Why does windows update icon appear in taskbar?

We have our computers configured to automatically download Windows updates
and to install them on the schedule that we specify. After updates have been
downloaded, why does an icon appear in the taskbar which says "updates are
ready for your computer". Shouldn't it all be automatic if we have specified
that as well as a time to install the updates. If we have to click on the
icon to install the updates, it is not automatic.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
M$ article 306525
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;306525

Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click to select one of the
following options. We recommend that you select the Automatic (recommended)
Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them
option. • Automatic (recommended) Automatically download recommended updates
for my computer and install them

If you click this setting, click to select the day and time for scheduled
updates to occur. You can schedule Automatic Updates for any time of day.
Remember, your computer must be on at the scheduled time for updates to be
installed. After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online
and uses your Internet connection to find updates on the Windows Update Web
site that apply to your computer. Updates are downloaded automatically in the
background, and you are not notified or interrupted during this process. An
icon appears in the notification area of your taskbar when the updates are
being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the download status. To
pause or to resume the download, right-click the icon, and then click Pause
or Resume. When the download is completed, another message appears in the
notification area so that you can review the updates that are scheduled for
installation. If you choose not to install at that time, Windows starts the
installation on your set schedule.

For additional information about how to schedule Automatic Updates, click
the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:
327838 How to schedule automatic updates in Windows XP, Windows 2000, or
Windows Server 2003
• Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them

After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online and uses
your Internet connection to automatically download updates from the Windows
Update Web site. An icon appears in the notification area of your taskbar
when the updates are being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the
download status. To pause or to resume the download, right-click the icon,
and then click Pause or Resume. When the download is complete, a message
appears in the notification area. Click the Automatic Updates icon or
message. If you do not want to install a downloaded update, click Details,
and then click to clear the check box next to that update to decline it.
Click Install to install the selected updates.
• Notify me but don't automatically download or install them

After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online and uses
your Internet connection to search for downloads from the Windows Update Web
site. An Automatic Updates icon and message appear in the notification area
of your taskbar when new updates are available to download or to install.
Click the icon or message to view the updates. If you do not want to download
a selected update, click to clear the check box next to that update to
decline it. Click Start Download to download the selected updates. The
Automatic Updates icon remains in the notification area of your taskbar while
the updates are being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the
download status. To pause or to resume the download, right-click the icon,
and then click Pause or Resume. When the download is complete, another
message appears in the notification area to inform you that the updates are
ready to install. Click the Automatic Updates icon or the message, and then
click Install to install the updates.

Jim,

You seem to be 'in the know' and I have a related problem so I wonder if you
can assist?

The windows automatic update logo is always in the taskbar at the bottom
right of my screen and it is always on 0%. This doesn't seem to prevent
updates from occuring and it is a purely cosmetic problem but for some reason
it seems to really get on my nerves. Maybe its like somebody showing you a
present all wrapped up with a ribbon and everything only for you to find that
its empty; just empty promises! lol. But seriously I'd love to get rid of it.

I have automatic updater set to download and install all updates
automatically. My computer is running XP

"jim riverman" wrote:

> How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
> M$ article 306525
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;306525
>
> Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click to select one of the
> following options. We recommend that you select the Automatic (recommended)
> Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them
> option. • Automatic (recommended) Automatically download recommended updates
> for my computer and install them
>
> If you click this setting, click to select the day and time for scheduled
> updates to occur. You can schedule Automatic Updates for any time of day.
> Remember, your computer must be on at the scheduled time for updates to be
> installed. After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online
> and uses your Internet connection to find updates on the Windows Update Web
> site that apply to your computer. Updates are downloaded automatically in the
> background, and you are not notified or interrupted during this process. An
> icon appears in the notification area of your taskbar when the updates are
> being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the download status. To
> pause or to resume the download, right-click the icon, and then click Pause
> or Resume. When the download is completed, another message appears in the
> notification area so that you can review the updates that are scheduled for
> installation. If you choose not to install at that time, Windows starts the
> installation on your set schedule.
>
> For additional information about how to schedule Automatic Updates, click
> the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
> Base:
> 327838 How to schedule automatic updates in Windows XP, Windows 2000, or
> Windows Server 2003
> • Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them
>
> After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online and uses
> your Internet connection to automatically download updates from the Windows
> Update Web site. An icon appears in the notification area of your taskbar
> when the updates are being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the
> download status. To pause or to resume the download, right-click the icon,
> and then click Pause or Resume. When the download is complete, a message
> appears in the notification area. Click the Automatic Updates icon or
> message. If you do not want to install a downloaded update, click Details,
> and then click to clear the check box next to that update to decline it.
> Click Install to install the selected updates.
> • Notify me but don't automatically download or install them
>
> After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online and uses
> your Internet connection to search for downloads from the Windows Update Web
> site. An Automatic Updates icon and message appear in the notification area
> of your taskbar when new updates are available to download or to install.
> Click the icon or message to view the updates. If you do not want to download
> a selected update, click to clear the check box next to that update to
> decline it. Click Start Download to download the selected updates. The
> Automatic Updates icon remains in the notification area of your taskbar while
> the updates are being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the
> download status. To pause or to resume the download, right-click the icon,
> and then click Pause or Resume. When the download is complete, another
> message appears in the notification area to inform you that the updates are
> ready to install. Click the Automatic Updates icon or the message, and then
> click Install to install the updates.
>
>
>

Barry

The first thing that come to my mind is this:
It's a very simple thing to try and see if it works for you.
Can't promise it will work because there are so many possiblities.
Here goes:

right click your task bar.
select properties
taskbar tab, at the bottom
make sure hide the inactive icons is checked.
then select customize button
find and select the icon and select "hide when inactive."
do so in the current and past items.

Some tools are available on the internet to clear the past items.

example
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm






"Barry Cullen" wrote:

> Jim,
>
> You seem to be 'in the know' and I have a related problem so I wonder if you
> can assist?
>
> The windows automatic update logo is always in the taskbar at the bottom
> right of my screen and it is always on 0%. This doesn't seem to prevent
> updates from occuring and it is a purely cosmetic problem but for some reason
> it seems to really get on my nerves. Maybe its like somebody showing you a
> present all wrapped up with a ribbon and everything only for you to find that
> its empty; just empty promises! lol. But seriously I'd love to get rid of it.
>
> I have automatic updater set to download and install all updates
> automatically. My computer is running XP
>