windowsupdate work around

I installed SP2 a week ago and didn't like the fact that I had to have
Automatic Update Service turned on for WindowsUpdate to work. When
Microsoft updated that site they only way it works if a few services I
don't have turned on are turned on (and I don't like having to restart
my machine in the default hardware profile just to check for updates).

I have found a work around to get to the old update site. Use this
link to go to the old catalog page (which the new site doesn't refer
to anymore!) and then you can use the link towards the bottom to go to
the old windows update site.

This way you can have your OS scanned and see if there are any updates
that need to be applied. You can then head back to the catalog and
download them and apply them when you feel they are not going to mess
up windows to badly .

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.co...en/default.asp