Windows Automatic Updates settings

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

With all the talk recently about the massive Windows XP SP2 update
coming down the pike, I decided to check my Windows Automatic Updates
settings.

As it turns out, all the selections under "Automatic Updates" on my
system are greyed out, so I can't change any of them.

Any ideas?

FWIW, there are only two user accounts on my system (Dell Inspirion
8500, Windows XP Pro), "Administrator" and myself, and I'm part of the
"Administrators" group.

Also FWIW, the current settings are "Keep my computer up to date" and
"Automatically download the updates every Tuesday at 3AM". The second
one is kind of a problem, since my laptop is always turned off then.
(And I'd like to keep it that way.)

Bob Pownall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Bob Pownall" <repownall@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:411ac8cd$0$212$75868355@news.frii.net...
| With all the talk recently about the massive Windows XP SP2 update
| coming down the pike, I decided to check my Windows Automatic Updates
| settings.
|
| As it turns out, all the selections under "Automatic Updates" on my
| system are greyed out, so I can't change any of them.
|
| Any ideas?
|
| FWIW, there are only two user accounts on my system (Dell Inspirion
| 8500, Windows XP Pro), "Administrator" and myself, and I'm part of the
| "Administrators" group.
|
| Also FWIW, the current settings are "Keep my computer up to date" and
| "Automatically download the updates every Tuesday at 3AM". The second
| one is kind of a problem, since my laptop is always turned off then.
| (And I'd like to keep it that way.)
|
| Bob Pownall

Try Start> Run "wuaucpl.cpl" [enter] (no quotes)

Are the features grayed out there too?

--
D

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

In response to my question about Windows Automatic Update,
HillBillyBuddhist wrote:
>
> Try Start> Run "wuaucpl.cpl" [enter] (no quotes)
>
> Are the features grayed out there too?
>

Thanks for the help.

I don't have a "wuaucpl.cpl" file. A search on the C: drive shows only
C:\I386\wuaucpl.cpl.manifest and C:\Windows\System32\wuaucpl.cpl.manifest.

Any ideas on what to try next? (Dell Inspirion 8500, Windows XP Pro)

Bob Pownall

 

[Rob]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Hi Bob,

Maybe the "Automatic Updates" service is set to manual. At the run command
type "services.msc", find the "Automatic Updates" entry in the list and
right click on it. Choose Properties and make sure the "Startup type" is set
to "automatic". You can also restart the service here if it has stopped.
You'll find that option on the left hand side of that window.

HTH
Rob

--
"A new study shows that licking the sweat off a frog can cure depression.
The down side is, the minute you stop licking, the frog gets depressed
again."

"Bob Pownall" <repownall@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:411b77f9$0$207$75868355@news.frii.net...
> In response to my question about Windows Automatic Update,
> HillBillyBuddhist wrote:
> >
> > Try Start> Run "wuaucpl.cpl" [enter] (no quotes)
> >
> > Are the features grayed out there too?
> >
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
> I don't have a "wuaucpl.cpl" file. A search on the C: drive shows only
> C:\I386\wuaucpl.cpl.manifest and C:\Windows\System32\wuaucpl.cpl.manifest.
>
> Any ideas on what to try next? (Dell Inspirion 8500, Windows XP Pro)
>
> Bob Pownall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Rob wrote:
<Summary: He suggests I run services.msc and check on the status of
automatic updates.>

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the help.

services.msc reports that Automatic Updates is status: Started,
Startup Type: Automatic, log on as "Local System".

FWIW, the service is enabled for both undocked and docked hardware
profiles.

Any more ideas to try or things to check? I'm not too proud to admit
that I have no clues on this one.

Bob Pownall

 

[Rob]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Hi Bob,

The only other thing I can think off is if your user account doesn't have
the appropriate permissions to use Auto Update even though you are part of
the Administrators Group. As a process of elimination have you tried logging
into Windows via the dedicated Administrators account, if so do you get all
the options available to you in Auto Updates?

Rob

--
"A new study shows that licking the sweat off a frog can cure depression.
The down side is, the minute you stop licking, the frog gets depressed
again."

"Bob Pownall" <repownall@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:411bc781$0$205$75868355@news.frii.net...
> Rob wrote:
> <Summary: He suggests I run services.msc and check on the status of
> automatic updates.>
>
> Hi Rob,
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
> services.msc reports that Automatic Updates is status: Started,
> Startup Type: Automatic, log on as "Local System".
>
> FWIW, the service is enabled for both undocked and docked hardware
> profiles.
>
> Any more ideas to try or things to check? I'm not too proud to admit
> that I have no clues on this one.
>
> Bob Pownall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Rob wrote:
<Summary: He suggests that I try logging on as Administrator and seeing
if I have all Windows Automatic Updates options that way.>

Thanks again, Rob.

I just gave that a try, with no success. All the options were grayed
out, just like when I'm logged on as myself.

Maybe I'll trying Googling (again) and searching the Microsoft Knowledge
Base (again). Maybe I'll have better luck with some different search terms.

What I'm *really* hoping is that somebody will see this thread and go
something like "Oh, I had that problem last month. What you need to do
is..."

Bob Pownall

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

In article <411c0ffa$0$211$75868355@news.frii.net>,
repownall@netscape.net says...
> Rob wrote:
> <Summary: He suggests that I try logging on as Administrator and seeing
> if I have all Windows Automatic Updates options that way.>
>
> Thanks again, Rob.
>
> I just gave that a try, with no success. All the options were grayed
> out, just like when I'm logged on as myself.
>
> Maybe I'll trying Googling (again) and searching the Microsoft Knowledge
> Base (again). Maybe I'll have better luck with some different search terms.
>
> What I'm *really* hoping is that somebody will see this thread and go
> something like "Oh, I had that problem last month. What you need to do
> is..."
>
> Bob Pownall
>
Actually I have that issue due to the fact that this laptop is attached
to the corporate network that is managed by a Microsoft SUS server. The
update process is centrally controlled by the IT staff and all updates
have to be approved by the administrator before they are pushed out to
the registered machines. I also am using a laptop but I have not
removed it from the docking station and taken it home to see if that
would "ungrey" the options. You did not state the environment in which
your machine is installed so this may not be your problem.

Robin