On mySimon: Holiday Gifts for the Hostess
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet

October 15th, 2007

The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?

Posted by Mary Jo Foley @ 4:19 am

Categories: Security, Service Pack, Vista, Windows XP, Windows client

Tags: Mystery, Patch Management, Microsoft Update, Patches, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Mary Jo Foley

A (slight) update on last week’s report that some Windows users are seeing their Vista PCs automatically update themselves and reboot.

From Nate Clinton, a Microsoft Update Program Manager, via the Microsoft Update Product Team blog:The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?

“We have been hearing some questions recently regarding Tuesday’s update release changing automatic updating settings. We have received some logs from customers, and have so far been able to determine that their AU settings were not changed by any changes to the AU client itself and also not changed by any updates installed by AU.

“We are still looking into this to see if another application is making this change during setup with user consent, or if this issue is related to something else. We are continuing the investigation, and as I have more information I will update this post.

“If you are running into this issue, your help would be greatly appreciated. You can contact support, and they can walk you through the steps necessary to provide logs and other useful data.”

So, it doesn’t seem to be Automatic Update (AU) or the patches themselves at fault. So what caused last Past Tuesday’s patches to be installed automatically and machines to be rebooted for a group of users who had chosen not to allow automatic installation of patches — as originally reported on the AeroXperience site? It’s still not clear whether it is Vista only (or also XP) that is affected and whether Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) users have seen the same problem.

More to come when there’s new info to share.

Update (3:30 p.m. EST): I’ve gotten notes from a few users saying that XP is also affected. Microsoft officials had declined to comment on which versions of Windows were affected by this update glitch. So far it seems to be XP and Vista. Other users of other Windows releases out there having the same trouble?

(74 actualitzacions de seguretat per instal·lar. Image by xcaballe. CC 2.0)

Mary Jo FoleyMary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 20 years. Don't miss a single post. Subscribe via Email or RSS. You can also follow Mary Jo on Twitter.

Got a tip? Send Mary Jo your rants, rumors, tips and tattles. For disclosure on Mary Jo's industry affiliations, click here or to see Mary Jo's full profile click here.

  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 273 Talkback(s)
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?
I have Windows XP. I have it set for download updates, but don't install. I always set a restore point before installing. I was on the road and decided not to install until I got home. When I shut... (Read the rest)
Posted by: jlgilmer@... Posted on: 11/18/07 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
If MS actually was doing something sneaky...  Henrik Moller | 10/15/07
Maybe not  laura.b | 10/15/07
got caught? Not True - you must disable the service!  TG2 | 10/15/07
Yep, it true  greblach | 10/16/07
But they admitted it when confronted  laura.b | 10/16/07
But they admitted it when confronted  laura.b | 10/16/07
solutions?  sfazly | 10/16/07
Disable How?  knightrider2@... | 10/16/07
Just to add to this...  rcar | 10/16/07
"microsoft's view of what turning off the automatic updates does"  Absolutely | 11/04/07
I suspect they really are confused.  Resuna | 10/15/07
confused  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Wasn't there...  Wolfie2K3 | 10/16/07
Microsoft wouldn't lie  fr0thy | 10/15/07
Wow, now that was subjective!  Linux User 147560 | 10/15/07
Permission...  Information_z | 10/15/07
Same principle as DRM  jeffdickey | 10/16/07
In a nutshell! nt  Ole Man | 10/16/07
winblows auto update?!?  candusound | 10/20/07
subjective!  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Wow  notsofast | 10/15/07
DOH!  jns@... | 10/15/07
You missed it  critic-at-arms | 10/15/07
Okay!  Linux User 147560 | 10/15/07
Get it?  Carl3Surf | 10/18/07
That was brilliant. 9.5.  heres_johnny | 10/15/07
Subtle?  notsofast | 10/15/07
8.9!  handydan918 | 10/15/07
Had me going there for a minute . . .  critic-at-arms | 10/15/07
Is that a serious post?  jongunn@... | 10/16/07
Microsoft wouldn't lie.  allan_day@... | 10/16/07
8.5 Great!  swenger | 10/16/07
10.0!!!!  mstngtim@... | 10/19/07
Xp Pro same problem  davagain | 10/15/07
And I...  Syzygy01 | 10/15/07
XP Pro same problem  carcollector | 10/15/07
My XP Pro also updated automatically too  clido01 | 10/15/07
So that's why my PC rebooteed ...  stephenjwalter@... | 10/15/07
Another XP Pro "attempted" update  Provox DCS | 10/18/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  rr_place@... | 10/15/07
RE: We're running WSUS 3.0 in our organization...  nwoodson@... | 10/15/07
We're running  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  ngoodey@... | 10/15/07
The fact you just reinstalled makes me suspicious  andrej770 | 10/15/07
same here  hsmphoto | 10/15/07
The process of elimination...  Information_z | 10/15/07
here  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Disable Auto Update  LucasKorso | 10/15/07
Spoken like a true hacker  george.burdell@... | 10/15/07
Updates aren't your best protection.  Resuna | 10/15/07
PS...  Resuna | 10/15/07
You forgot the most important one...  Allstar_z | 10/15/07
Not running auto updates...  Information_z | 10/15/07
ActiveX  jongunn@... | 10/16/07
try castlecops, etc for spyware removal.  rtk | 10/16/07
You live in fear  Crestview | 10/15/07
Fine for home users.  DemonX | 10/15/07
Update by all means  TomSingsBass | 10/16/07
Microsoft Poses a Genuine Threat  Cardhu | 10/18/07
I agree  professordnm | 10/15/07
You hit on it  Crestview | 10/15/07
Thanks LukasKorso  On Site PC | 10/15/07
Thanks LukasKorso  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Off or notify?  Gerry_z | 10/15/07
definatly...  sir_cheats_alot@... | 10/15/07
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,  Mike Hunt | 10/15/07
Goob....nt  socialism=nowhere | 10/15/07
Hmmm....  Information_z | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  arongard@... | 10/15/07
HMMM ok APPLE  harperjmichael@... | 10/15/07
ok apple  mandehu@... | 10/15/07
Microsoft...  Information_z | 10/15/07
They Warn...  jongunn@... | 10/16/07
The mystery continues:  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Nice theory... EXCEPT...  Wolfie2K3 | 10/16/07
Stop whining, be thankful...  Mike Cox | 10/15/07
That's exactly what MS has said  Mike Hunt | 10/15/07
LMAO  harperjmichael@... | 10/15/07
How can I...  Information_z | 10/15/07
You already have...  digitaus@... | 10/15/07
How can I...  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
8.0  John L. Ries | 10/15/07
7.5  Stuka | 10/15/07
9.8  BanjoPaterson | 10/15/07
unbelievable  andrewt2323 | 10/15/07
Welcome to ZDNet!  Mike Hunt | 10/15/07
Welcome to ZDNet  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Pre-concieved notions  Crestview | 10/15/07
Good car manufacturers...  Information_z | 10/15/07
Pre-concieved notions  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Sorry, fella, you're just not up to the sitire competition...  Media-Ted@... | 10/15/07
He's a satirist...not to be taken literally,  socialism=nowhere | 10/15/07
Correction  rtk | 10/16/07
And Mr. Cox hooks another fish!  maldain | 10/15/07
...still laughing here !  hsmphoto | 10/15/07
That sound you just heard  Gerry_z | 10/15/07
LOL  jongunn@... | 10/16/07
Another Fish  jongunn@... | 10/16/07
???  jrojas@... | 10/17/07
The WOW is back: 9.0  John Zern | 10/15/07
unable to work because of Vista  robinsonky | 10/16/07
Stop Whining?  benardquek@... | 10/15/07
Technically..  KWierso | 10/15/07
Technically..  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Using M$ $oftware???  Media-Ted@... | 10/15/07
Is that like  Gerry_z | 10/15/07
Yes  alaniane@... | 10/15/07
Impressive  coverlt@... | 10/15/07
I'm using Vista reading your reply Mike...  JackG058 | 10/15/07
I'm using Vista reading your reply Mike...  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
You are parodying APPLE now?  xuniL_z | 10/15/07
agree  davagain | 10/15/07
Microsoft knows what is best for you  jmarks50@... | 10/15/07
Correction!!  jmarks50@... | 10/15/07
Correction!!  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Wow, reel em' in, Mikey!!!  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 10/15/07
On second thought, there can be only ONE. 10.0  heres_johnny | 10/15/07
Keep 'Em Coming Mike (8.5)  dave95. | 10/15/07
Goood gawd .....  Linux_4u! | 10/15/07
Good one, son!  Mike Cox, Sr. | 10/15/07
I have to agree  alaniane@... | 10/15/07
to agree  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
SOLID 10 Mikey!  DragonBRockin | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  Bitzie | 10/15/07
OneCare and AU  craig-wilson@... | 10/15/07
OneCare and AU  Brownshoe Sailor | 10/15/07
OneCare and AU  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Norton  erothberg@... | 10/15/07
mystery continues:  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Not just Vista  Magikx21 | 10/15/07
I saw it happen to XP 32...  deefburger | 10/15/07
Services  Magikx21 | 10/15/07
WU  hsmphoto | 10/15/07
happen to XP 32...  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Ghost in the shell  jeanruss | 10/15/07
Gawd I hope not  maldain | 10/15/07
Ghost in the shell  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
It's OneCare - happened to us  Paul C. | 10/15/07
Me too  david@... | 10/15/07
Or use the online OneCare  Crestview | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  kagnewrick@... | 10/15/07
peeing in my cheerios  bob@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  reed.jonathan@... | 10/15/07
Possible Future Scenarios  thx-1138_@... | 10/15/07
I think it's time to stop using MS products  Dr_Zinj | 10/15/07
Use what instead of windows?  montevale | 10/15/07
Slavery  Free-BooteR | 10/15/07
No doubt Microsoft is evil giant!  Crestview | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  bwarren3@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  vkelman@... | 10/15/07
What mystery?  krismartin56 | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  hank.raleigh@... | 10/15/07
Happened on my XP SP2 Home  tmdowling@... | 10/15/07
Me too - XP 32  gamebird | 10/15/07
Me as well - XP Home  Tank252ca | 10/15/07
Me too - XP 32  aussieblnd@... | 10/15/07
Caught a virus?  cnovak@... | 10/15/07
my first thought, too  davagain | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  jhenthorn@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  steven.pitzel@... | 10/15/07
Vista renders FireFox unusable!  pclind@... | 10/15/07
Vista renders IE unusable!  TAG, your it! | 10/15/07
RE: Vista renders IE unusable!  sir_cheats_alot@... | 10/17/07
firefox bug  davagain | 10/15/07
i've never encounter this problem  96camaroz28@... | 10/15/07
Message has been deleted.  george.burdell@... | 10/15/07
yes and no because sometime  Quebec-french | 10/15/07
The mystery has been solved  mikeholli | 10/15/07
can you provide a link?  poiuyt | 10/15/07
Conformation  mikeholli | 10/15/07
Vista becoming SkyNet?  george@... | 10/15/07
Watching too much Sci-Fi  pricejr2@... | 10/15/07
Closer than you think...  JelMin | 10/15/07
Oh Geez. you look at your poster of T2 next to  socialism=nowhere | 10/15/07
Ha!  thx-1138_@... | 10/17/07
A Solution to Windows Problems  pvhastings | 10/15/07
RE: A Solution to Windows Problems  pricejr2@... | 10/15/07
Good luck with that...  socialism=nowhere | 10/15/07
You need a BETTER FIRE WALL  jackie40d@... | 10/15/07
The best firewall, ever!  Resuna | 10/15/07
Same to me on XP  lynx9 | 10/15/07
It's happening with XP also.  A. Noid | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  PhilippeV | 10/15/07
How to disable WU completely  PhilippeV | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  mindchaotica@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  aoleon@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  dilipti | 10/15/07
B-A-A-A-A-A-A-A  qtrback | 10/15/07
Not just Vista  CosmicChaos | 10/15/07
Ghosts in the machine  wolfsouls | 10/15/07
When the pay is peanuts...  bicycle repair man | 10/15/07
Got a ? for ya  qtrback | 10/15/07
Don't know of a company head that doesn't  socialism=nowhere | 10/15/07
Ever heard of ethics....  qtrback | 10/15/07
That still doesn't explain....  DCMann | 10/15/07
XP Crashing ...  woldfamily@... | 10/15/07
It may still be happening....  croeiii | 10/15/07
Xp Corp too  plexxy@... | 10/15/07
RE: XP Pro 2005 w/MCE  lostinlodos | 10/15/07
oops, and also  lostinlodos | 10/15/07
Just more evidence...  bjbrock | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  erothberg@... | 10/15/07
Your correct.  phatkat | 10/15/07
Symantec not alone  KrazyGuy | 10/15/07
We are seeing un-requested changes to XP  wwwsupport | 10/15/07
Automatic updates  taskman | 10/15/07
Gotta reboot anyway  ekistics22 | 10/15/07
XP home in the mix  smorris@... | 10/15/07
As far as I know...  DCMann | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  trainer_1@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  blewis21@... | 10/15/07
auto update resetting computer  Pyrotech_z | 10/15/07
32 BIT Auto  kb0lkt@... | 10/15/07
Windows updates  Stormy38 | 10/15/07
possibly  merc2dogs` | 10/15/07
"A Microsoft spokesman says the company is clueless"  itanalyst | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  rfm@... | 10/15/07
spam  rfm@... | 10/15/07
7.2 megabyte mystery download  RBrown72002 | 10/15/07
EU IS SUING MICROSOFT  BALTHOR | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  powersystemdjs@... | 10/15/07
I call MS a liar.  xunil skcor | 10/15/07
I think you have a handle to this...  Media-Ted@... | 10/15/07
Proprietary = Risky. Open = Secure.  xunil skcor | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  burbeen@... | 10/15/07
Is One Care to blame?  neilo | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  joeblotnik49@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  naturalist2@... | 10/15/07
User Account Control  timmy@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  usarcomputertec | 10/15/07
XP64  cwhull | 10/15/07
Vista 64 Bit  hughesjv@... | 10/15/07
Windows updates... I HATE Microsoft Windows  laralynzy@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  sunrisewml@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  cigar364@... | 10/15/07
Very surprising...  ridhuan_kasim@... | 10/15/07
I don't have this issue with Linux...hum time to change?  mikifinaz1@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  jpgeorgia | 10/15/07
Repair Installs and System Restore  conceptual | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  bsheehan@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  bcroner | 10/15/07
Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  hdavison | 10/15/07
WindowsXP but no Norton products  The PawnRaider | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  ck_lee@... | 10/15/07
You have got to be f@#king kidding!  thx-1138_@... | 10/15/07
Logitech's QuickCam Ultra Vision software does this  takeos | 10/15/07
The "Turn" has occured...  Media-Ted@... | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  Aaron A Baker | 10/15/07
It is not the same problem... is your updater *service* disabed?  TG2 | 10/15/07
manual for the auto update service .. disabled not manual  TG2 | 10/15/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  fredds5@... | 10/15/07
Suggestion  Lockmz | 10/15/07
Sweetie it's in the log file  Bitzie | 10/16/07
My first clue  tpaige@... | 10/16/07
Windows end users don't own their machines!  whisperycat | 10/16/07
Naaaahhh!  Ole Man | 10/16/07
Auto Update Apply  allan_day@... | 10/16/07
Automatic upadte or not don't you still have to click to install?  Randalllind | 10/16/07
reboot after update  dankasnitzel | 10/16/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  danielarbib | 10/16/07
Apologies & Clarifications  thx-1138_@... | 10/18/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  Kungfoofighterx | 10/18/07
In short: NO.  thx-1138_@... | 10/18/07
Which is better?  critic-at-arms | 10/19/07
Why are Windows machines auto updating themselves  rerailer@... | 10/19/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  deano1@... | 10/19/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  rgrowlan@... | 10/21/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  rgrowlan@... | 10/21/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  wayno77@... | 10/25/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating  Scarface Claw | 11/08/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  clark121121@... | 11/08/07
Windows live messenger 8.5-silent updates?  harpo_the_whale | 11/08/07
RE: The mystery continues: Why are Windows machines automatically updating themselves?  jlgilmer@... | 11/18/07

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

Click Here
advertisement

Order Microsoft 2.0

Pre-order Microsoft 2.0

Order 'Microsoft 2.0' by Mary Jo Foley at Amazon.com.

Recent Entries

advertisement

Archives

ZDNet Blogs

White Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

SmartPlanet

  • Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
  • More from IBM
  • Innovate your business' process model, play against the market, compete against others on our scoreboards and WIN! Try INNOV8 2.0: A BPM Simulator
  • Enabling Real-World Business Transformation through IBM Service Management Read the EMA Analyst Report
Click Here