I turn off (disable) non-required services by default. This is an information
post for those in the same boat, trying to get Windows Update to run.
I am aware that disabling services may cause things to break with no
warning, and have no problem with that: it's my mess, I clean it up.
I do have slight issues with the fact that the error messages and
knowledgebase articles relating to them rarely suggest that the problem is a
service not running, and if they do, they don't enumerate the prerequisite
services required to get that service running.
And I've a few small issues with the fact that a web-based system like
windows update still gives numerisc error messages that aren't even links to
a knowledgebase article about what the number means: you have to go trawling
through google and usenet to find the answer. It would not be hard to have a
database of error numbers, with the default answer being "we have no
documentation for this error number, please give details". I do it with my
own code. Microsoft can easily afford to.
But those are minor gripes. The point is, I disable services, and know that
any problems therefrom are my fault.
However, no software I run on a daily basis requires these services to be
running. Malware may use exploits in them to attack my system. They take up
valuable memory and CPU cycles just by running. They are "bloat", increasing
my system's attack profile. So, I disable them.
However, Windows Update requires a few of these optional services to be
running.
So, for those in the same situation as I, the additional services required
in this version of Windows update, that were not required for previous
versions, are (so far as I can tell):
Automatic Updates
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
COM+ Event System
Event Log
Telephony (not strictly required, but leaving it disabled causes an error in
your event log every minute, even if you never want, use or have installed
any telephony devices)
Setting them all to "manual" and starting them seems to work.
Note that the new installer will want to install something (as a critical
update) called "Windows Genuine Advantage": this appears to be aimed mostly
at changing the licenses of Windows 2k/XP users from "if you bought it, you
can run it" to "if you bought it and retained the paperwork, you can run it".
It's required for optional updates, apparently, so worth installing, I guess:
I did, but I just know I'll grow to hate it.
But it IS an optional, spyware component, dressed as a critical update. This
is one of the reasons why permitting automated install of critical updates is
a Very Bad Idea: no third party can be trusted to install software on your
system without checking.
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