Configure and use Automatic Updates (XP)

[RickDev]

Source Article: Microsoft

The above article will give you detailed instructions on how to turn on and use the automatic update feature in Windows XP. I highly recommend this to all connected users.

[imported_trini]

Well, this is not always a good idea, as some updates automaically restart your computer and that can sometimes really mess stuff up. I personally prefer update manually.

[-=<Night Wolf>=-]

I agree with trini. I&#39;ve gone that route before, and it almost always crashed my system. And I don&#39;t mean just crashing once, and coming back up, I mean it will crash, and never come up again. The computer just sits there bluescreening itself to death. Pretty nasty sight when you&#39;re in a business environment, and you end up having to repair much of the corporate network because of this.

[genesis]

I agree too, once the main server at my LAN centre restarted without warning leaving all customers (full shop) with no access to the net or anything else. Not only that, it left the staff working at the front end with nothing to work with.... lol I have since stopped using automatic updates.

[RickDev]

This is odd, I have not had a problem with the automatic updates. But I will rephrase and say that you should check updates and apply when you can. Most of the virus that come out are because of holes that have been out for sometimes YEARS.

There is a service application you can put on your server and direct all of your internal systems to get updates from it.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversyst...es/default.mspx

[genesis]

Rick, you got me all excited because I&#39;m running a network of 15 XP machines and this would&#39;ve been the best thing since sliced bread but unfortunately the server won&#39;t run on XP Pro, only Win2k or 2003 server

[-=<Night Wolf>=-]

Originally posted by RickDev@Aug 17 2005, 06:05 AM
This is odd, I have not had a problem with the automatic updates. But I will rephrase and say that you should check updates and apply when you can. Most of the virus that come out are because of holes that have been out for sometimes YEARS.

There are a couple viruses out now that will take advantage of a PNP flaw, found recently. It says it only affects 2k, but I&#39;ve been in contact with several technicians from Microsoft regarding a separate problem I&#39;ve been having for the past week, and they&#39;re saying they affect XP as well. Most virus scanners would not detect them, since it was brand new, but I&#39;m sure antivirus companies the world over have already released updates for them.

[genesis]

What does this virus do?

[RickDev]

The current virus does effect Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows server 2003. Windows 2000 does not need user intervention. XP/2003 needs to be ran as an authorized user, so this one will be the email type that will be spread and hope people run it.

[genesis]

and people will run it.....