Installing updates window a modal window .... WHY!!!

Running IE7, doing a Windows update, and when the Installing updates window
comes up, it's modal and locks up the WHOLE IE7 browser! This is INSANE!
What about all those IMPORTANT tabs I have open? Basically, kills the
concept of tabbed browsing. Now, of course I can open another instance of
the browser, but getting the sites up I need is not that easy.

--

Mike Matheny

"Mike Matheny" wrote:

> Running IE7, doing a Windows update, and when the Installing updates window
> comes up, it's modal and locks up the WHOLE IE7 browser! This is INSANE!
> What about all those IMPORTANT tabs I have open? Basically, kills the
> concept of tabbed browsing. Now, of course I can open another instance of
> the browser, but getting the sites up I need is not that easy.
>
> --
>
> Mike Matheny
>
>
>
>
>

Unbelievable. Always something new from an OP.

When installing Updates it is a good idea not to use the computer while the installation is in progress. In cases like you as posted many will wonder why is my Update installation is corrupt or not working.

DO NOT USE the computer while the installation is in progress. That is what IE is telling you

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Mike Matheny" <thomasdotmdotmathenyatnasadotgov> wrote in message news:%...
> Running IE7, doing a Windows update, and when the Installing updates window
> comes up, it's modal and locks up the WHOLE IE7 browser! This is INSANE!
> What about all those IMPORTANT tabs I have open? Basically, kills the
> concept of tabbed browsing. Now, of course I can open another instance of
> the browser, but getting the sites up I need is not that easy.
>
> --
>
> Mike Matheny
>
>
>
>

Mike Matheny wrote:
> Running IE7, doing a Windows update, and when the Installing
> updates window comes up, it's modal and locks up the WHOLE IE7
> browser! This is INSANE! What about all those IMPORTANT tabs I
> have open? Basically, kills the concept of tabbed browsing. Now,
> of course I can open another instance of the browser, but getting
> the sites up I need is not that easy.

Peter Foldes wrote:
> Unbelievable. Always something new from an OP.
>
> When installing Updates it is a good idea not to use the computer
> while the installation is in progress. In cases like you as posted
> many will wonder why is my Update installation is corrupt or not
> working.
>
> DO NOT USE the computer while the installation is in progress. That
> is what IE is telling you

I agree - in part.

This is similar to the argument from those who set the Automatic Updates to
Download and Notify them updates are ready to install - and then they
complain that after they tell it, "Okay - I am ready - Install Away" - it
later notifies them that they need to reboot and they do not want to. That
they should be able to choose when they reboot the machine. They *knew*
going in that it was a possibility they would have to reboot if they
installed the updates - so why did they choose to install the updates
knowing this if they were just going to complain later about their own
choice.

In a similar vein here - it's a KNOWN fact that when you go to Windows
Update(Microsoft Update) web page and scan for and start installing -
Internet Explorer pretty much takes up the screen and locks that session of
IE while it installs. I always assumed this was 'by design' so you wouldn't
just continue working and possibly interfere with the installation. That
never *really* stopped me from opeing another window and doing a few
things - but in the back of my mind - I knew better. So in this case - the
OP has chosen to start the install *knowing* that IE will probably lock that
session down (tabs and all), and then wants to complain about things
happening the way they knew it would.

It always comes down to - in both situations I have discussed - if you don't
want it to happen that way - then you don't make the initial choice you know
will lead to that situation. Don't install updates until you are ready to
allow the computer to do it properly - without interference.

However - if the OP wants to rant about it and would like some
work-around... That's the OPs right.

Work-Around... Open a new Internet Explorer instance (window) to go to
Windows Update (Microsoft Update) and scan for/install updates from. Then
you can still use your other session with all the open tabs to continue
reading/surfing. It *is* possible that an update or two might fail
depending on what you might have open due to your surfing - but as long as
you can live with that - then this is the choice for you... But just like
the other choice - you need to go in knowing what COULD happen and not get
frustrated if it does.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Shenan

Agreed but with reservation.

If installing any Update or Software especially if the Update is marked Critical then using the computer by multitasking while the installation is in progress is like playing Russian Roulette with the chance that the installation will become corrupt and cause more issues then wanted

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"Shenan Stanley" <> wrote in message news:...
> Mike Matheny wrote:
>> Running IE7, doing a Windows update, and when the Installing
>> updates window comes up, it's modal and locks up the WHOLE IE7
>> browser! This is INSANE! What about all those IMPORTANT tabs I
>> have open? Basically, kills the concept of tabbed browsing. Now,
>> of course I can open another instance of the browser, but getting
>> the sites up I need is not that easy.
>
> Peter Foldes wrote:
>> Unbelievable. Always something new from an OP.
>>
>> When installing Updates it is a good idea not to use the computer
>> while the installation is in progress. In cases like you as posted
>> many will wonder why is my Update installation is corrupt or not
>> working.
>>
>> DO NOT USE the computer while the installation is in progress. That
>> is what IE is telling you
>
> I agree - in part.
>
> This is similar to the argument from those who set the Automatic Updates to
> Download and Notify them updates are ready to install - and then they
> complain that after they tell it, "Okay - I am ready - Install Away" - it
> later notifies them that they need to reboot and they do not want to. That
> they should be able to choose when they reboot the machine. They *knew*
> going in that it was a possibility they would have to reboot if they
> installed the updates - so why did they choose to install the updates
> knowing this if they were just going to complain later about their own
> choice.
>
> In a similar vein here - it's a KNOWN fact that when you go to Windows
> Update(Microsoft Update) web page and scan for and start installing -
> Internet Explorer pretty much takes up the screen and locks that session of
> IE while it installs. I always assumed this was 'by design' so you wouldn't
> just continue working and possibly interfere with the installation. That
> never *really* stopped me from opeing another window and doing a few
> things - but in the back of my mind - I knew better. So in this case - the
> OP has chosen to start the install *knowing* that IE will probably lock that
> session down (tabs and all), and then wants to complain about things
> happening the way they knew it would.
>
> It always comes down to - in both situations I have discussed - if you don't
> want it to happen that way - then you don't make the initial choice you know
> will lead to that situation. Don't install updates until you are ready to
> allow the computer to do it properly - without interference.
>
> However - if the OP wants to rant about it and would like some
> work-around... That's the OPs right.
>
> Work-Around... Open a new Internet Explorer instance (window) to go to
> Windows Update (Microsoft Update) and scan for/install updates from. Then
> you can still use your other session with all the open tabs to continue
> reading/surfing. It *is* possible that an update or two might fail
> depending on what you might have open due to your surfing - but as long as
> you can live with that - then this is the choice for you... But just like
> the other choice - you need to go in knowing what COULD happen and not get
> frustrated if it does.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>

You have got to be joking. The whole windows update model is intended to
allow updates to occur in the background while the PC is in use. It happens
that way on 30,000+ PCs at work without employees having to stop using their
PCs and sit idle.

If files are in use that need to be updated, then they get scheduled for
replacement on the next reboot and the user will be prompted to reboot when
the update process is completed.

The only thing the OP did wrong was that it appears he opened the Windows
update site in the same IE instance that he was doing other work in. The
lesson for him is to simply open Windows update in a new IE instance from now
on - or better yet, let the built-in update functionality do its job and
avoid opening the web based update site when doing other work.

There is certainly no reason to stop using your PC while updates are applied
nor is that the expectation of the update process. And it certainly does no
good to attack the OP with things you apparently know little about.

Dale
--
Dale Preston
MCAD C#
MCSE, MCDBA


"Peter Foldes" wrote:

> Shenan
>
> Agreed but with reservation.
>
> If installing any Update or Software especially if the Update is marked Critical then using the computer by multitasking while the installation is in progress is like playing Russian Roulette with the chance that the installation will become corrupt and cause more issues then wanted
>
> --
> Peter
>
> Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
> Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
>
> "Shenan Stanley" <> wrote in message news:...
> > Mike Matheny wrote:
> >> Running IE7, doing a Windows update, and when the Installing
> >> updates window comes up, it's modal and locks up the WHOLE IE7
> >> browser! This is INSANE! What about all those IMPORTANT tabs I
> >> have open? Basically, kills the concept of tabbed browsing. Now,
> >> of course I can open another instance of the browser, but getting
> >> the sites up I need is not that easy.
> >
> > Peter Foldes wrote:
> >> Unbelievable. Always something new from an OP.
> >>
> >> When installing Updates it is a good idea not to use the computer
> >> while the installation is in progress. In cases like you as posted
> >> many will wonder why is my Update installation is corrupt or not
> >> working.
> >>
> >> DO NOT USE the computer while the installation is in progress. That
> >> is what IE is telling you
> >
> > I agree - in part.
> >
> > This is similar to the argument from those who set the Automatic Updates to
> > Download and Notify them updates are ready to install - and then they
> > complain that after they tell it, "Okay - I am ready - Install Away" - it
> > later notifies them that they need to reboot and they do not want to. That
> > they should be able to choose when they reboot the machine. They *knew*
> > going in that it was a possibility they would have to reboot if they
> > installed the updates - so why did they choose to install the updates
> > knowing this if they were just going to complain later about their own
> > choice.
> >
> > In a similar vein here - it's a KNOWN fact that when you go to Windows
> > Update(Microsoft Update) web page and scan for and start installing -
> > Internet Explorer pretty much takes up the screen and locks that session of
> > IE while it installs. I always assumed this was 'by design' so you wouldn't
> > just continue working and possibly interfere with the installation. That
> > never *really* stopped me from opeing another window and doing a few
> > things - but in the back of my mind - I knew better. So in this case - the
> > OP has chosen to start the install *knowing* that IE will probably lock that
> > session down (tabs and all), and then wants to complain about things
> > happening the way they knew it would.
> >
> > It always comes down to - in both situations I have discussed - if you don't
> > want it to happen that way - then you don't make the initial choice you know
> > will lead to that situation. Don't install updates until you are ready to
> > allow the computer to do it properly - without interference.
> >
> > However - if the OP wants to rant about it and would like some
> > work-around... That's the OPs right.
> >
> > Work-Around... Open a new Internet Explorer instance (window) to go to
> > Windows Update (Microsoft Update) and scan for/install updates from. Then
> > you can still use your other session with all the open tabs to continue
> > reading/surfing. It *is* possible that an update or two might fail
> > depending on what you might have open due to your surfing - but as long as
> > you can live with that - then this is the choice for you... But just like
> > the other choice - you need to go in knowing what COULD happen and not get
> > frustrated if it does.
> >
> > --
> > Shenan Stanley
> > MS-MVP
> > --
> > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> >
> >
>