Windows Update not Consistent

I have two coputers running XP SP2. On one of them the update for
IE7 is listed as "high priority" in Windows Update, while on the other
IE7 is listed as an "optional" update. Does anyone know why? And
which SHOULD it be?

Also. On one of the computers, SP3 is "recommended" while on the
other, it is not mentioned at all.

Why does Windows Update have different recommendations on two pcs who
supposedly have the same version of Windows.

Is this concerning what's offered by Automatic Updates, Windows Update
website, or a combination of the two?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Lou Jade wrote:
> I have two coputers running XP SP2. On one of them the update for
> IE7 is listed as "high priority" in Windows Update, while on the other
> IE7 is listed as an "optional" update. Does anyone know why? And
> which SHOULD it be?
>
> Also. On one of the computers, SP3 is "recommended" while on the
> other, it is not mentioned at all.
>
> Why does Windows Update have different recommendations on two pcs who
> supposedly have the same version of Windows.

On Thu, 8 May 2008 14:40:04 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
<> wrote:

>Is this concerning what's offered by Automatic Updates, Windows Update
>website, or a combination of the two?

The above comments pertain to what is listed when I go to the windows
update site and click on "custom". WU then (as I understand it)
examines my computer and lists available updates.

Lou Jade wrote:
>> Is this concerning what's offered by Automatic Updates, Windows Update
>> website, or a combination of the two?
>
> The above comments pertain to what is listed when I go to the windows
> update site and click on "custom". WU then (as I understand it)
> examines my computer and lists available updates.

The Windows Update servers appear to be so horked after the release of WinXP
SP3, it's anybody's guess why you're seeing what you're seeing.

On Thu, 8 May 2008 18:14:04 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
<> wrote:

>Lou Jade wrote:
>>> Is this concerning what's offered by Automatic Updates, Windows Update
>>> website, or a combination of the two?
>>
>> The above comments pertain to what is listed when I go to the windows
>> update site and click on "custom". WU then (as I understand it)
>> examines my computer and lists available updates.
>
>The Windows Update servers appear to be so horked after the release of WinXP
>SP3, it's anybody's guess why you're seeing what you're seeing.

You are probably right regarding SP3 being listed by one PC and not
the other. However, the situation regarding IE7 being listed by one
PC as "optional" and "high priority" by the other first occurred two
months ago - BEFORE SP3 was on the scene.

Lou Jade wrote:
> On Thu, 8 May 2008 18:14:04 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
> <> wrote:
>
>> Lou Jade wrote:
>>>> Is this concerning what's offered by Automatic Updates, Windows Update
>>>> website, or a combination of the two?
>>>
>>> The above comments pertain to what is listed when I go to the windows
>>> update site and click on "custom". WU then (as I understand it)
>>> examines my computer and lists available updates.
>>
>> The Windows Update servers appear to be so horked after the release of
>> WinXP SP3, it's anybody's guess why you're seeing what you're seeing.
>
> You are probably right regarding SP3 being listed by one PC and not
> the other. However, the situation regarding IE7 being listed by one
> PC as "optional" and "high priority" by the other first occurred two
> months ago - BEFORE SP3 was on the scene.

There have been one or two occasions since IE7 was released that MS changed
it from a High Priority to an Optional update at Windows Update. On both
occasions, we suspected that the temporary (7 days, max) change was due to
excessive demand on or problems with the update servers. With millions of
WinXP machine's qualifying for SP3 now, such may be the case again. MS
never confirmed our earlier suspicions and they're not likely to do so now.

Note that there are many, many update servers and they're not necessarily
all in synch at all times.

On Fri, 9 May 2008 13:25:20 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
<> wrote:

>Lou Jade wrote:
>> On Thu, 8 May 2008 18:14:04 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>> Lou Jade wrote:
>>>>> Is this concerning what's offered by Automatic Updates, Windows Update
>>>>> website, or a combination of the two?
>>>>
>>>> The above comments pertain to what is listed when I go to the windows
>>>> update site and click on "custom". WU then (as I understand it)
>>>> examines my computer and lists available updates.
>>>
>>> The Windows Update servers appear to be so horked after the release of
>>> WinXP SP3, it's anybody's guess why you're seeing what you're seeing.
>>
>> You are probably right regarding SP3 being listed by one PC and not
>> the other. However, the situation regarding IE7 being listed by one
>> PC as "optional" and "high priority" by the other first occurred two
>> months ago - BEFORE SP3 was on the scene.
>
>There have been one or two occasions since IE7 was released that MS changed
>it from a High Priority to an Optional update at Windows Update. On both
>occasions, we suspected that the temporary (7 days, max) change was due to
>excessive demand on or problems with the update servers. With millions of
>WinXP machine's qualifying for SP3 now, such may be the case again. MS
>never confirmed our earlier suspicions and they're not likely to do so now.
>
>Note that there are many, many update servers and they're not necessarily
>all in synch at all times.


Thanks PaBear!

Lou Jade wrote:
> On Fri, 9 May 2008 13:25:20 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
> <> wrote:
>
>> Lou Jade wrote:
>>> On Thu, 8 May 2008 18:14:04 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
>>> <> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Lou Jade wrote:
>>>>>> Is this concerning what's offered by Automatic Updates, Windows
>>>>>> Update
>>>>>> website, or a combination of the two?
>>>>>
>>>>> The above comments pertain to what is listed when I go to the windows
>>>>> update site and click on "custom". WU then (as I understand it)
>>>>> examines my computer and lists available updates.
>>>>
>>>> The Windows Update servers appear to be so horked after the release of
>>>> WinXP SP3, it's anybody's guess why you're seeing what you're seeing.
>>>
>>> You are probably right regarding SP3 being listed by one PC and not
>>> the other. However, the situation regarding IE7 being listed by one
>>> PC as "optional" and "high priority" by the other first occurred two
>>> months ago - BEFORE SP3 was on the scene.
>>
>> There have been one or two occasions since IE7 was released that MS
>> changed
>> it from a High Priority to an Optional update at Windows Update. On both
>> occasions, we suspected that the temporary (7 days, max) change was due
>> to
>> excessive demand on or problems with the update servers. With millions
>> of
>> WinXP machine's qualifying for SP3 now, such may be the case again. MS
>> never confirmed our earlier suspicions and they're not likely to do so
>> now.
>>
>> Note that there are many, many update servers and they're not necessarily
>> all in synch at all times.
>
>
> Thanks PaBear!

YW