Microsoft Update set to automatic - but doesn't seem to be working

[Michael T.]

The Microsoft Update webpage has a link to "Pick a time to install updates."
http://tinyurl.com/c36nx
How come it always shows 3:00 am - even after you change it?

Note: I have changed the time to install updates two different ways.
1) From the Microsoft Update webpage
2) Control Panel > System > Automatic Updates

This question was added out of curiosity. Presumably this is the way it was
designed - even though it may confuse some. The real reason for my post
follows.

For the second time recently, it appears Microsoft Update is not performing
an automatic update. I say this is because when I manually check for whether
there are updates the list of critical updates is unusually long.

I just changed it from "Automatic" to "Download updates for me, but let me
choose when to install them." I will monitor this for a week to see if I
ever see a notificatication message on my desktop (near the clock).

Is there a known problem with this setting where it won't stick (i.e.,
remain permanent)?

WinXP SP3

- Michael

 

[Michael T.]

For the second time recently, it appears Microsoft Update is not
performing an automatic update. I say this is because when I manually
check for whether there are updates the list of critical updates is
unusually long.

I believe I was able to confirm that automatic updates are definitely not
working for my laptop computer.

I found a difference in a registry setting when compared to my desktop
computer. It is named LastSuccessTime.

On my desktop computer it is today's date. But on my laptop it is May 20th.
Ouch!

Here is the Registry path.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto
Update\Results\Install]
"LastSuccessTime"="2009-05-20 18:09:21"

Still searching for a fix....

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Absent any serious numerical Errors in your windowsupdate.log (cf.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093), you may be seeing a delay caused by
excessive demand on the servers ("Update is not allowed to download due to
regulation"). It can take up to 7 days or more (sometimes much more) for
all Automatic Update users to get new updates when so many have been
released on the second Tuesday of a given month. See...

Updates are not downloaded or the “Automatic Updates” icon does not display
the status of downloads when you enable the Automatic Updates service:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/910340

You can install the updates via Windows/Microsoft Update website (WinXP) or
by running Windows Update manually (Vista) instead: Understand that by doing
so, you're pushing all other Automatic Updates users further back in the
queue (which may explain, at least in part, why Automatic Updates hasn't
brought them in for you yet).
--
Windows Update-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

 

[Michael T.]

Absent any serious numerical Errors in your windowsupdate.log (cf.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093), you may be seeing a delay caused
by excessive demand on the servers ("Update is not allowed to download due
to regulation"). It can take up to 7 days or more (sometimes much more)
for all Automatic Update users to get new updates when so many have been
released on the second Tuesday of a given month. See...

Updates are not downloaded or the “Automatic Updates” icon does not
display the status of downloads when you enable the Automatic Updates
service:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/910340

You can install the updates via Windows/Microsoft Update website (WinXP)
or by running Windows Update manually (Vista) instead: Understand that by
doing so, you're pushing all other Automatic Updates users further back in
the queue (which may explain, at least in part, why Automatic Updates
hasn't brought them in for you yet).
--
Windows Update-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

Thanks for the info. It might have to do with what you said about the 2nd
Tuesday of the month.

As a test, I deleted one of the updates. When I rebooted the balloon (with
the Update shield) appeared in the notificatication area. It installed as
usual, so everything seems to be kosher.

You have been posting replies to my posts for years (along with other MVPs).
I have been using computers since IBM's PCjr, but I still get stumped at
times.

But you are almost always there with a courteous and cogent reply.

Kudos.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Thank you for your kind words, Michael!

Thanks for the info. It might have to do with what you said about the 2nd
Tuesday of the month.

As a test, I deleted one of the updates. When I rebooted the balloon (with
the Update shield) appeared in the notificatication area. It installed as
usual, so everything seems to be kosher.

You have been posting replies to my posts for years (along with other
MVPs).
I have been using computers since IBM's PCjr, but I still get stumped at
times.

But you are almost always there with a courteous and cogent reply.

Kudos.