Solved How do I know windows update is functioning well?

At first I thought it was coincidental that HD activity intensified when I switched to Automatic updates. So I toggled between automatic and not automatic...and it is definite: Install updates automatically results in more intense (and puzzling) HD activity.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion dv7-2173cl Entertainment Notebook PC
OS
W7 pro 32-bit.
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 (M96)
Sound Card
•Altec Lansing with SRS Premium Sound and Sub-Woofer
Monitor(s) Displays
17.3” Diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP LED BrightView W
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
500GB (5400RPM)
Keyboard
101-key compatible with full size keyboard
Antivirus
MSE
Browser
IE 11
Perhaps; But I don't see how you could come to that conclusion from watching the HD activity light. Windows does a lot of disk I/O for things in the background that aren't Windows updates--Even when sitting "idle". Watch the performance screen for disk for a while. It will show disk activity by file name. Depending on what you have installed, there could be other updates coming in too. Flash Player just had a new release come through a few days ago (6/13 for me).

But, setting updates to automatic will get you more "updates" as I mentioned before. The problem is that you may not want them. ;)
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Built 2/11/2011
OS
Windows 7 Pro-x64
CPU
i7-2600 3.4GHz - 3.8GHz Turbo
Motherboard
Intel DH67BL-B3
Memory
8Gb - 2x4GB, Muskin 991770 PC3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel HD 2000
Sound Card
Integrated Intel 10.1 HD, RealTek ALC892
Monitor(s) Displays
Asus LCD VH222H, Haier HL24XSL2a
Screen Resolution
1920x1080, 1920x1080
Hard Drives
Crucial SSD C300-128Gb,
Western Digital WD5002AALX - 500Gb,
Western Digital WD7501AALS - 750Gb
PSU
Seasonic 650W 80+ Gold Modular
Case
Rosewill Defender
Cooling
Stock CPU, Four 120mm case fans, PCH fan added
Keyboard
Logitech EX100 Y-RBH94 Wireless
Mouse
Logitech EX100 M-RCE95 Wireless
Internet Speed
3.0/1.5 Mbs
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials
Browser
Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
Other Info
Antec Veris Premier-Multimedia IR Station,
Cyber Accoustics-3602 Speakers,
AFT XM-5U Card Reader,
Hauppauge TV-HVR-2250,
Sony LX300 USB Turntable
W7 updates once a month(2nd Tuesday)...but between second Tuesdays when no updating is going on, there is definite increased HD activity when update setting is on Automatic.

Most activity is by IE.exe(non-administrator user) and svchost.exe(system user).
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion dv7-2173cl Entertainment Notebook PC
OS
W7 pro 32-bit.
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 (M96)
Sound Card
•Altec Lansing with SRS Premium Sound and Sub-Woofer
Monitor(s) Displays
17.3” Diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP LED BrightView W
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
500GB (5400RPM)
Keyboard
101-key compatible with full size keyboard
Antivirus
MSE
Browser
IE 11
Do you really mean IE.exe - or Iexplore.exe?? if the former, then you have malware.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Asus K52F or Lenovo B51-80
OS
Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
CPU
i3 370M/i7 6500U
Motherboard
Asus/Lenovo
Memory
8GB - finally :)/8GB
Graphics Card(s)
it's an i3, dude!/dual Intel&nVidia
Sound Card
onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
15.6" built-in
Screen Resolution
1366x768/1920x1080
Hard Drives
750GB Seagate internal
Sundry external drives attached to other computers on the local network
1TB SSD on the Lenovo
PSU
n/a
Internet Speed
as much as I can get - usually on a dongle/phone, so <1MB/s
Antivirus
MSE/Defender
Browser
IE11/12/Edge/Chrome/FF(if I must)
Nice pick-up. I meant Iexplore.exe.
 

My Computer

Computer type
Laptop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HP Pavilion dv7-2173cl Entertainment Notebook PC
OS
W7 pro 32-bit.
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 (M96)
Sound Card
•Altec Lansing with SRS Premium Sound and Sub-Woofer
Monitor(s) Displays
17.3” Diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP LED BrightView W
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
500GB (5400RPM)
Keyboard
101-key compatible with full size keyboard
Antivirus
MSE
Browser
IE 11
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