How well can I control auto-updates?

[JoesMorgue]

OK, I just ran into the issues with MCUpdate/MCUpdate_Scheduled, and got that straightened out, but that has made me think...

Is there a way I can prevent it from happening again?

Can I prevent something else from checking in the middle of the night? Can I keep ANY updater from waking the computer?

 

[TwoCables]

Change your Windows Update setting to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".

Or, change it to Never and then set a day each week or each month where you always manually check for updates.

 

[marsmimar]

I'm guessing you're referring to Media Center updates and not something else like Minecraft Updates.

In the start menu search box type in windows update and then click on windows update in the upper panel. In the left column of the dialog box that opens click on Change settings. You could select Never check for updates (not recommended) from the drop down list. This should prevent updates from installing until you manually check for updates. As the "Note" says at the bottom of the dialog box, Windows Update might update itself automatically first when checking for other updates.

View attachment 261574

As far as keeping other updaters from waking the computer, you'd probably have to see if they have an option to disable automatic updates and do only manual updates.

 

[JoesMorgue]

What's already there, I can check and edit. The thing is, I don't want to have to go search every time I install another program to see what updates it has. [Mostly because I will forget]

I'd prefer to see everything update around noon on the weekends, as that is a time the computer is almost ALWAYS in use...

 

[marsmimar]

You might want to take a look at a free utility called Secunia PSI.

Free Computer Security - Personal Software Inspector (PSI) - Secunia