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But imagine my horror when, as I was preparing the finishing touches to my code, the PC (Windows Vista HP, Opera 9.26) began to shut down, unprompted and with no opportunity to choose otherwise. I watched various windows close around me. The PC was installing windows updates that required a reboot.
Yes, after a long period for rebooting, the same programs opened up again. Minus data.
Has anyone else had this problem?
This seems an unfortunately typical example of the character of M$ in recent years.
I don't particularly have a problem with a lot of what Windows has provided in the past but they do seem to have forgotten their principal reason for being. The users aren't just there to pay dollars.
Having used windows for years, recently moving to Ubuntu has been really refreshing/liberating.. you forget how much the computer controls you. Only yesterday returning to Windows for gaming, I was faced with a large security update and having to reboot, and left wondering why.
Has anyone else had this problem?
YES!
But it was a server, not a workstation. Causing our accounting software to become corrupted and requiring an very expensive repair by our accounting software company. Taking 20 people off our accounting system for 24 hours during our busy season.
So I guess Vista, like Windows Server defaults to automatic updates with surprise reboots.
Why M$ has that as the default setting is very stupid and frustrating. I think everybody learns that lesson eventually.
(there are a couple of threads discussing this very issue somewhere on this site)
Has anyone else had this problem?
It's one thing to get an annoying message every 5 minutes reminding you to reboot. But it is COMPLETELY unacceptable to ever force a reboot without warning. Unless, of course, you're the sys admin and booting everyone off for an immediate shutdown. :)
However, giving MS it's due, I'm sure there is a similar setting to the following in Vista.
I actually had this happen in XP early on. Like Rugles says, the solution was Start->Control Panel->Automatic Updates, set it to "download the updates for me, but let me choose when I install them." The default does exactly what you say, downloads, installs, reboots.
I agree it's stupid, but then again, consider the majority of users. The less they have to interact with the control panel the smarter they feel. :-)
However,
an annoying message every 5 minutes reminding you to reboot.
Haven't found a way around this one - once you install the updates in keeps nagging you. Solution is to ignore the update icons until you're ready for a reboot. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Yes... but on XP. I allow it to auto download updates but not to apply them. Everyonce in a while it will apply some of them. Happened the other night.
Andy
I like Windows Updates. As a sysadmin they're a very useful thing. But rebooting while I'm tapping keys. I consider this to be rude ;)
