Windows Update seems to have deteriorated

[I D Shukhov]

Or maybe it's always had problems based on my Google results.   

One of my PCs was disconnected from the internet for maybe a month.  Last night I discovered 23 "important" updates that needed to be downloaded and installed.

What a PITA!   There were several ways it failed:  e.g.  hanging on "Creating a restore point"  or hanging on "Configuring Windows, do not shutdown or turn power off." 

All of the failure modes were seen by numerous others, judging by the questions asked on the internet and which resulted in the usual mixture of useless and sometimes helpful advice.

What worked for me was to go to Action Center -> Troubleshoot Common Computer Problems -> System and Security -> Fix Problems with Windows Update.

I had to do this twice over the course of about 2 hours after fiddling around unsuccessfully in Safe Mode, restoring check points, which solved nothing.   I ignored the arcane and potentially dangerous registry-related advice, virus removal "this *is* the problem" type advice and sundry Microsoft MVP directives to do X to solve the problems, but it resulted in a lot of wasted time just to evaluate the advice.

The "Fix Problems with Windows Update"  would say something like "checking for problems", "finding additional problems" and then would end with a little green box with a check labeled "fixed".   No details were given.

Nothing like this ever happens when I update my Mac.

[pxsant]

This sounds like an intentional act by Microsoft to disable computers which do not do updates.  If so, this could cause chaos in the corporate world - although MS probably uses this tactic only on home versions.  Which version do you have?

I would not trust MS as far as I could throw an elephant.

[I D Shukhov]

This sounds like an intentional act by Microsoft to disable computers which do not do updates.  If so, this could cause chaos in the corporate world - although MS probably uses this tactic only on home versions.  Which version do you have?

I would not trust MS as far as I could throw an elephant.

I have Windows 7.  I'm attributing it to entropy and morale problems at Microsoft rather than maliciousness.   I think they see their time is over and that Sun's Scott McNealy's prognostications about the network being the operating system are coming to pass.

The Windows OS tools I rely on at this point are TurboTax and Quicken Home and Business.  I use MS office tools also, but I think replacements for them could be found rather easily.

TT has an online version.  Not sure about Home and Business.  If Intuit moves to a full SaaS cloud model, then that would help me get off of MS. There's still the privacy issue, though.

-- This update thing was highly annoying.  I spent about 2 hours getting the PC updated last night.

[codger]

Find Mac versions (or equivalents) of TurboTax and Quicken. Set up your Mac, import your data and dump the Windows PC.

[I D Shukhov]

Find Mac versions (or equivalents) of TurboTax and Quicken. Set up your Mac, import your data and dump the Windows PC.

Unfortunately, Quicken does not have a version of Home and Business for the Mac.   However,  these folks:  http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/stm/ have it all figured out how I can continue to use the Windows apps I care about.

I'd also have to buy a OEM Windows 7 for $99.

Maybe it would all be worth it to stop having to worry about the all the malware directed towards Windows machines.

Something to put on my to-do list (which is probably deep-sixing the idea).  I just bought a  i7-870 machine last year for 1K.

[Carrie Cobol]

That still doesn't get you away from dealing with Windows or it's annoying updates, though.  I have Windows installed on Boot Camp on my Mac in order to use the Windows version of Quickbooks for my greyhound group work.  I only switch over to it every two or three weeks to do the books, and always have to run the updates that have piled up in the meantime.

It works pretty well for what it is.  It's still disturbing to see the Windows logo displayed on my Mac.  Like that's soooo wrong!   

[codger]

Sounds like you've polluted your Mac by installing M$ software. I have NO M$ stuff and have never had a problem with OS X or any other software on either of my Macs.

When you install M$ software on a Mac you open the door to all sorts of problems. IMHO anyway

[Richardk]

For production machines, I prefer to wait a bit before installing updates. I don't need to be first in line.

I only switch over to it every two or three weeks to do the books, and always have to run the updates that have piled up in the meantime.

If you're only doing the books then turn off the updates. Why would you need them?

[Walter Mitty]

Somebody sohuld write a base level bookkeeping system that's native to the Mac, and that people can use to migrate away from MS and, if needs be, from Intuit.

There are decent alternatives to Quicken out there.  I remember MYOB from about 10 years ago.  If you're OK with double entry bookkeeping MYOB was just great!.  The version I had was a little short on built in analysis features,  but I don't care about that.  They were willing to dump the critical data in CSV form,  and I was willing to roll my own analysis tools using that data.  I don't know whatever happened to MYOB.

I've never figured out why single entry bookkeeping eclipses double entry bookkeepingh for home use.  Double entry is harder to learn, but it's easier to use. 

[Carrie Cobol]

They do have Quickbooks for the Macintosh.  My problem was just that the President has Windows, and I need to periodically update his Quickbooks with my database so that he can look at recent transactions if he needs to.  I asked on the Intuit forums about copying files between Mac and Windows and was advised that it was more trouble than it was worth.  But running Windows under Bootcamp is easy, so our system is okay.

There are bigger WTF's than this, though.  Now that I've been doing the books for a year, I can't help wondering why they bought Quickbooks when they've only been using the check register function and no other feature.  I'm slowly improving our procedures, though.  When you work in a volunteer organization, you get alot of freedom to improve things, but you have to take things slowly.

[Walter Mitty]

Carrie,

I can't speak for your case.  In general, people who set up a full blown bookkeeping system and then only make use of the checkbook register are victims of a classic mental confusion:  they have conflated cash management with income and expense management.  Volunteer organizations do this kind of thing all the time. 

They aren't the worst offenders.  Most people who manage their home finances treat good cash management as if it were the same thing as good income and expense management.  And I would posit that Congress and the President have been treating balancing the income and expense of government as if it were a cash management problem.  And, lest anyone thing I'm blaming Obama, Reid, and Boehner, this has been going since 1980, if not earlier. 

[benali72]

I have an XP system in excellent shape that got hit with a bad Windows Update tonight.  I opted to apply the dozen fixes during Shutdown, instead the system hung during Update #1.  I finally was forced to power off the system to regain control.  Fortunately Windows booted ok.

As pxsant and RichardK suggest, I've turned off Windows Update on this system now. I fear problems from Windows Update more than I fear the problems the updates are designed to fix.

Just like ID says, what a big waste of an evening googling on this and trying to fix it. No more WU for me on that system.

[I D Shukhov]

I have an XP system in excellent shape that got hit with a bad Windows Update tonight.  I opted to apply the dozen fixes during Shutdown, instead the system hung during Update #1.  I finally was forced to power off the system to regain control.  Fortunately Windows booted ok.

As pxsant and RichardK suggest, I've turned off Windows Update on this system now. I fear problems from Windows Update more than I fear the problems the updates are designed to fix.

Just like ID says, what a big waste of an evening googling on this and trying to fix it. No more WU for me on that system.

Benali,

You may have to ditch the XP system and move on to a Windows 7 system.

The only thing that worked for me (Windows 7) was:

Go to Action Center -> Troubleshoot Common Computer Problems -> System and Security -> Fix Problems with Windows Update.

This generally unwound whatever WU had wrapped itself around the axle with.

If XP does not have the automated WU fixer, I'd ditch it.    I think you have to stay current with updates for security reasons.

[The Gorn]

Windows 7 isn't perfect and that automation isn't comprehensive.

I have had to hand-patch damaged Windows Update related files in the OS because updates were simply dying without being applied.

[benali72]

Thanks for the advice, ID. Unfortunately this system is too old to run WIndows 7, it's stuck back in the XP days. Fortunately I rarely run WIndows on it, I almost always use Ubuntu, and sometimes other LInuxes. I hear what you're saying about needing WU on for security purposes, but in this case, I think I'll take my (minimal use) chances. Thanks.