowns and cold starts
Previously I've only noticed settings (of all types) not being saved during
the first one. I think the Windows Update setting hasn't been being saved
during all three. I've just been routinely checking it now, with each
restart/start up.

But really appreciate your continued interest and attempted assistance!
"MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:

> Was the problematic notebook ever on a network at work ? Perhaps Group
> Policy is involved in the resetting of the AU options.
>
> MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> ===============
> *-343-* FDNY
> Never Forgotten
> ===============
>
>
> Sandy Sue wrote:
>
> > Well, join the crowd. I sought out MS help in confusion and a certain amount
> > of desperation. Thought it for sure was something I was/wasn't doing, but
> > aside from not being new to Windows, absolutely coming up blank. The Help
> > section doesn't even mention the "Apply" step, just OK.
> >
> > Security installed is: Norton antivirus (not their other products) 2006, but
> > the subscription is up on one of these computers 7/22.
> >
> > "MowGreen [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Which antivirus/security suite is installed on these systems ?
> >>FWIW, I've never seen such behavior on any system I maintain or own.
> >>
> >>
> >>MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
> >>===============
> >> *-343-* FDNY
> >>Never Forgotten
> >>===============
> >>
> >>
> >>Sandy Sue wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I have two HP Pavillion notebooks, one slightly older than the other, both
> >>>running XPHome, SP2. I am their only user/administrator. The Windows
> >>>Automatic Updates setting I've always used is Notify me but don't
> >>>automatically install them. I always click Apply before exiting the dialog
> >>>box. Recently both computers settings return to the preferred/default
> >>>Automatic setting I think when the computer is shut down and started again.
> >>>But not always, as now I'm noticing. This only got my attention when the
> >>>Automatic Updates box started loading in the middle of my work. I checked
> >>>Restart Later and went on working. It happened so often, I finally started
> >>>confirming my settings were as I wanted them after restarting. They aren't.
> >>>They are reverting to the default Automatic. I've asked several techs who do
> >>>this for a living; no ideas. This is my first post here. I am not a computer
> >>>novice or new to Windows.
> >>
>

"Sandy Sue" <> wrote in message
news:A3E28485-9754-43A9-AB9D-...
>I have two HP Pavillion notebooks, one slightly older than the other, both
> running XPHome, SP2. I am their only user/administrator. The Windows
> Automatic Updates setting I've always used is Notify me but don't
> automatically install them. I always click Apply before exiting the dialog
> box. Recently both computers settings return to the preferred/default
> Automatic setting I think when the computer is shut down and started again.
> But not always, as now I'm noticing. This only got my attention when the
> Automatic Updates box started loading in the middle of my work.


That's something else. It could mean that you allowed an install
of some updates and now you're on a timer. To stop it just stop
the WUAU service. E.g. in a cmd window enter:

net stop wuauserv

But provided you don't try to allow the install of updates before you
are really ready for a potential reboot needed to complete its install
you wouldn't see that prompt.

There is supposedly a registry edit which can change the interval of the prompt.
I haven't bothered trying to find out the details because I usually only allow installs
when I am ready for them. If you want to change the interval my guess would be
that you could use ProcMon to either see the default value being accessed
or (more likely) an attempt made to access that value which fails because
it is only used as an override to a hardcoded default value. Etc.


> I checked
> Restart Later and went on working. It happened so often, I finally started
> confirming my settings were as I wanted them after restarting. They aren't.
> They are reverting to the default Automatic.


It looks like you could be confusing the service options with the service type.

E.g. you set the service options with its Control Panel app (wuaucpl.cpl)
You set the service type with the services.msc administrator console app.
The service needs to be Automatic (in order for both AU and WU to work at all.)
( Note for pedants: those aren't the only ways of changing those options. <w>)


> I've asked several techs who do
> this for a living; no ideas. This is my first post here. I am not a computer
> novice or new to Windows.


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---