Danger! Auto-restart can steal your work

Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed thereafter...my
machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically displays a shield icon on the
status taskbar and interrupts my workflow with a dialog box threatening to
restart the computer in 5 minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW or
RESTART LATER; but LATER is in 5 minutes.

This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount of work
in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with many windows open.
A distraction takes you urgently away from the machine for a short period
(but longer than 5 minutes. We return to a rebooted machine, with all work
lost.

A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a time
crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but in your
workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If you open or
close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you never get to see it.
The first you know of this is five minutes later, when your machine reboots.
Yep, you just lost everything.

By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it back on.
It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.

This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest attention
and highest priority.

entropy

You need to reconfigure your Windows Update agent to notify you when new
updates have downloaded. Then you can install the updates when you want.

Run 'wuauclt.exe /showsettingsdialog' (without the single quotes) then click
on 'more options'.

Regards,
Rob

"entropy" <> wrote in message
news:4EE1B717-11BC-4A2B-AC11-...
> Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
> thereafter...my
> machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically displays a shield icon on
> the
> status taskbar and interrupts my workflow with a dialog box threatening to
> restart the computer in 5 minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW
> or
> RESTART LATER; but LATER is in 5 minutes.
>
> This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount of
> work
> in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with many windows
> open.
> A distraction takes you urgently away from the machine for a short period
> (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to a rebooted machine, with all
> work
> lost.
>
> A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a time
> crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but in your
> workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If you open or
> close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you never get to see
> it.
> The first you know of this is five minutes later, when your machine
> reboots.
> Yep, you just lost everything.
>
> By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
> auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it back
> on.
> It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
>
> This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest attention
> and highest priority.
>
> entropy

entropy wrote:
> Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
> thereafter...my machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically
> displays a shield icon on the status taskbar and interrupts my
> workflow with a dialog box threatening to restart the computer in 5
> minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW or RESTART LATER;
> but LATER is in 5 minutes.
>
> This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount
> of work in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with
> many windows open. A distraction takes you urgently away from the
> machine for a short period (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to
> a rebooted machine, with all work lost.
>
> A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a
> time crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but
> in your workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If
> you open or close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you
> never get to see it. The first you know of this is five minutes
> later, when your machine reboots. Yep, you just lost everything.
>
> By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
> auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it
> back on. It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
>
> This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest
> attention and highest priority.
>
> entropy



I never set windows update to automatically download and install updates,
and I rarely find myself with a lot of open, unsaved work, that I cannot
afford to lose!

I choose to get the windows updates at my convenience, knowing I will most
likely need to reboot upon installation. I do have windows update set to
notify me when updates are available, but I choose when to download and
install!

--
Don Burnette

Entropy,

I totally, wholeheartedly, and 100% agree with you. Other responses to your
concern don't seem to realize that it is not the upgrade downloads that is
the problem; the problem is that, even if you select "Later" (for rebooting)
it will go ahead and reboot on it's own even if it is later. Further, if you
select later, you'll be interrupted every few minutes with another query.
Yep, I don't like that at all.

I agree. Microsoft needs to remove the auto re-boot later scheme. It has
cost me work as well.

dogbeagle

"entropy" wrote:

> Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed thereafter...my
> machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically displays a shield icon on the
> status taskbar and interrupts my workflow with a dialog box threatening to
> restart the computer in 5 minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW or
> RESTART LATER; but LATER is in 5 minutes.
>
> This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount of work
> in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with many windows open.
> A distraction takes you urgently away from the machine for a short period
> (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to a rebooted machine, with all work
> lost.
>
> A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a time
> crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but in your
> workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If you open or
> close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you never get to see it.
> The first you know of this is five minutes later, when your machine reboots.
> Yep, you just lost everything.
>
> By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
> auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it back on.
> It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
>
> This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest attention
> and highest priority.
>
> entropy

I think that Microsoft did not do a good job of advertising the fact that a
computer would reboot without notice - I think I might make mention of it to
the Windows Update group - Usually I handle server WSUS issues, and it seems
that the home WU agent behavior is slightly (ever so slightly) different.

If you would like to keep your machine installing updates by itself, but do
not want to restart the computer, try the following steps and get back to
us:

Edit the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Policies\ Microsoft\
Windows\ WindowsUpdate\AU

If it doesn't already exist, create a DWord value, call it
"NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers". Set this to '0' if you want Windows to
automatically restart, or 1 to prevent automatic restart. Exit and reboot
your computer.

Now, as long as users are logged on the system the computer won't restart by
itself without your prompting.

Of course the usual disclaimers about backing up your registry apply, etc.

The other posts by myself and others were telling OP how to change his
configuration easily to take matters into his own hands.

Regards,
Rob

"dogbeagle" <> wrote in message
news:C9E9DFCE-9326-4F8E-B277-...
> Entropy,
>
> I totally, wholeheartedly, and 100% agree with you. Other responses to
> your
> concern don't seem to realize that it is not the upgrade downloads that is
> the problem; the problem is that, even if you select "Later" (for
> rebooting)
> it will go ahead and reboot on it's own even if it is later. Further, if
> you
> select later, you'll be interrupted every few minutes with another query.
> Yep, I don't like that at all.
>
> I agree. Microsoft needs to remove the auto re-boot later scheme. It has
> cost me work as well.
>
> dogbeagle
>
> "entropy" wrote:
>
>> Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
>> thereafter...my
>> machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically displays a shield icon on
>> the
>> status taskbar and interrupts my workflow with a dialog box threatening
>> to
>> restart the computer in 5 minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART
>> NOW or
>> RESTART LATER; but LATER is in 5 minutes.
>>
>> This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount of
>> work
>> in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with many windows
>> open.
>> A distraction takes you urgently away from the machine for a short period
>> (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to a rebooted machine, with all
>> work
>> lost.
>>
>> A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a time
>> crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but in your
>> workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If you open or
>> close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you never get to see
>> it.
>> The first you know of this is five minutes later, when your machine
>> reboots.
>> Yep, you just lost everything.
>>
>> By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
>> auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it back
>> on.
>> It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
>>
>> This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest
>> attention
>> and highest priority.
>>
>> entropy

Rob:
Thanks for the reply. I'd love to reconfigure my Update agent.

Unfortunately, entering 'wuauclt.exe/showsettingsdialog' or
'wuauclt.exe-399a8e72.pf/showsettingsdialog' (single quotes were not used and
wuauclt.exe-399A8E72.pf is the only file that turned up in a search) in the
RUN box produces the dialog box that Windows cannot file either file.

entropy

"maximillianx" wrote:

> You need to reconfigure your Windows Update agent to notify you when new
> updates have downloaded. Then you can install the updates when you want.
>
> Run 'wuauclt.exe /showsettingsdialog' (without the single quotes) then click
> on 'more options'.
>
> Regards,
> Rob
>
> "entropy" <> wrote in message
> news:4EE1B717-11BC-4A2B-AC11-...
> > Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
> > thereafter...my
> > machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically displays a shield icon on
> > the
> > status taskbar and interrupts my workflow with a dialog box threatening to
> > restart the computer in 5 minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW
> > or
> > RESTART LATER; but LATER is in 5 minutes.
> >
> > This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount of
> > work
> > in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with many windows
> > open.
> > A distraction takes you urgently away from the machine for a short period
> > (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to a rebooted machine, with all
> > work
> > lost.
> >
> > A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a time
> > crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but in your
> > workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If you open or
> > close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you never get to see
> > it.
> > The first you know of this is five minutes later, when your machine
> > reboots.
> > Yep, you just lost everything.
> >
> > By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
> > auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it back
> > on.
> > It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
> >
> > This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest attention
> > and highest priority.
> >
> > entropy
>
>
>

Dear Don:
I used to have Windows Update set just as you suggest; however, since the
latest batch of updates were installed, including SP2 and a bunch of security
packages, I no longer seem to have that option. Where and how, please.

entropy

"Don Burnette" wrote:

> entropy wrote:
> > Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
> > thereafter...my machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically
> > displays a shield icon on the status taskbar and interrupts my
> > workflow with a dialog box threatening to restart the computer in 5
> > minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW or RESTART LATER;
> > but LATER is in 5 minutes.
> >
> > This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount
> > of work in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with
> > many windows open. A distraction takes you urgently away from the
> > machine for a short period (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to
> > a rebooted machine, with all work lost.
> >
> > A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a
> > time crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but
> > in your workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If
> > you open or close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you
> > never get to see it. The first you know of this is five minutes
> > later, when your machine reboots. Yep, you just lost everything.
> >
> > By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
> > auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it
> > back on. It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
> >
> > This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest
> > attention and highest priority.
> >
> > entropy
>
>
>
> I never set windows update to automatically download and install updates,
> and I rarely find myself with a lot of open, unsaved work, that I cannot
> afford to lose!
>
> I choose to get the windows updates at my convenience, knowing I will most
> likely need to reboot upon installation. I do have windows update set to
> notify me when updates are available, but I choose when to download and
> install!
>
> --
> Don Burnette
>
>
>
>

Dear Rob: I'm sorry but I'll have to ask you to dumb down your instructions
a notch. I've been in my registry, but that was a bit ago and I no longer
remember how to get there. Also, I've never created a DWord so I'll need
just a bit more there as well. Thanks.

entropy

"maximillianx" wrote:

> I think that Microsoft did not do a good job of advertising the fact that a
> computer would reboot without notice - I think I might make mention of it to
> the Windows Update group - Usually I handle server WSUS issues, and it seems
> that the home WU agent behavior is slightly (ever so slightly) different.
>
> If you would like to keep your machine installing updates by itself, but do
> not want to restart the computer, try the following steps and get back to
> us:
>
> Edit the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Policies\ Microsoft\
> Windows\ WindowsUpdate\AU
>
> If it doesn't already exist, create a DWord value, call it
> "NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers". Set this to '0' if you want Windows to
> automatically restart, or 1 to prevent automatic restart. Exit and reboot
> your computer.
>
> Now, as long as users are logged on the system the computer won't restart by
> itself without your prompting.
>
> Of course the usual disclaimers about backing up your registry apply, etc.
>
> The other posts by myself and others were telling OP how to change his
> configuration easily to take matters into his own hands.
>
> Regards,
> Rob
>
> "dogbeagle" <> wrote in message
> news:C9E9DFCE-9326-4F8E-B277-...
> > Entropy,
> >
> > I totally, wholeheartedly, and 100% agree with you. Other responses to
> > your
> > concern don't seem to realize that it is not the upgrade downloads that is
> > the problem; the problem is that, even if you select "Later" (for
> > rebooting)
> > it will go ahead and reboot on it's own even if it is later. Further, if
> > you
> > select later, you'll be interrupted every few minutes with another query.
> > Yep, I don't like that at all.
> >
> > I agree. Microsoft needs to remove the auto re-boot later scheme. It has
> > cost me work as well.
> >
> > dogbeagle
> >
> > "entropy" wrote:
> >
> >> Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
> >> thereafter...my
> >> machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically displays a shield icon on
> >> the
> >> status taskbar and interrupts my workflow with a dialog box threatening
> >> to
> >> restart the computer in 5 minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART
> >> NOW or
> >> RESTART LATER; but LATER is in 5 minutes.
> >>
> >> This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount of
> >> work
> >> in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with many windows
> >> open.
> >> A distraction takes you urgently away from the machine for a short period
> >> (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to a rebooted machine, with all
> >> work
> >> lost.
> >>
> >> A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a time
> >> crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but in your
> >> workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If you open or
> >> close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you never get to see
> >> it.
> >> The first you know of this is five minutes later, when your machine
> >> reboots.
> >> Yep, you just lost everything.
> >>
> >> By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
> >> auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it back
> >> on.
> >> It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
> >>
> >> This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest
> >> attention
> >> and highest priority.
> >>
> >> entropy
>
>
>

Hey, Don:
I finally stared at the Windows Update home page long enough to note that
the box on the right-hand side had a link in it entitled, "pick a time to
install updates". This leads to a dialog box with the lead line "Help
protect your PC...." The unassuming "More Options" radio button at the
bottom of this box leads to a box that lets the user choose the option you
suggest.....which I've now done.

I have a frequently asked question, "Why was this so hard to find?"

entropy

"Don Burnette" wrote:

> entropy wrote:
> > Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
> > thereafter...my machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically
> > displays a shield icon on the status taskbar and interrupts my
> > workflow with a dialog box threatening to restart the computer in 5
> > minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW or RESTART LATER;
> > but LATER is in 5 minutes.
> >
> > This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount
> > of work in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with
> > many windows open. A distraction takes you urgently away from the
> > machine for a short period (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to
> > a rebooted machine, with all work lost.
> >
> > A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a
> > time crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but
> > in your workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If
> > you open or close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you
> > never get to see it. The first you know of this is five minutes
> > later, when your machine reboots. Yep, you just lost everything.
> >
> > By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
> > auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it
> > back on. It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
> >
> > This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest
> > attention and highest priority.
> >
> > entropy
>
>
>
> I never set windows update to automatically download and install updates,
> and I rarely find myself with a lot of open, unsaved work, that I cannot
> afford to lose!
>
> I choose to get the windows updates at my convenience, knowing I will most
> likely need to reboot upon installation. I do have windows update set to
> notify me when updates are available, but I choose when to download and
> install!
>
> --
> Don Burnette
>
>
>
>

Darned if I know, been a while since I set mine that way... sounds like they
have changed it's location since I set mine.

Glad you found it though, I myself much prefer to choose when I want to
download and install my udpates. I get the little notification in the tray
telling me updates are available, and then when I decide to I go grab em and
install.


Don





entropy wrote:
> Hey, Don:
> I finally stared at the Windows Update home page long enough to note
> that the box on the right-hand side had a link in it entitled, "pick
> a time to install updates". This leads to a dialog box with the lead
> line "Help protect your PC...." The unassuming "More Options" radio
> button at the bottom of this box leads to a box that lets the user
> choose the option you suggest.....which I've now done.
>
> I have a frequently asked question, "Why was this so hard to find?"
>
> entropy
>
> "Don Burnette" wrote:
>
>> entropy wrote:
>>> Since installing SP2....or some other auto-update installed
>>> thereafter...my machine (HP laptop running XP Pro) periodically
>>> displays a shield icon on the status taskbar and interrupts my
>>> workflow with a dialog box threatening to restart the computer in 5
>>> minutes. I'm offered the options of RESTART NOW or RESTART LATER;
>>> but LATER is in 5 minutes.
>>>
>>> This feature has cost me and several associates a significant amount
>>> of work in scenarios like the following. Working diligently with
>>> many windows open. A distraction takes you urgently away from the
>>> machine for a short period (but longer than 5 minutes. We return to
>>> a rebooted machine, with all work lost.
>>>
>>> A variant on this scenario is the working diligently scenario with a
>>> time crunch. The RESTART dialog box is discouraged with LATER, but
>>> in your workflow you are manipulating a large number of windows. If
>>> you open or close a window just as the dialog box re-presents, you
>>> never get to see it. The first you know of this is five minutes
>>> later, when your machine reboots. Yep, you just lost everything.
>>>
>>> By the way, since the installation of SP2, Powerpoint opens with
>>> auto-recovery turned off. No, it doesn't matter whether you turn it
>>> back on. It gets reset to OFF every time you close it.
>>>
>>> This is a dangerous glitch that should have Microsoft's earliest
>>> attention and highest priority.
>>>
>>> entropy
>>
>>
>>
>> I never set windows update to automatically download and install
>> updates, and I rarely find myself with a lot of open, unsaved work,
>> that I cannot afford to lose!
>>
>> I choose to get the windows updates at my convenience, knowing I
>> will most likely need to reboot upon installation. I do have windows
>> update set to notify me when updates are available, but I choose
>> when to download and install!
>>
>> --
>> Don Burnette