Microsoft update blunders going out of control

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Actually, if you consider how many combinations of software and hardware that can exist, it's a bloody miracle M$ doesn't have far more problems with updates than they do.And when they do have a problem, even though a large number of people are affected, those affected are a small to tiny percentage of the total number of people receiving the updates. Also keep in mind that M$ operating systems are huge, complicated programs.

Very good+++ points.

Updates always working fine here on my machines, both 7 & 8. But am making a os partition image before applying anything, safety comes first after reading about the real problems some experience, but can't remember ever having to revert to a previous image due to any MS update.

Good point! I actually do the same thing but not in the same operation. I pretty much always (sometimes, life gets in the way) run my AV and anti-malware scans on Friday evening, usually while watching the snooze news and, after running the scans, I make my weekly image. I also make an image jut before installing new programs or making major settings changes, just in case things go pear shaped. Yeas, I'm paranoid and a coward.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I don't get surprises. I have my updates set to notify me when they are available, then wait until Saturday morning to download and install them. That way, M$ has had plenty of time to identify a problem and pull the offending update.

You need to check that setting after every month's updates.

Every so often, an update changes my update settings to "Automatic".

I do and, yes, it changes every once in a blue moon (mutter, mutter, mumble, mumble).

 

[Indianatone]

I can't remember the last time I had an issue with Windows 7 updates. I have 9 machines running 7 and updates are applied on Tuesdays by me. Windows 8.1 had trouble with Avast in a roll up patch of 700mb. Optional Update KB3000850
Personally I have a feeling that most of the updates that cause issues with systems that are compressed in some way or other (virus or malware or even cracked) as my experience with 30 Virtual machines running XP, Vista, 7,8.1 and TP update flawlessly on most patch Tuesdays.
Strange when you look at installs for software and games they tell you to disable firewalls and virus checkers. On the OS no one bothers but what if a firewall or virus checker sees an update as an attack (as avast did) then chaos ensues. Just my experience, I know some will argue with me but I keep my systems fully updated.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yikes I can't say my update settings have ever changed :shock:

 

[alphanumeric]

There seems to be a lot more botched updates than normal lately? Makes you wonder how many PC's they test them on before releasing them to us?

 

[GeneO]

Seems it is time for a service pack 2 final roll up.

 

[jamis]

Yikes I can't say my update settings have ever changed :shock:

I have. I've noticed changes after applying Patch Tuesday packages several times. I found internet options changed, sometimes IE options get reset to something other than what I had, and the windows update options were set to automatic update from what I had selected prior to the update. Now, I go to the places they've messed with after every update to make sure the system is configured like I want. PIA, but MS knows better than me what should be done. NOT!

 

[jamis]

Seems it is time for a service pack 2 final roll up.

SP2 does seem to be overdue. Are they going to wait until they withdraw support to get one?

 

[matts6887]

Slowly killing win-7 one month at a time

I think you may be right about that one sadly Thrash. Unfortunately; lately the the updates from Microsoft have much more harm than good for us end users. What gives? I mean is it really that hard to put out updates without doing something to harm a user's system? What next?

Actually, if you consider how many combinations of software and hardware that can exist, it's a bloody miracle M$ doesn't have far more problems with updates than they do.And when they do have a problem, even though a large number of people are affected, those affected are a small to tiny percentage of the total number of people receiving the updates. Also keep in mind that M$ operating systems are huge, complicated programs.

Well; true that Lady; you definitely have very valid points there. And yes; the MS operating systems are very complex indeed and who knows how long it took for engineers to "code" and design windows. Fortunately for me; as i said before; I havent encountered any issues....yet.....so hopefully there wont be any but i wont know for sure probably until the next batch of updates comes down the pipe.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yikes I can't say my update settings have ever changed :shock:

I have. I've noticed changes after applying Patch Tuesday packages several times. I found internet options changed, sometimes IE options get reset to something other than what I had,

Okay Internet options might change due to internet explorer security updates,
That little poodle deal for example although ssl 3.0 I thought would be disabled wasn't for me personally
I did disable it manually a while back
I'm not sure what would reset windows update settings or other system preferences I have not seen those before ?

 

[lehnerus2000]

Windows Updater Update?

Yikes I can't say my update settings have ever changed :shock:

I have. I've noticed changes after applying Patch Tuesday packages several times. I found internet options changed, sometimes IE options get reset to something other than what I had,

Okay Internet options might change due to internet explorer security updates,
That little poodle deal for example although ssl 3.0 I thought would be disabled wasn't for me personally
I did disable it manually a while back
I'm not sure what would reset windows update settings or other system preferences I have not seen those before ?

I suspect it happens when MS forces a Windows Updater change.

I've also received a completely silent update earlier this year (no notification at all and my Windows Update settings hadn't changed).
It installed itself without any action on my part.
The first I knew of it, was when I booted my PC and saw the "updates being installed" message!
I have no idea what KBxxxxxxx it was either (I didn't check the "Installed Updates" list).

I've just spent 5 days rebuilding my PC (it should have taken a couple of hours).

I installed Windows, set the Windows Update settings and then I installed SP1 (and all of the updates since).
I eventually installed MS Office and applied a huge list of updates.
The next day, shortly after I had booted into Windows, I noticed a message saying something like, "Updates will be applied when you reboot".
Sure enough my Windows Update settings had been changed to "Automatic".

 

[groze]

lehnerus2000,

I have seen that happen but it is usually when windows update updates windows update. It may happen if you choose to clean out windows update files from disk cleanup. I also seen windows update update windows update automatically even when never check for updates is selected.

I hope you got that.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Seems it is time for a service pack 2 final roll up.

You can say that again! If anything, it's past due. Even if all M$ did was roll all the previous updates into a package and did nothing else, that would be hugely welcome!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Yikes I can't say my update settings have ever changed :shock:

I have. I've noticed changes after applying Patch Tuesday packages several times. I found internet options changed, sometimes IE options get reset to something other than what I had, and the windows update options were set to automatic update from what I had selected prior to the update. Now, I go to the places they've messed with after every update to make sure the system is configured like I want. PIA, but MS knows better than me what should be done. NOT!

I've been lucky. It happens to me no more than once a year. It's easy enough to check every so often.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Yikes I can't say my update settings have ever changed :shock:

I have. I've noticed changes after applying Patch Tuesday packages several times. I found internet options changed, sometimes IE options get reset to something other than what I had,

Okay Internet options might change due to internet explorer security updates,
That little poodle deal for example although ssl 3.0 I thought would be disabled wasn't for me personally
I did disable it manually a while back
I'm not sure what would reset windows update settings or other system preferences I have not seen those before ?

I disabled SSL3 when the issue first became known and, so far, I'm not aware of it causing me any problems. And if I did encounter a website that had a problem with it, I'm not so sure I want to be able to connect to it.

 

[DavidE]

MS published another off cycle patch (KB3025390) yesterday to fix an issue with a Dec 9 Patch Tuesday problem for IE 11.
Some web application modal dialog boxes don't work correctly in Internet Explorer 11 after you install update 3008923

 

[lehnerus2000]

I have seen that happen but it is usually when windows update updates windows update. It may happen if you choose to clean out windows update files from disk cleanup. I also seen windows update update windows update automatically even when never check for updates is selected.

That "tallies up" with my experiences and suspicions.

Seems it is time for a service pack 2 final roll up.

You can say that again! If anything, it's past due. Even if all M$ did was roll all the previous updates into a package and did nothing else, that would be hugely welcome!

Agreed.

 

[mjf]

Seems it is time for a service pack 2 final roll up.

You can say that again! If anything, it's past due. Even if all M$ did was roll all the previous updates into a package and did nothing else, that would be hugely welcome!

I wouldn't hold your breath.

 

[Layback Bear]

I really don't believe their will every be a SP-2 for Windows 7. My reasoning.

1. SP's take a lot of time to make and they are free. Microsoft wants to sell things.

2. SP-2 would make Windows 7 even better therefore slowing down sales to Window 8.xx and W-10.
In Microsoft's eyes that would not be a good thing.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Seems it is time for a service pack 2 final roll up.

You can say that again! If anything, it's past due. Even if all M$ did was roll all the previous updates into a package and did nothing else, that would be hugely welcome!

I wouldn't hold your breath.

I'm not.