"Greg Russell" wrote:
> In news:hm3old$ug8$1@news.eternal-september.org,
> Alias typed:
>
> >> I don't think it matters which account is being used; the updates will
> >> download and install in the background while the machine is running.
> >
> > Which is about the stupidest way to install updates. For example, you
> > want to disable your AV resident scan before installing *anything*,
> > including updates. If Outlook is being updated in the background and
> > you're using Outlook at the same time ... think, man, think! MS LIES
> > when they say you can continue working while the updates are being
> > installed.
>
> Agreed.
>
> I don't trust Billy-Boy to install anything on my computers without my
> knowledge, and then only when I am prepared for any such updates. He won't
> even tell us the nature of the updates or the bug fixes, just generic crap
> such as "Windows Media Update" etc. ... he thinks the world is too stupid to
> need to know such things.
>
> I have many times made the checkbox decision to NOT install the "Malicious
> Software Removal Tool" and don't remind me again, yet each time it
> auto-selects that piece of garbage ... if updates were automated then it
> would install it, destroying my port scanning and probing tools that I use
> for security checks on the LAN.
>
>
Greg, I understand your reasoning. I don't and never will manage a LAN in a
business environment, so I have no experience with that. I just manage my own
self built computers. The only update I have ever rejected was for my Canon
printer on my Vista media center. The OP is talking about a media center
also; I'm pretty sure not in a business environment. I have never had a
problem with any of the Microsoft updates, and the OP probably won't either.
We've all seen what happened to ANGELKISSES, but she already had a rootkit on
her machine and the update broke the rootkit, not Windows.
Alias, I don't disagree with you; afterall I learned about WGA from reading
your rants about it on these newsgroups! That's why I set Automatic Updates
on my computers to notify only--- don't want no F'n WGA on my machines. On
the other hand, most people buy a preinstalled machine and AU is already
turned on and they never know about WGA or have a problem with it; (my
brother and sister for two) As for disabling the AV scanner prior installing,
probably good advice. I've never disabled mine and have never had a problem
with any update. For Service Packs, I do download the ISO, burn to disk and
install from "clean boot" state. Never had a problem (XP, Vista). I don't
have experience with Outlook updating while it's running. What has happened
to your machines?