Windows XP autoupdate timing

[- Bobb -]

One other question ... real world experience related to updates ...
I'd like to know - if I set a PC to autopdate how to insure that the
update happens ?

When set for autoupdate, what determines WHEN the connection to MSFT
occurs ( to check for updates) ?
I just tried on my PC: I changed my clock to 6:55am and set to
autoupdate at 7am - nothing happened.
at 7:05 I went to windowsupdate site and there were 5 new updates.

When I set a PC to autoupdate, must I reboot to have it take effect ?
Does it check at boot time ONLY ? If not, how frequently thereafter -
every hour ? - on the hour ? randomly ?

Thanks very much

 

[Ron Sommer]

I was typing out a reply and then looked at Control Panel, Automatic
Updates, click on 'How do Automatic Updates work.'
--
Ronald Sommer

: One other question ... real world experience related to updates ...
: I'd like to know - if I set a PC to autopdate how to insure that the
: update happens ?
:
: When set for autoupdate, what determines WHEN the connection to MSFT
: occurs ( to check for updates) ?
: I just tried on my PC: I changed my clock to 6:55am and set to
: autoupdate at 7am - nothing happened.
: at 7:05 I went to windowsupdate site and there were 5 new updates.
:
: When I set a PC to autoupdate, must I reboot to have it take effect ?
: Does it check at boot time ONLY ? If not, how frequently thereafter -
: every hour ? - on the hour ? randomly ?
:
: Thanks very much
:
:
:

 

[- Bobb -]

: One other question ... real world experience related to updates ...
: I'd like to know - if I set a PC to autopdate how to insure that the
: update happens ?
:
: When set for autoupdate, what determines WHEN the connection to MSFT
: occurs ( to check for updates) ?
: I just tried on my PC: I changed my clock to 6:55am and set to
: autoupdate at 7am - nothing happened.
: at 7:05 I went to windowsupdate site and there were 5 new updates.
:
: When I set a PC to autoupdate, must I reboot to have it take effect
?
: Does it check at boot time ONLY ? If not, how frequently
thereafter -
: every hour ? - on the hour ? randomly ?
:
: Thanks very much

I was typing out a reply and then looked at Control Panel, Automatic
Updates, click on 'How do Automatic Updates work.'
--

But in that text it states: (I'm on my pc now)

"Installing updates before you shut down your computer is another way to
keep your computer up to date and more secure. This option is available
only in Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and only if
important updates have been downloaded but not yet installed."

and WITH a logon username/pwd ( MS client ) I've seen that, but, on
an XP Home pc that does not prompt for username (workgroup mode) how
would it "prompt the user" ? Has anyone seen it do so ?

"If your computer is turned off during a scheduled update, Windows will
install the updates the next time you start your computer. If you need
to help complete the installation process, Windows will notify you. "

The ones I was on yesterday had "download" selected ( not auto), so the
updates had never installed (55 pending) and they shutdown every evening
and reboot every morning and had never seen a prompt. I manually went to
windowsupdate.com and got the " must install Genuine Windows validation
...." so they had never done any manual update either. (Maybe that NEEDS
to be on the PC these days ??) I showed them how to do it and they will
do it when they are not going to be using the pc's (they share folders
so couldn't have one down during the day).