Automatic Updates are killing me!

omegagames · Apr 14, 2006

Very recently (within last two days) Windows (XP, SP2) has been installing AutoUpdates (which had been disabled for a while) and restarting my comp every damn night.

Having no clue as to why Windows started doing this, and being slightly frustrated with it, i went into the auto updates settings to turn it off. What I found was the "Automatic" radio button checked, and the entire window grayed out. For some reason, I'm not allowed to turn it back off! Since when does windows tell me what to do?!

Anyway, since I have never heard of this scenario before I was wondering if anyone else had. Any way to fix this would be appreciated, since I leave important things running overnight quite often, and windows restarting on me is not cool.

Coco · Apr 14, 2006

These settings can only be adjusted if you are using an admin account on the computer. So simply login as an admin to make changes to this and you'll be fine.

theefool · Apr 14, 2006

If, what Coco, replies, still doesn't resolve the issue, try the following:

In the registry navigate to the following location:
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\"

In the right-pane, delete the two values AUOptions and NoAutoUpdate

Navigate to the following location: "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate"

Delete the value DisableWindowsUpdateAccess

Or....

Prompting to Install the Same Updates Every Day
If you are being asked to install the same updates every day, then the catalogue that manages what updates you have installed is probably corrupt. There are a number of resolutions that you can try, in order to resolve this problem.
Resolution 1

Open "Computer Management" from within Administrative Tools in Control Panel.

Expand the Services and Applications branch.

In the list of services, find "Automatic updates".

Right click on it and choose "restart". If this option isn't available, choose "Stop" and then once the service has been stopped, right click again and choose "Start".

Resolution 2

Stop the "Automatic Updates" service from within "Services" in "Computer Management".

Browse to Program Files, Windows Update.
Note: If you don't see the "Windows Update" folder, then you need to turn on "Show Hidden Files and Folders". To do this click on Tools, Folder options. Then choose the "View" tab. Scroll down until you find the section "Hidden Files and Folders" and change the radio button to "Show hidden files and folders".

Delete everything in that folder except for the folder called "V4".

Double click on the "V4 folder".

Delete everything in that folder except for "iuhist.xml" (you may not see the xml extension if you don't view extensions normally.

Close the Explorer windows. If you had to enable "Show Hidden Files and Folders" then change the option back if you don't want to see them normally.

Restart the "Automatic Updates" service.

Resolution 3 (Windows XP only)

Stop the "Automatic Updates" service from within "Services" in "Computer Management".

Browse to the windows directory, then the system32 then "catroot2" - NOT CATROOT without a number!

Delete the contents of that directory, including the subdirectories.

Reboot the machine.

Resolution 3a (Windows XP)
In some cases we have had to rename the "catroot2" directory (such as putting .old after it) then rebooting for the problem to go away. You cannot delete the folder as it will probably be in use. After rebooting, Windows will create a new copy of the "catroot2" folder and this should resolve the problem.
Click to expand...

source: http://www.amset.info/windows/auto-updates.asp

omegagames · Apr 17, 2006

This sucks... NOTHING worked. Here's a breakdown of everything:

These settings can only be adjusted if you are using an admin account on the computer. So simply login as an admin to make changes to this and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

I have admin rights, so thats out...

If, what Coco, replies, still doesn't resolve the issue, try the following:

1. In the registry navigate to the following location:
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\"
2. In the right-pane, delete the two values AUOptions and NoAutoUpdate
3. Navigate to the following location: "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate"
4. Delete the value DisableWindowsUpdateAccess
Click to expand...

In the first address (...\CurrentVersion\Windows Update\AutoUpdate) these two registry values (AUOptions and NoAutoUpdate) do not exist, the ones that do reside in this location are:
(Default)
AUState = 0x2
BalloonTime = 2006-04-14 13:19:41
BalloonType = 0x1
ConfigVer = 0x1
DetectionStartTime = 2005.11.13 01:14:06
NextDetectionTime = 2006-04-17 21:50:49
ScheduledInstallDate = 2006-04-18 07:00:00

The second location (...\CurrentVersion\Policies\WindowsUpdate) does not exist. The only directories in policies are:
NonEnum
Ratings
system

Or....

Quote:
Prompting to Install the Same Updates Every Day
If you are being asked to install the same updates every day, then the catalogue that manages what updates you have installed is probably corrupt. There are a number of resolutions that you can try, in order to resolve this problem.
Resolution 1

1. Open "Computer Management" from within Administrative Tools in Control Panel.
2. Expand the Services and Applications branch.
3. In the list of services, find "Automatic updates".
4. Right click on it and choose "restart". If this option isn't available, choose "Stop" and then once the service has been stopped, right click again and choose "Start".

Resolution 2

1. Stop the "Automatic Updates" service from within "Services" in "Computer Management".
2. Browse to Program Files, Windows Update.
Note: If you don't see the "Windows Update" folder, then you need to turn on "Show Hidden Files and Folders". To do this click on Tools, Folder options. Then choose the "View" tab. Scroll down until you find the section "Hidden Files and Folders" and change the radio button to "Show hidden files and folders".
3. Delete everything in that folder except for the folder called "V4".
4. Double click on the "V4 folder".
5. Delete everything in that folder except for "iuhist.xml" (you may not see the xml extension if you don't view extensions normally.
6. Close the Explorer windows. If you had to enable "Show Hidden Files and Folders" then change the option back if you don't want to see them normally.
7. Restart the "Automatic Updates" service.

Resolution 3 (Windows XP only)

1. Stop the "Automatic Updates" service from within "Services" in "Computer Management".
2. Browse to the windows directory, then the system32 then "catroot2" - NOT CATROOT without a number!
3. Delete the contents of that directory, including the subdirectories.
4. Reboot the machine.

Resolution 3a (Windows XP)
In some cases we have had to rename the "catroot2" directory (such as putting .old after it) then rebooting for the problem to go away. You cannot delete the folder as it will probably be in use. After rebooting, Windows will create a new copy of the "catroot2" folder and this should resolve the problem.
Click to expand...

None of this worked either.

I am now confused beyond all reason. Thank you for the help eveyone, and I hope I can get this damn thing to stop with your help.

Matacumbie · Apr 17, 2006

Is it XP Pro?

Steve

omegagames · Apr 17, 2006

XP Home edition, sp 2

Matacumbie · Apr 17, 2006

Click Start > Run > and type regsvr32 wuaueng.dll press OK.

Steve

omegagames · Apr 17, 2006

Okay... so what did that do? (It said successfully registered)

Matacumbie · Apr 17, 2006

See if it's still grayed out.

Steve

omegagames · Apr 17, 2006

Well, neither of the latest two things has worked. I have determined that Bill Gates has a personal vendetta against me.

... (that ellipsis shows the passage of time)

Okay I made subtle progress. I found the first two registries theefool had listed in a different location here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU

Setting NoAutoUpdate to 1 didnt fix the graying out, but it did turn off auto updates, so for now I'm good I guess. I'll eventually look for the third one, but as long as my comp isnt restarting itself, 'scool.

Thank you all!

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Automatic Updates are killing me!

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