Microsoft Windows Updates - Don't Do Em

[MrHunters]

havent heard anything yet, been digging all morning. We do not have a contract with m$ so a call would cost some bucks...

basically we just denied updates at the firewall until this gets sorted out.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

havent heard anything yet, been digging all morning. We do not have a contract with m$ so a call would cost some bucks...

basically we just denied updates at the firewall until this gets sorted out.

Does auto update have its own IP port it uses?

[NJTackle]

http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsO...19628&SiteID=2

Did some more digging. Seems to be an issue with a certain version of Windows update and Office update. Since its version specific this may explain why it affects only certain PC depending on which Autoupdate is installed along with MS Office.

Best thing to do is to disable Autoupdate as Likwid described above.

[ThrowingTimber]

why would anyone even bother having auto update or auto install enabled? Dont you want to know whats going into your boxes?

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

why would anyone even bother having auto update or auto install enabled? Dont you want to know whats going into your boxes?

no i like to live in ignorance... always trust microsoft.. they know whats best for us

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

why would anyone even bother having auto update or auto install enabled? Dont you want to know whats going into your boxes?

Try running 2000 nodes, 3000 users, across 8 buildings with 3 techs (including net admin). You are forced to take a few extra risks... (though the funny thing is that my machines have not had this problem - just the ones I manage for the other entity)...

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by NJTackle

http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsO...19628&SiteID=2

Did some more digging. Seems to be an issue with a certain version of Windows update and Office update. Since its version specific this may explain why it affects only certain PC depending on which Autoupdate is installed along with MS Office.

Best thing to do is to disable Autoupdate as Likwid described above.

I'll try this at some point if it applies to the high utilization XP boxes but there repair is different for the rebouncing W2K boxes...

[likwid]

Originally Posted by JohnR

I'll try this at some point if it applies to the high utilization XP boxes but there repair is different for the rebouncing W2K boxes...

John, its "Microsoft Update" thats the issue, not Windows Update apparently.

Just fixed it on another box.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by likwid

John, its "Microsoft Update" thats the issue, not Windows Update apparently.

Just fixed it on another box.

I think you are right - as I am seeing that on machines that use that ms update instead of auto update. The machines I am seeing this on are not "my" machines, but another entities machines inside my building so I am far less familiar with their setup than my setup

BTW - fix for the W2K machines I'll type up in a little bit...

[zimmy]

Ummm... my computers have problems. One is a pc the other a laptop, both xp. The pc, in particular, has issues. It will sometimes not shutoff, then sometimes when I start it freezes before loading windows. Then sometimes it will open and do the really slow super high pc usage business. Sometimes it works ok. It also has norton on it.

Should I do what likwid said on the first page of the thread? I also gotta get rid of Norton I think cause it seems to be a bugga. I am not computer illiterate, but not very literate either when it comes to this stuff.

[BobT]

I turned off my suto updates 3 weeks ago because an update last year screwed up my mail and had to keep doing restores at least once a week. Microsoft had been working with me but nothing works.

[JohnR]

On 2K machines what I have done to get 'em fixed... Steps off the top of my head... If the machine has vital local info dupe the hard drive with Ghost, GPARTED (great utility), or some other imaging software in case this doesn't work

Boot of a 2K SP4 install disk (if you don't have a SP4 version you could slipstream one).

Go into Repair the W2K installation to recovery console

Log in (need to know local administrator account or you'll need other tools to go in )

at the prompt type fixboot to repair the MBR

Bounce the machine

Boot again off the CD

Choose to repair the Win2K - it will ask you a couple times to make sure. If you don't have an ERD it will usually find the C:\WINNT default folder. Or you can make an ERD off an identical operating machine (didn't need to but should work)

When offered to Auto or Manual repair, chose M and hit enter (with all options selected)

You'll be prompted to overwite files - choose A to overwrite all. This will overwrite the files - all except some which error which are the IE6 files which you will skip.

Essentially you are reloading ALL of the system files on the machine - with IE5 installed. Once done, reboot into the logon

Sometimes you may need to run the file repair process twice (happened one out of three times)

So now you have a vanilla reinstall of SP4 with IE5 and no hotfixes. Run the IE6.1 install from MS or break out your technet discs and fine the IE6 network install - run it..

Go and start the Windows Update and download the newer Window BITS tool (it will walk you through) but do not install the Microsoft Update. Those of you with WUSs servers or doing things through a GPO can alter accordingly

Run all of the updates except for the 931786 (it's 9317xx - I remember that much).

I had 3 computers to do this to today and was able to recover two of them. One machine lost all of its fonts and IE/Outlook as well as a terminal emulation app are fubared. I would consider running the process again but I started a little vacation today so one of the other guys will do it Monday

Unfortunately, limping some old machines through is necessary for specific application computability - otherwise they would be XP...

I have not heard of this impacting any of the 800 or so PCs (mostly XP) or servers 2K under my control knock on wood

Anyone hear anything official from MS?