I don't get the yellow shield to install updates

On most of my home computers, after Id/l an update, I get a yellow shield in
the tray that I can click to install the updates. (If a reboot is needed
afterwards, it tells me that).

On my Sony Vaio TXN-series laptop (XP Pro 2002 SP3) and one other computer
(I can't remember which but it is XP Home SP3), I do not get the shield
after downloading updates. I have to remember to do a shut down so the
updates install.

My choice on automatic updating is "notify me but don't automatically
download or install them." The other choices are automatic; or download
updates for me but let me choose when to install; and turn off auto updates.
My other laptop and desktop have the same choice checked but give me the
shield to let me install while using the computer.

Is there a way to get the shield and choice to install updates while still
using the computer?

You won't be prompted to install any updates until all of the updates you've
approved have completed downloading, AB.

Absent any serious numerical Errors in your windowsupdate.log, you may be
seeing a delay caused by excessive demand on the servers. It can take up to
7 days or more (sometimes much more) for all Automatic Update (AU) users to
get new updates when so many have been released on the second Tuesday of a
given month. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910340

You can try downloading/installing the updates via Windows/Microsoft Update:
Understand that by doing so, you're pushing all the AU users further back in
the queue (which may explain, at least in part, why AU hasn't brought them
in for you yet).

How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093

Open your WindowsUpdate.log, scroll to the very bottom (end) of the log then
start examining the log as you scroll upwards. If you see repeated "Update
is not allowed to download due to regulation" entries, AU has been
encountering overloaded servers. Be patient, the updates should download
soon.

NB: If you leave your PC on 24/7, AU will only "try again" once every 17-22
hours. Every time you reboot, however, AU will "try again".
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

AB wrote:
> On most of my home computers, after Id/l an update, I get a yellow shield
> in
> the tray that I can click to install the updates. (If a reboot is needed
> afterwards, it tells me that).
>
> On my Sony Vaio TXN-series laptop (XP Pro 2002 SP3) and one other computer
> (I can't remember which but it is XP Home SP3), I do not get the shield
> after downloading updates. I have to remember to do a shut down so the
> updates install.
>
> My choice on automatic updating is "notify me but don't automatically
> download or install them." The other choices are automatic; or download
> updates for me but let me choose when to install; and turn off auto
> updates.
> My other laptop and desktop have the same choice checked but give me the
> shield to let me install while using the computer.
>
> Is there a way to get the shield and choice to install updates while still
> using the computer?

I think you misunderstood me.

I do get the downloads completed. (I walk away while it's happening!)

When download is complete, my other computers use the yellow shield to
prompt me to now install the downloaded files. these 2 computers do not do
that. It is only if I shut down that I see the prompt to turn off the
computer and let it install the updates before it powers off.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:OiRBiqHNJHA.1160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> You won't be prompted to install any updates until all of the updates
> you've approved have completed downloading, AB.
>
> Absent any serious numerical Errors in your windowsupdate.log, you may be
> seeing a delay caused by excessive demand on the servers. It can take up
> to 7 days or more (sometimes much more) for all Automatic Update (AU)
> users to get new updates when so many have been released on the second
> Tuesday of a given month. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910340
>
> You can try downloading/installing the updates via Windows/Microsoft
> Update: Understand that by doing so, you're pushing all the AU users
> further back in the queue (which may explain, at least in part, why AU
> hasn't brought them in for you yet).
>
> How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093
>
> Open your WindowsUpdate.log, scroll to the very bottom (end) of the log
> then start examining the log as you scroll upwards. If you see repeated
> "Update is not allowed to download due to regulation" entries, AU has been
> encountering overloaded servers. Be patient, the updates should download
> soon.
>
> NB: If you leave your PC on 24/7, AU will only "try again" once every
> 17-22 hours. Every time you reboot, however, AU will "try again".
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
> AB wrote:
>> On most of my home computers, after Id/l an update, I get a yellow shield
>> in
>> the tray that I can click to install the updates. (If a reboot is needed
>> afterwards, it tells me that).
>>
>> On my Sony Vaio TXN-series laptop (XP Pro 2002 SP3) and one other
>> computer
>> (I can't remember which but it is XP Home SP3), I do not get the shield
>> after downloading updates. I have to remember to do a shut down so the
>> updates install.
>>
>> My choice on automatic updating is "notify me but don't automatically
>> download or install them." The other choices are automatic; or download
>> updates for me but let me choose when to install; and turn off auto
>> updates.
>> My other laptop and desktop have the same choice checked but give me the
>> shield to let me install while using the computer.
>>
>> Is there a way to get the shield and choice to install updates while
>> still
>> using the computer?
>

AB wrote:

> On most of my home computers, after Id/l an update, I get a yellow shield in
> the tray that I can click to install the updates. (If a reboot is needed
> afterwards, it tells me that).
>
> On my Sony Vaio TXN-series laptop (XP Pro 2002 SP3) and one other computer
> (I can't remember which but it is XP Home SP3), I do not get the shield
> after downloading updates. I have to remember to do a shut down so the
> updates install.

Are you logged on with an administrator or a limited user account?

Harry.

> My choice on automatic updating is "notify me but don't automatically
> download or install them." The other choices are automatic; or download
> updates for me but let me choose when to install; and turn off auto updates.
> My other laptop and desktop have the same choice checked but give me the
> shield to let me install while using the computer.
>
> Is there a way to get the shield and choice to install updates while still
> using the computer?

"AB" <asb@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:48ff4b5e$0$4960$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> On most of my home computers, after Id/l an update, I get a yellow shield in
> the tray that I can click to install the updates. (If a reboot is needed
> afterwards, it tells me that).
>
> On my Sony Vaio TXN-series laptop (XP Pro 2002 SP3) and one other computer

> (I can't remember which but it is XP Home SP3),
> I do not get the shield after downloading updates.


Check in %windir%\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log

I am seeing that same symptom but so far only when the latest
message(s) contains:

<extract>
Description:
Installation Ready: The following updates are downloaded and ready for
installation. To install the updates, an administrator should log on to this
computer and Windows will prompt with further instructions:
</extract>

See also:

http://www.microsoft.com/communities...b59&sloc=en-us


> I have to remember to do a shut down so the updates install.


In fact, rebooting occasionally seems to bring it back too.
Not always though.


>
> My choice on automatic updating is "notify me but don't automatically
> download or install them." The other choices are automatic; or download
> updates for me but let me choose when to install; and turn off auto updates.


That's interesting. My choice is "let me choose when to install
which usually means that the first time I am aware of the availability
of updates they have already been downloaded.


> My other laptop and desktop have the same choice checked but give me the
> shield to let me install while using the computer.


I can tell when I'm in this state without resorting to using either
the Event Viewer or the ReportingEvents.log first, simply by using
my Sleep button on my keyboard (which I have configured to do
a Shutdown prompt, e.g. same as Ctrl-Esc,u). E.g. when I do that
and I see the Turn Off button overlaid with the AU icon I know that
there are updates ready to install. Then I can use the Event Viewer
or ReportingEvents.log to find out exactly which ones and if I don't
want them be installed when I shutdown I can use the new link at the
bottom of that dialog: Click here to turn off without installing updates.
The only problem is that without the AU tool in the Notification Area
I have no control over individual updates. So if rebooting doesn't bring it back
and I really wanted that control I would have to go to the WU or MU
site and prevent them from installing that way. AFAICS all this is by
design with that new icon overlay "feechur" but I haven't seen it
precisely documented anywhere.


>
> Is there a way to get the shield and choice to install updates while still
> using the computer?

I haven't actually tried disabling install of updates that have already
been downloaded using the WU or MU sites. Why don't you try that?
Perhaps the icon will then come back for you? <eg>
(I.e., you would have some updates downloaded but not installable
so why wouldn't they show you the AU tool to let you reverse that
case?)

Another alternative which I have thought of but haven't bothered
trying is using ProcMon to see what wuauclt.exe does. E.g. perhaps
there is an undocumented registry value which could be employed
to return the previous functionality that we both prefer?
It doesn't really bother me enough to go to all that trouble though;
it's jsut more quirks to know about and work around. ; )


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

What Harry said.

AB wrote:
> I think you misunderstood me.
>
> I do get the downloads completed. (I walk away while it's happening!)
>
> When download is complete, my other computers use the yellow shield to
> prompt me to now install the downloaded files. these 2 computers do not do
> that. It is only if I shut down that I see the prompt to turn off the
> computer and let it install the updates before it powers off.
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OiRBiqHNJHA.1160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> You won't be prompted to install any updates until all of the updates
>> you've approved have completed downloading, AB.
>>
>> Absent any serious numerical Errors in your windowsupdate.log, you may be
>> seeing a delay caused by excessive demand on the servers. It can take up
>> to 7 days or more (sometimes much more) for all Automatic Update (AU)
>> users to get new updates when so many have been released on the second
>> Tuesday of a given month. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910340
>>
>> You can try downloading/installing the updates via Windows/Microsoft
>> Update: Understand that by doing so, you're pushing all the AU users
>> further back in the queue (which may explain, at least in part, why AU
>> hasn't brought them in for you yet).
>>
>> How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093
>>
>> Open your WindowsUpdate.log, scroll to the very bottom (end) of the log
>> then start examining the log as you scroll upwards. If you see repeated
>> "Update is not allowed to download due to regulation" entries, AU has
>> been
>> encountering overloaded servers. Be patient, the updates should download
>> soon.
>>
>> NB: If you leave your PC on 24/7, AU will only "try again" once every
>> 17-22 hours. Every time you reboot, however, AU will "try again".
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>> AB wrote:
>>> On most of my home computers, after Id/l an update, I get a yellow
>>> shield
>>> in
>>> the tray that I can click to install the updates. (If a reboot is needed
>>> afterwards, it tells me that).
>>>
>>> On my Sony Vaio TXN-series laptop (XP Pro 2002 SP3) and one other
>>> computer
>>> (I can't remember which but it is XP Home SP3), I do not get the shield
>>> after downloading updates. I have to remember to do a shut down so the
>>> updates install.
>>>
>>> My choice on automatic updating is "notify me but don't automatically
>>> download or install them." The other choices are automatic; or download
>>> updates for me but let me choose when to install; and turn off auto
>>> updates.
>>> My other laptop and desktop have the same choice checked but give me the
>>> shield to let me install while using the computer.
>>>
>>> Is there a way to get the shield and choice to install updates while
>>> still
>>> using the computer?