Updates downloaded & installed without permission

[Benteke]

This morning when I shut down my comp I noticed the "downloading updates, do not turn off comp" message. Later when I restarted, the usual "configuring windows" appeared prior to windows starting. Logged in & checked to see if any updates had been installed and sure enough, KB3140410 & KB3135983 had been installed..... BUT, I have my updates set to 'check for but let me choose whether to download & install.' I've never encountered windows automatically downloading & installing updates like this before... Any ideas????

 

[legacy7955]

This morning when I shut down my comp I noticed the "downloading updates, do not turn off comp" message. Later when I restarted, the usual "configuring windows" appeared prior to windows starting. Logged in & checked to see if any updates had been installed and sure enough, KB3140410 & KB3135983 had been installed..... BUT, I have my updates set to 'check for but let me choose whether to download & install.' I've never encountered windows automatically downloading & installing updates like this before... Any ideas????

You are not alone, I too have my PCs set to check and let me decide to download and install updates and it they are doing the SAME EXACT THING!

It's no mistake and honestly seems to be borderline criminal if you ask me. The only consolation is that the notorious get windows 10 updates are still under OPTIONAL updates and they are NOT being auto downloaded and installed, make sure you have that UNchecked

"Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" UNCHECK THAT BOX!!!!

 

[Callender]

Check settings here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

AU Options:
2 = Notify before download.
3 = Automatically download and notify of installation.
4 = Automatically download and schedule installation. Only valid if values exist for ScheduledInstallDay and ScheduledInstallTime.
5 = Automatic Updates is required and users can configure it.

Note: On a 64bit machine you also need to check the above and additionally check here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

 

[Benteke]

"Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" UNCHECK THAT BOX!!!!

Yeah, I have it configured that way as well.... Thing I find interesting is that I still have 'important' updates ready to be installed, so my question is, why KB3140410 & KB3135983? Why are they being installed automatically and not the other 'important' updates?

And if this IS no mistake, then yeah I'd classify it as pretty devious!

Check settings here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

AU Options:
2 = Notify before download.
3 = Automatically download and notify of installation.
4 = Automatically download and schedule installation. Only valid if values exist for ScheduledInstallDay and ScheduledInstallTime.
5 = Automatic Updates is required and users can configure it.

Note: On a 64bit machine you also need to check the above and additionally check here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

Both folders only go as far as I listed. Iow, there is no 'Windows Update' folder in either!

 

[CarlSD]

I did another clean install of W7 Professional last week. First thing I did was (sort of) 'remove' Internet Explorer in Programs and Features in Control Panel (Turn Windows features on or off).

Then, I downloaded all of the security updates from Windows Update (took the usual ages, of course). Because I had 'removed' Internet Explorer it is still at IE8 which came with Windows 7 and I wasn't offered any IE updates at all from Windows Update (which takes care of the W10 adware included in the latest IE11 security update).

I haven't installed ANY Optional or Recommended updates whatsoever and the PC runs fine without them. I only use Firefox for the Internet with the usual NoScript, etc. addons.

Now, the best part - I left an empty 50GB space at the end of the SSD during the W7 install. It now has Linux Mint installed on it in a dual boot with W7. All my Internet activities will now be done with Mint - at least until after the end of July when the W10 'free' offer comes to an end (hopefully).

W7 is now disconnected from the Internet and effectively 'frozen' from this point (Macrium images made, of course) until at least the end of July. Speaking of Macrium Reflect, I also like the way you can do Macrium images of Linux Mint from within Windows.

 

[Callender]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\

Both folders only go as far as I listed. Iow, there is no 'Windows Update' folder in either!

Perhaps a screenshot will help.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

​

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

​

If the \WindowsUpdate\AU key is missing it might possibly explain why updates are auto installed.

 

[legacy7955]

Both folders only go as far as I listed. Iow, there is no 'Windows Update' folder in either!

Same here, no sign of WindowsUpdate in either directory.

Quite a coincidence that BOTH of our systems are missing those EXACT same entries. Don't you think?

 

[Benteke]

1) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

2) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

 

[Callender]

Not sure why they would be missing. You can try adding them:

View attachment Force Windows to Notify Before Downloading Updates.reg​

 

[legacy7955]

Not sure why they would be missing. You can try adding them:

View attachment 384095​

I notice that it appears your using Windows XP? The style of your regedit design looks like it...


In any case I'd prefer to manually add the ability. I know that it requires us to add a key could you
assist on this?

 

[Callender]

It's Windows 7 - it just looks like XP (a bit) because that's how I like it!


Create a key here by right clicking "Windows" then select create new key. Name it "Windows Update"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Then click on "Windows Update"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate

and create a new subkey with the name "AU"

In the left pane click on:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

In the right pane create a new REG_DWORD 32bit Value

Give it a value of 2

​

Name it AU Options

Do the same for the other location posted.

 

[Benteke]

Okay, thanks for your help Callender. Before I start messing around w/my registry, I have a few questions though.

1. Any idea why these folders are missing?
2. My registry hasn't been changed (by me anyway) since a clean reinstall 3 months ago, so why would this "problem" decide to manifest now? It never happened prior to today!
3. Only 2 updates (out of 10 total) updated automatically, so why not all 10?


Thanks!

 

[legacy7955]

Okay, thanks for your help Callender. Before I start messing around w/my registry, I have a few questions though.

1. Any idea why these folders are missing?
2. My registry hasn't been changed (by me anyway) since a clean reinstall 3 months ago, so why would this "problem" decide to manifest now? It never happened prior to today!
3. Only 2 updates (out of 10 total) updated automatically, so why not all 10?


Thanks!

Interesting that we have very similar scenarios I did a clean install about three months ago and I'm certain that there is and never was any malware or registry cleaners on this PC...very odd, my thought was that this is connected to the required Windows update client that you needed to install with SP1...right after I installed that Windows Update Client WU was acting very strange and would be slow to find updates when you searched for them...

 

[Callender]

Okay, thanks for your help Callender. Before I start messing around w/my registry, I have a few questions though.

Export those reg keys first so you have a backup. Right click in the left pane and choose "Export"

1. Any idea why these folders are missing?
2. My registry hasn't been changed (by me anyway) since a clean reinstall 3 months ago, so why would this "problem" decide to manifest now? It never happened prior to today!
3. Only 2 updates (out of 10 total) updated automatically, so why not all 10?

No idea why they would be missing. You have unchecked "Give me recommended updates" correct?

Did you run any other third party windows update check utilities?

 

[Benteke]

Interesting that we have very similar scenarios I did a clean install about three months ago and I'm certain that there is and never was any malware or registry cleaners on this PC...very odd, my thought was that this is connected to the required Windows update client that you needed to install with SP1...right after I installed that Windows Update Client WU was acting very strange and would be slow to find updates when you searched for them...

Yeah that is interesting.... WU has been acting weird on my system as well. Every now and then I experience cpu & mem spikes which in turn slows my entire system. When I disable the WU plugin, cpu & mem fall to normal. It only happens occasionally but I'm still not sure what causes it (or fixes it), tbh. Win Updates

No idea why they would be missing. You have unchecked "Give me recommended updates" correct?

Did you run any other third party windows update check utilities?

Yeah, 'give me recommended updates' is unchecked. My recommended updates are lumped in with optional updates.

I have NOT run any 3rd party WU check utilities!

I have a reg backup from a week ago (CC Cleaner) would that suffice? (CC listed one registry error from an app I previously removed)

 

[legacy7955]

Yeah that is interesting.... WU has been acting weird on my system as well. Every now and then I experience cpu & mem spikes which in turn slows my entire system. When I disable the WU plugin, cpu & mem fall to normal. It only happens occasionally but I'm still not sure what causes it (or fixes it), tbh. Win Updates

Wow, exactly the same problems ON TWO Systems now and yours as well...this other one is an OEM and also is well maintained and never had malware on it, nor registry cleaners, or other windows update check tools.


I'm still thinking that this is somehow connected to Windows 10 nonsense, and that
Windows update client that was when I noticed the issues starting.

 

[Callender]

I have a reg backup from a week ago (CC Cleaner) would that suffice? (CC listed one registry error from an app I previously removed)

My mistake - there's no need to backup as those keys don't even exist. If they cause problems they can simply be deleted.

RE: Ccleaner. It only backs up what it has removed so unlit removed those keys it won't help.

Find the Ccleaner backup reg file anyway and right click then open with your text editor to check.

 

[Benteke]

RE: Ccleaner. It only backs up what it has removed so unlit removed those keys it won't help.

Find the Ccleaner backup reg file anyway and right click then open with your text editor to check.

Good to know, thanks! ... doesn't windows automatically backup the entire registry before app installs/updates?

 

[Callender]

Good to know, thanks! ... doesn't windows automatically backup the entire registry before app installs/updates?

I have to confess that I don't know what is backed up before updates are installed.

 

[Barman58]

Windows 7 used to create a restore point for the complete system prior to any "potentially" dangerous update set, one before the update complete download started, not one before each KB, manually selecting and deselecting KB's may change the default actions if they haven't been changed when Win7 went into Extended Support