Two Questions about Automatic Updates

After rebooting, I saw that (1) automatic updates were enabled (which I did
not do) and (2) the settings were grayed out so that I could not change them.
After that I could no longer find a page or window for those settings.

I had previously set updates to prompt for both download and install -- to
do neither automatically.

Please, how can I get to a page or window for AU settings? (Please suggest
multiples; I am sure there is more than one way.) And what are some ways
that changes to these settings can be disabled or enabled, please?

There is a prominent "Change Settings" link on the left pane of the main MS
Upd page, but that's just to set the language, show betas and switch back to
Windows Upd.

Thanks in advance for help.

Kind regards,
Michael K

1. HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...5bLN%5d;306525

Windows Automatic Updates Overview
http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html

How to configure automatic updates by using Group Policy or registry settings
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;EN-US;328010

2. Check the Service Manager for "Automatic Update" service
Click Start, select Run and type: Services.msc
Press Enter
Locate the - "Automatic Update"
Make sure the service is not disabled and started.

If the service is disabled and cannot be started:

Go to START, Select RUN
Type: regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
Press Ok

If all else fails:-

Windows Update Greyed Out - Restore (Line 179)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Automatic Updates options are grayed out?:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm


--

====================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
====================================
How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Backup and data recovery: http://www.acronis.com/
Enhancing file system performance: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp


"Michael K" <> wrote in message
news:13458488-692D-4300-8153-...
| After rebooting, I saw that (1) automatic updates were enabled (which I did
| not do) and (2) the settings were grayed out so that I could not change them.
| After that I could no longer find a page or window for those settings.
|
| I had previously set updates to prompt for both download and install -- to
| do neither automatically.
|
| Please, how can I get to a page or window for AU settings? (Please suggest
| multiples; I am sure there is more than one way.) And what are some ways
| that changes to these settings can be disabled or enabled, please?
|
| There is a prominent "Change Settings" link on the left pane of the main MS
| Upd page, but that's just to set the language, show betas and switch back to
| Windows Upd.
|
| Thanks in advance for help.
|
| Kind regards,
| Michael K

Thanks gobs!

It was a registry setting; and although I am usually loathe to touch the
registry, the autopolicy article gave precise instructions on how to do this
in a benign and confident manner.

Kind regards,
Michael K

"TaurArian [MS-MVP]" wrote:

> 1. HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...5bLN%5d;306525
>
> Windows Automatic Updates Overview
> http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html
>
> How to configure automatic updates by using Group Policy or registry settings
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;EN-US;328010
>
> 2. Check the Service Manager for "Automatic Update" service
> Click Start, select Run and type: Services.msc
> Press Enter
> Locate the - "Automatic Update"
> Make sure the service is not disabled and started.
>
> If the service is disabled and cannot be started:
>
> Go to START, Select RUN
> Type: regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
> Press Ok
>
> If all else fails:-
>
> Windows Update Greyed Out - Restore (Line 179)
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
> Automatic Updates options are grayed out?:
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm
>
>
> --
>
> ====================================
> TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
> ====================================
> How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> Backup and data recovery: http://www.acronis.com/
> Enhancing file system performance: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp
>
>
> "Michael K" <> wrote in message
> news:13458488-692D-4300-8153-...
> | After rebooting, I saw that (1) automatic updates were enabled (which I did
> | not do) and (2) the settings were grayed out so that I could not change them.
> | After that I could no longer find a page or window for those settings.
> |
> | I had previously set updates to prompt for both download and install -- to
> | do neither automatically.
> |
> | Please, how can I get to a page or window for AU settings? (Please suggest
> | multiples; I am sure there is more than one way.) And what are some ways
> | that changes to these settings can be disabled or enabled, please?
> |
> | There is a prominent "Change Settings" link on the left pane of the main MS
> | Upd page, but that's just to set the language, show betas and switch back to
> | Windows Upd.
> |
> | Thanks in advance for help.
> |
> | Kind regards,
> | Michael K
>
>
>

Pleased it's all sorted out for you now.
K

--

====================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
====================================
How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Backup and data recovery: http://www.acronis.com/
Enhancing file system performance: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp


"Michael K" <> wrote in message
news:AD8F0338-D84A-4383-9574-...
| Thanks gobs!
|
| It was a registry setting; and although I am usually loathe to touch the
| registry, the autopolicy article gave precise instructions on how to do this
| in a benign and confident manner.
|
| Kind regards,
| Michael K
|
| "TaurArian [MS-MVP]" wrote:
|
| > 1. HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default...5bLN%5d;306525
| >
| > Windows Automatic Updates Overview
| > http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html
| >
| > How to configure automatic updates by using Group Policy or registry settings
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;EN-US;328010
| >
| > 2. Check the Service Manager for "Automatic Update" service
| > Click Start, select Run and type: Services.msc
| > Press Enter
| > Locate the - "Automatic Update"
| > Make sure the service is not disabled and started.
| >
| > If the service is disabled and cannot be started:
| >
| > Go to START, Select RUN
| > Type: regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
| > Press Ok
| >
| > If all else fails:-
| >
| > Windows Update Greyed Out - Restore (Line 179)
| > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
| >
| > Automatic Updates options are grayed out?:
| > http://windowsxp.mvps.org/aupolicy.htm
| >
| >
| > --
| >
| > ====================================
| > TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
| > ====================================
| > How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
| > Backup and data recovery: http://www.acronis.com/
| > Enhancing file system performance: http://www.diskeeper.com/defrag.asp
| >
| >
| > "Michael K" <> wrote in message
| > news:13458488-692D-4300-8153-...
| > | After rebooting, I saw that (1) automatic updates were enabled (which I did
| > | not do) and (2) the settings were grayed out so that I could not change them.
| > | After that I could no longer find a page or window for those settings.
| > |
| > | I had previously set updates to prompt for both download and install -- to
| > | do neither automatically.
| > |
| > | Please, how can I get to a page or window for AU settings? (Please suggest
| > | multiples; I am sure there is more than one way.) And what are some ways
| > | that changes to these settings can be disabled or enabled, please?
| > |
| > | There is a prominent "Change Settings" link on the left pane of the main MS
| > | Upd page, but that's just to set the language, show betas and switch back to
| > | Windows Upd.
| > |
| > | Thanks in advance for help.
| > |
| > | Kind regards,
| > | Michael K
| >
| >
| >