Automatic updates vs. Windows Update website

I have my W2K set to download Automatic Updates. However, if I go to the
Windows Update website and scan for necessary updates, it usually lists at
least one "critical update" to be downloaded. Aren't these done through the
automatic upadate feature? Am I supposed to manually download those shown on
the website as well? What good is the automatic update feature if it misses
some critical updates?

FrankV
Tue Dec 21 17:50:51 CST 2004

I would never use the automatic. Its much safer to manually download so you
know for sure what you are getting. Automatic is bound to download
something you don't want at some point so play it safe.

Frank

"Susan" <Susan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:96F471D4-9FF0-41F2-BE75-FDC253130FEF@microsoft.com...
>I have my W2K set to download Automatic Updates. However, if I go to the
> Windows Update website and scan for necessary updates, it usually lists at
> least one "critical update" to be downloaded. Aren't these done through
> the
> automatic upadate feature? Am I supposed to manually download those shown
> on
> the website as well? What good is the automatic update feature if it
> misses
> some critical updates?

Roger
Tue Dec 21 22:14:51 CST 2004

When set to automatic download and install, one should be
getting all security and critical updates. There are quite a
few that one will not get unless manually visiting Windows
Update, but these are not critical or security updates.

If there is a critical that is always seen as needed when you
visit WU, have you tried downloading and installing? I am
wondering whether it is failing to install, and so it is always
there waiting to try again.

--
Roger Abell
Microsoft MVP (Windows Security)
MCSE (W2k3,W2k,Nt4) MCDBA
"Susan" <Susan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:96F471D4-9FF0-41F2-BE75-FDC253130FEF@microsoft.com...
> I have my W2K set to download Automatic Updates. However, if I go to the
> Windows Update website and scan for necessary updates, it usually lists at
> least one "critical update" to be downloaded. Aren't these done through
the
> automatic upadate feature? Am I supposed to manually download those shown
on
> the website as well? What good is the automatic update feature if it
misses
> some critical updates?

Susan
Wed Dec 22 07:37:07 CST 2004

Thank you, Frank and Roger! I tried to install the updates, and I got the
message "Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the
requested page." Could that have something to do with my IE settings?


"Susan" wrote:

> I have my W2K set to download Automatic Updates. However, if I go to the
> Windows Update website and scan for necessary updates, it usually lists at
> least one "critical update" to be downloaded. Aren't these done through the
> automatic upadate feature? Am I supposed to manually download those shown on
> the website as well? What good is the automatic update feature if it misses
> some critical updates?

Roger
Thu Dec 23 02:11:24 CST 2004

Well, yes, IE settings can be one source of trouble.
You may want to seek further help in the specific newsgroup
microsoft.public.windowsupdate

If you can visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com at all, then
try accessing the Help and Support link down under Other
Options, from which one item you can try is the troubleshooter

http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/
is direct link for a Windows 2000 system.

However, the message you have shown is listed in the troubleshooting
list for XP only; but there is (at least) one for Windows 2000, this titled
"When using the Windows Update Web site you receive Windows 2000 error:
0x8007045a"
which seems to me less than useful, with text:

Problem Description:
When using the Windows Update Web site you receive the following error
message: "Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the
requested page" Send Error to Microsoft 0x8007045a

Resolutions:
You can resolve this issue by installing the latest Windows 2000 Service
Pack from http://microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/

--
Roger Abell
Microsoft MVP (Windows Security)
MCSE (W2k3,W2k,Nt4) MCDBA

"Susan" <Susan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:74BBB74B-274A-428E-9DB5-95D90B2C1525@microsoft.com...
> Thank you, Frank and Roger! I tried to install the updates, and I got the
> message "Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the
> requested page." Could that have something to do with my IE settings?
>
>
> "Susan" wrote:
>
> > I have my W2K set to download Automatic Updates. However, if I go to
the
> > Windows Update website and scan for necessary updates, it usually lists
at
> > least one "critical update" to be downloaded. Aren't these done through
the
> > automatic upadate feature? Am I supposed to manually download those
shown on
> > the website as well? What good is the automatic update feature if it
misses
> > some critical updates?