Windows Update

Question

I went into Windows Update to manually install the patches and I got this message:

Windows Update

To use this latest version of Windows Update, you will need to upgrade some of its components. This version provides you with the following enhancements to our service:

Express and custom installation: Choose only the most recent critical updates or pick and choose from all available updates.

Smarter downloads: If downloading is interrupted, the process will start up where it left off the next time you download that update.
Smaller downloads: Only the files your computer needs are downloaded, saving download time and connection-speed costs.
One version: Only the most recent updates are offered to you.
Less clutter: You can now hide updates you don't want to see.
Update news: A News from Microsoft section on the Windows Update home page displays tips and the latest information.

Details

Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)
1.1 MB , less than 1 minute
The Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool enables you to verify that your copy of Microsoft Windows is genuine. The tool validates your Windows installation by checking Windows Product Identification and Product Activation status.

Total: 1.1 MB , less than 1 minute

KB892130 was installed on my computer on June 2006.

I want to understand why I need to install it again? Is it because the above is an updated version from the one that was installed in 2006?

jmwills · Answer

You are correct.  I beileve the newer version recognizes Vista and Office 2007, even though you may not have them installed.

Polina · Answer

jmwills,   I felt more comfortable installing the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool again after reading your response.  Everything went smoothly.   Thank you for your help.   :)

jmwills · Answer

Great.  I hate that stupid thing but understand its purpose.   I liken it to coming back into the States from overseas, showing them my OFFICIAL passport (not tourist) along with two Military ID's and still getting stupid questions!!

dalem29 · Answer

I have another problem with the Windows Updates. Yesterday morning I tried to download them. Before I could download them I had to download the Windows Advantage update. That downloaded successfully, but the the 5 critical updates won't download for some reason. I can get as far as showing the download status box with the cursor blinking for update number one, but the progress bar does not show anything downloading...and it remains like this for a good 10 minutes before I give up and go on to other things.   I was wondering if anyone else was having this problem. It is still continuing today. Nothing has changed on my computer other than the Windows Advantage download yesterday, not sure if that corrupted my system or whatever. Security products download correctly and without trouble. Thanks for any advice on this.  Dale

RoHe · Answer

I was forced to install Genuine Advantage yesterday too. I never had it on my system but I guess MS is getting tough about piracy.

Had exactly same problem with the progress bar yesterday during the MS updates. It was blank the entire time. I just left it alone and the updates downloaded and installed OK.

If you want to see if anything is actually being downloaded, open Task Manager (ctrl-alt-del) and click Networking tab. Peaks on the graph will show you that files are being transferred.

I suspect the MS update site was very busy yesterday, so that may have have contributed to the long delay, and some of the updates are big.

Ron

dalem29 · Answer

Thanks for your response. I have another computer that had no trouble with the download. I checked the networking tab and it does show sort of a sawtooth type of waveform so I guess something is going on. I'll try again this evening and just ignore it for couple of hours.

RoHe · Answer

Don't think you'll have to wait a couple of hours, but leave it alone for a while. If you get an error message, be sure to copy it down. Then refer to the FAQs on download issues at the MS update site.

If you still can't get it to update, MS offers FREE tech support for update issues directly from a link on the update site. I've used it several times in the past and always gotten excellent support.

Ron

Windows General

Windows Update

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