automatic update settings. Damsel in distress

[Ellen G]

I like to check the security downloads offered by Microsoft before installing
them so have ticked the box 'download but let me choose if to install' etc.
On my 2000 computer, this setting survives a reboot but on my XP SP2 desktop,
something overides my settings and I find the tick beside the automatic
downlads at 3.00 am option. This measn I find out about updates when I turn
the computer off but can't check what I'm installing.

I also have NIS 2006 installed.

Anyone any idea? Is there a bug relating to XP and NIS 2006 which overrides
windows security settings? Is there a patch? I foudn nothing on the knowledge
base.

I'm so fed up, I'm thinking of turning automatic updates off and doing a
manual weekly check.

 

[Malke]

Ellen G wrote:
> I like to check the security downloads offered by Microsoft before installing
> them so have ticked the box 'download but let me choose if to install' etc.
> On my 2000 computer, this setting survives a reboot but on my XP SP2 desktop,
> something overides my settings and I find the tick beside the automatic
> downlads at 3.00 am option. This measn I find out about updates when I turn
> the computer off but can't check what I'm installing.
>
> I also have NIS 2006 installed.
>
> Anyone any idea? Is there a bug relating to XP and NIS 2006 which overrides
> windows security settings? Is there a patch? I foudn nothing on the knowledge
> base.
>
> I'm so fed up, I'm thinking of turning automatic updates off and doing a
> manual weekly check.

There is no bug in XP relating to this issue. I can't speak for Norton
because I think their products are so dire. Some security program you
have installed is set to stop changes to the system. You need to find
out what it is. Unfortunately, that means you going through all your
security programs and looking at their settings.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Ellen G]

Thanks.

It's NIS 2006. It came with the Dell.

Ellen

"Malke" wrote:

> Ellen G wrote:
> > I like to check the security downloads offered by Microsoft before installing
> > them so have ticked the box 'download but let me choose if to install' etc.
> > On my 2000 computer, this setting survives a reboot but on my XP SP2 desktop,
> > something overides my settings and I find the tick beside the automatic
> > downlads at 3.00 am option. This measn I find out about updates when I turn
> > the computer off but can't check what I'm installing.
> >
> > I also have NIS 2006 installed.
> >
> > Anyone any idea? Is there a bug relating to XP and NIS 2006 which overrides
> > windows security settings? Is there a patch? I foudn nothing on the knowledge
> > base.
> >
> > I'm so fed up, I'm thinking of turning automatic updates off and doing a
> > manual weekly check.
>
> There is no bug in XP relating to this issue. I can't speak for Norton
> because I think their products are so dire. Some security program you
> have installed is set to stop changes to the system. You need to find
> out what it is. Unfortunately, that means you going through all your
> security programs and looking at their settings.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

 

[Malke]

Ellen G wrote:
> Thanks.
>
> It's NIS 2006. It came with the Dell.

Then you need to look at the NIS options. Other security programs also
have features that stop system changes. Windows Defender, Ad-aware, etc.
You need to see what you have installed. Only someone looking at the
computer and examining all the programs installed and their options will
be able to fix this.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Ellen G]

Engineer told me that NIS insists on automatic installs and that there's
nothing that can be done. Apparently. I've contacted Norton to see if newer
versions are more flexible.

thanks for your thoughts.

"Malke" wrote:

> Ellen G wrote:
> > Thanks.
> >
> > It's NIS 2006. It came with the Dell.
>
> Then you need to look at the NIS options. Other security programs also
> have features that stop system changes. Windows Defender, Ad-aware, etc.
> You need to see what you have installed. Only someone looking at the
> computer and examining all the programs installed and their options will
> be able to fix this.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

 

[Malke]

Ellen G wrote:
> Engineer told me that NIS insists on automatic installs and that there's
> nothing that can be done. Apparently. I've contacted Norton to see if newer
> versions are more flexible.

I very much doubt that is the case but it would be smart to remove NIS
and replace it with a better antivirus program such as NOD32, Kaspersky,
or even Avast if you want a free one. None of the Norton or McAfee
products are recommended. The Windows Firewall built into XP and Vista
is adequate for most people. Personally I don't like antispyware
products that run resident nor do I feel they are necessary. If you must
have one, Windows Defender is built into Vista and is OK on XP. A better
solution IMO is to install Ad-aware and/or Spybot S&D (both free) and do
weekly maintenance combined with practicing "Safe Hex".


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Ellen G]

Thank you for your help.

Dell loves NIS, and offers support for it. Differetn people have differetn
views. I've discovered that NIS 2007 has the same problem.

Next computer, or after my sub runs out, I'll invest in something new.

Ellen

"Malke" wrote:

> Ellen G wrote:
> > Engineer told me that NIS insists on automatic installs and that there's
> > nothing that can be done. Apparently. I've contacted Norton to see if newer
> > versions are more flexible.
>
> I very much doubt that is the case but it would be smart to remove NIS
> and replace it with a better antivirus program such as NOD32, Kaspersky,
> or even Avast if you want a free one. None of the Norton or McAfee
> products are recommended. The Windows Firewall built into XP and Vista
> is adequate for most people. Personally I don't like antispyware
> products that run resident nor do I feel they are necessary. If you must
> have one, Windows Defender is built into Vista and is OK on XP. A better
> solution IMO is to install Ad-aware and/or Spybot S&D (both free) and do
> weekly maintenance combined with practicing "Safe Hex".
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE]

"Ellen G" <EllenG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:37AF2819-31EF-41CB-8915-24B6BC778A66@microsoft.com...
>I like to check the security downloads offered by Microsoft before
>installing
> them so have ticked the box 'download but let me choose if to install'
> etc.
> On my 2000 computer, this setting survives a reboot but on my XP SP2
> desktop,
> something overides my settings and I find the tick beside the automatic
> downlads at 3.00 am option. This measn I find out about updates when I
> turn
> the computer off but can't check what I'm installing.
>
> I also have NIS 2006 installed.
>
> Anyone any idea? Is there a bug relating to XP and NIS 2006 which
> overrides
> windows security settings? Is there a patch? I foudn nothing on the
> knowledge
> base.
>
> I'm so fed up, I'm thinking of turning automatic updates off and doing a
> manual weekly check.

It might be a security program blocking the Registry change it needs to
make. A few, but not all, of the programs now doing this are:
Ad-aware's Ad-Watch
IBM Access Connections
McAfee VirusScan and/or Antispyware
Norton AV
Spyware Blaster
Spybot> Tools> IE Tweaks
Spybot- Teatimer
Spysweeper
Spyware Doctor
Windows Defender
Zone Alarm (free) 6.5 Reported to be fixed in later versions.

In the case of Zone Alarm 6.5 or Norton 2007 it actually has to be
uninstalled. Make sure the Windows Firewall is turned on until you
reinstall Zone Alarm.

Boot into Safe Mode with Networking and try the change.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE, OE/WM
I won't answer email.