Windows update woes

[alexshj]

Recently, I disabled windows update in services, cos, it continously downloads at a steady rate (god knows what actually) and doesnt stop till i switch off the dsl modem and starts again when switched on. Now i enable it whenever i wish to check updates ie once a week which i did today and it showed windows defender  1mb update available. so i enabled and it started to download and continously for around 8mb (which showed on my netmeter and not update window) and then it switched to installation, but the modem didnt stop downloading (again god knows what ) so i switched off the modem since it already downloaded the update. This problem started a month back in the 12 months I used this system. what went wrong and am i to use it in this newfound way forever?? Is windows update service corrupt or someting??

[Black Viper]

Service Pack 1 already installed?

[alexshj]

No, still waiting for sp1 to appear in windows updates, did a check on 2/7, still nothing.

[Black Viper]

No, still waiting for sp1 to appear in windows updates, did a check on 2/7, still nothing.

Odd as when I "check for updates" and it says "no updates available..." I do it again and SP1 is there (maybe two or three times).

[alexshj]

easier said than done. each time i enable updates and check for them , it takes around 5 mins to check and downloads around 10mb of god knows what in the background. i cant keeep doing this as i am on an gb bandwith monthly limit. its expensive here in india.

[Spawn]

easier said than done. each time i enable updates and check for them , it takes around 5 mins to check and downloads around 10mb of god knows what in the background. i cant keeep doing this as i am on an gb bandwith monthly limit. its expensive here in india.

Why don't you just download the standalone SP1? 
32 bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=B0C7136D-5EBB-413B-89C9-CB3D06D12674&displaylang=en
64 bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=874a414b-32b2-41cc-bd8b-d71eda5ec07c&displaylang=en

Spawn

[alexshj]

ok, spawn, am serioulsy considering your suggestion. but first could you  please tell me how i can find out if the windows factory  installed vista home basic in  my computer is original? i got the oem dvd home basic, (sticker, product key etc.) but am doubtful if this is the same that is installed in the pc.

[bphlpt]

What do you mean, "original"?  And why are you asking/concerned?  If you mean a legitimate. valid copy, then if you can run windows update at all and it doesn't complain that your OS is "possibly pirated", then Microsoft thinks your OS is valid.  If you mean you don't know if the version installed came from the DVD you have, then there are many product key finding programs out there that can tell you the key that was used to install XP and you can simply see if it matches the one on your DVD.  But then again, why do you think it matters?  Anyway, I might suggest downloading a copy of Belarc Advisor, available here: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html.  It's free, no adware or spyware, and can give you a lot of information about both the hardware and software in your system, including the product keys for all the Microsoft products you have installed, and if any service packs or hotfixes from Microsoft are missing.  It will also tell you the version number of all other applications you have installed.  Let us know what you find out.

Cheers and Regards.

[Spawn]

i got the oem dvd home basic, (sticker, product key etc.) but am doubtful if this is the same that is installed in the pc.

What makes you doubtful that it is the same?

[alexshj]

did like u said, bphlpt, thanks btw. the product key as mentioned by the report differs totally with the product key on the sticker that came with the dvd pack accompanying the pc. now what?? the report also mentions below that "This may be the manufacturer's factory installed product key rather than yours".  its over a year now, what do i do.

oh and spawn, the reason i doubt is bcos sp1 still elludes me and secondly, when the guy who installed my pc removed the dvd pack from a bunch of dvds and handed over after installation saying this is the original which was already factory installed. what if he gave me the wrong one instead?? mind wonders now only bcos of the elusive sp1, thats all!

[Spawn]

As long as it is the same OS, the product key doesn't matter.  If you have Home Basic installed, and you have the Home Basic DVD, then your Home Basic key should work fine.  If you wanted to be totally sure everything is the same, you could use the DVD to do a clean install, and then use the key you have when activating.  That way, you would always be sure for any future dealings.

Spawn

[bphlpt]

Besides which, under normal circumstances, you're not going to need to reenter your product key anyway again anyway.  In fact, you should only have to reenter it if you do a reinstall, at which time you can do as Spawn says and enter the one from your DVD.  It won't have to match the one that was originally installed, so it will work.  Also, I THINK that you can do a search on Microsoft's site for a method to change the key that is currently installed.  I personally have not done this before, but  I have read about it.  It's purpose is for circumstances where someone ends up with a pirated copy of windows somehow.  This allows them to simply purchase a valid copy and change their key to the valid one without having to do a complete reinstall.  But again, if you've been using MS update OK up to now with no complaints by MS, and you have a valid DVD with a valid key, why are you worried?  Go ahead and download and install SP1.  You shouldn't be asked for your key as far as I know.

Cheers and Regards.

[alexshj]

thanks u guys. i think i will wait for next month to download the standalone sp1 since im on a 1gb limit and have used half already with more than half month left, i will need to keep some for emails, other stuff , and to bothere u guys again if need be. cheers