Automagic update

  • Thread starter Thread starter MikeR
  • Start date Start date
M

MikeR

My flaptop with XP Pro SP2 has stopped getting updates. Update is on, and set to
alert me when an update is available.
If I go to the Windows update site to check manually, after the site does it's
check for the latest update tool, it starts to check for available updates. Then
it just sits there with the progress bar running for maybe 20 minutes, then
freezes.

Task manager (or anything else) takes about 3 to 5 minutes to start after that.
Virus software is up to date, as is the malware checker.

I'm don't know if it's related, but when I go to my homepage, IE (Ver
6.something) asks me to OK the running of an ActiveX control. There is no
control on the page, but there is some javascript that displays the time. It
doesn't run until after the ActiveX thing.
Mike
 
MikeR said:
My flaptop with XP Pro SP2 has stopped getting updates. Update is on, and set to
alert me when an update is available.
If I go to the Windows update site to check manually, after the site does it's
check for the latest update tool, it starts to check for available updates. Then
it just sits there with the progress bar running for maybe 20 minutes, then
freezes.

Task manager (or anything else) takes about 3 to 5 minutes to start after that.
Virus software is up to date, as is the malware checker.

I'm don't know if it's related, but when I go to my homepage, IE (Ver
6.something) asks me to OK the running of an ActiveX control. There is no
control on the page, but there is some javascript that displays the time. It
doesn't run until after the ActiveX thing.
Click to expand...


I don't know if it's the cause of your auto-updates not working but I too have noticed that MicrosoftUpdate takes FOREVER these
days. :|

To diagnose the autoupdate, double check the setting in the System control panel applet. Make sure that it's set to automatic and
that the time is set to one when it is on and connected. Next check the service. Run services.msc and make sure that the
"Automatic Updates" service is set to Automatic startup (and is running), and do the same for the BITS service ("Background
Intelligent Transfer Service").

As for the homepage, it may be related but probably not. What is your homepage? Homepages don't usually have ActiveX controls (or
Flash or whatever, although they certainly could, they're just bad ideas.)

What you will want to do whether or not the automatic updates is fixed, is to check the IE program store (which includes the
MicrosofUpdates ActiveX plugin.) Close all instances of IE (make sure there are no iexplore.exe processes in the Task Manager),
then run inetcpl.cpl to bring up the IE settings/Internet Options dialog. Click the Settings button under "Temporary Internet
Files" then click the View Objects button. This opens the Downloaded Program Files folder-you could have just opened
"\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files" but I'm a tough teacher. :) This is where (most) of your IE plugins are stored (sort of).
Take a look through that and see if you find anything suspicious. If you find any, look them up-check their Properties Dialog and
lookup the ID string-to see if they are bad and remove them if they are. Either way, remove the MicrosoftUpdate and/or
WindowsUpdate controls, then go back to the update website and let it reinstall it.


HTH
 
Alec S. wrote:
Good work Alec!
I don't know if it's the cause of your auto-updates not working but I too have noticed that MicrosoftUpdate takes FOREVER these
days. :|

To diagnose the autoupdate, double check the setting in the System control panel applet. Make sure that it's set to automatic and
that the time is set to one when it is on and connected. Next check the service. Run services.msc and make sure that the
"Automatic Updates" service is set to Automatic startup (and is running), and do the same for the BITS service ("Background
Intelligent Transfer Service").
Click to expand...
BITS was not starting. Once it started, I got the yellow shield for updates. But
it did nothing, and the puter was sorta frozen again. A re-boot, and the updates
downloaded and installed.
As for the homepage, it may be related but probably not. What is your homepage? Homepages don't usually have ActiveX controls (or
Flash or whatever, although they certainly could, they're just bad ideas.)
Click to expand...
www.nfdxa.com It plays a short .wav file. Didn't used to react this way.
What you will want to do whether or not the automatic updates is fixed, is to check the IE program store (which includes the
MicrosofUpdates ActiveX plugin.) Close all instances of IE (make sure there are no iexplore.exe processes in the Task Manager),
then run inetcpl.cpl to bring up the IE settings/Internet Options dialog. Click the Settings button under "Temporary Internet
Files" then click the View Objects button. This opens the Downloaded Program Files folder-you could have just opened
"\WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files" but I'm a tough teacher. :) This is where (most) of your IE plugins are stored (sort of).
Take a look through that and see if you find anything suspicious. If you find any, look them up-check their Properties Dialog and
lookup the ID string-to see if they are bad and remove them if they are. Either way, remove the MicrosoftUpdate and/or
WindowsUpdate controls, then go back to the update website and let it reinstall it.
Click to expand...
There were a couple listed as damaged (Google toolbar and an MS item dealing
with downloads. The name was too long to display. Properties said iuctl.dll was
damaged.) I removed those two, and some left-over Symantic stuff, and a couple
of left overs from my ex-place of work. I didn't find anything specific about MS
updates, and after visiting the update site, and having it grind until I killed
it, still don't have those. I have 4 items for JRE 1.5.0 all created in July. 3
of them display an exclamation point on a yellow shield, and one a tricolored cube.

Pretty much all fixed now. Thanks Alec.
 
MikeR said:
There were a couple listed as damaged (Google toolbar and an MS item dealing
with downloads. The name was too long to display. Properties said iuctl.dll was
damaged.) I removed those two, and some left-over Symantic stuff, and a couple
of left overs from my ex-place of work. I didn't find anything specific about MS
updates, and after visiting the update site, and having it grind until I killed
it, still don't have those. I have 4 items for JRE 1.5.0 all created in July. 3
of them display an exclamation point on a yellow shield, and one a tricolored cube.

Pretty much all fixed now. Thanks Alec.
Click to expand...


No problem.

I'll just point out for others who aren't aware that Microsoft uses ActiveX control to do their updates which is why they can only
be done in IE. ActiveX controls are allowed access to the system which is why they are required to do the updates (to the system)
but are also a source of concern since any old web site could have a malicious one that does damage if you're not careful.

When you visit a site that tries to use one, IE will prompt you to install it. You'll have to do that for MicrosoftUpdates to
function. If there's a problem, then removing the control and letting it install again is usually the quickest, easiest way to fix
it.
 
Alec said:
I'll just point out for others who aren't aware that Microsoft uses ActiveX control to do their updates which is why they can only
be done in IE. ActiveX controls are allowed access to the system which is why they are required to do the updates (to the system)
but are also a source of concern since any old web site could have a malicious one that does damage if you're not careful.

When you visit a site that tries to use one, IE will prompt you to install it. You'll have to do that for MicrosoftUpdates to
function. If there's a problem, then removing the control and letting it install again is usually the quickest, easiest way to fix
it.
Click to expand...
Follow up. The webpage in question plays a sound file. An MS update munted IE so
it reacts that way. There is a patch on MS to uninstall the update, but I want a
fix I can apply to the page. There are a few documented on MSDN, but I haven't
gotten one to work. Yet.
 
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