After all the issues this summer with these things (and problems with subsequent updates as recently as 2 weeks ago), something different is happening.
I have Windows Update set to notify me when updates are available, and to allow me to decide whether to download and install them. A few moments ago I got a pop-up notification from the "Action Center" (the little flag icon that sits on the toolbar at lower left, along with stuff like power, wifi, volume, bluetooth, etc.). This notice announced that updates were being downloaded and that I should save all my work now, because Windows was going to re-start once installation was completed -- whether I liked it or not.
Uhhh... I don't think so. I opened Control Panel, opened Windows Update, and lo and behold my preferences had somehow been changed to "automatically check and install". I immediately switched them back, and the downloads ceased. That's mystery #1.
Mystery #2 is what these "new updates" actually entail. They are as follows:
* An optional update for Microsoft Silverlight (KB2977218). It's dated 7/23/2014.
* An "important" security update for Microsoft Visual C++ Visual 2010 Redistributable Package (KB2467173). Dated 4/5/2012.
* An "important" update for Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 x64 (KB3025390). Dated 12/17/2014.
The IE update makes sense, and is timely -- but I'm still going to wait until enough online resources give it the "all clear". (FWIW, I only keep IE on my computer in case I encounter pages that won't format properly in Firefox, PaleMoon or Chrome.) But I have no earthly idea why I'm being alerted a few days before 2015 to install an update released more than two and a half fucking years ago.
So....
1) How can I find out what altered my Windows Update preferences?
2) What can I do to ensure it never happens again?
3) Why do I need an update that was published before three successive generations of human infants were born and took their first steps?
I have Windows Update set to notify me when updates are available, and to allow me to decide whether to download and install them. A few moments ago I got a pop-up notification from the "Action Center" (the little flag icon that sits on the toolbar at lower left, along with stuff like power, wifi, volume, bluetooth, etc.). This notice announced that updates were being downloaded and that I should save all my work now, because Windows was going to re-start once installation was completed -- whether I liked it or not.
Uhhh... I don't think so. I opened Control Panel, opened Windows Update, and lo and behold my preferences had somehow been changed to "automatically check and install". I immediately switched them back, and the downloads ceased. That's mystery #1.
Mystery #2 is what these "new updates" actually entail. They are as follows:
* An optional update for Microsoft Silverlight (KB2977218). It's dated 7/23/2014.
* An "important" security update for Microsoft Visual C++ Visual 2010 Redistributable Package (KB2467173). Dated 4/5/2012.
* An "important" update for Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 x64 (KB3025390). Dated 12/17/2014.
The IE update makes sense, and is timely -- but I'm still going to wait until enough online resources give it the "all clear". (FWIW, I only keep IE on my computer in case I encounter pages that won't format properly in Firefox, PaleMoon or Chrome.) But I have no earthly idea why I'm being alerted a few days before 2015 to install an update released more than two and a half fucking years ago.
So....
1) How can I find out what altered my Windows Update preferences?
2) What can I do to ensure it never happens again?
3) Why do I need an update that was published before three successive generations of human infants were born and took their first steps?
