WindowsXP SP2 danger! *geek topic*

[growler_south]

To my delight I came to work this morning and found my PC at the login screen. Bugger, I thought, must have been a power failure, I wonder how far the render got before it died?

Login and Windows' new 'security centre' cheerily informs me that "new updates were installed and your computer was restarted"

WHAT?!?!

The old Automatic Updater would install updates, but then sit there waiting for you to confirm the restart. Now Windows thinks its ok to just shut down your PC any old time it likes, regardless of what processes are running at the time. Does XP Server have this 'feature'?

And no, I cant use a Mac, I like getting a new PC every 6 months.

UPDATE/CLARIFICATION:

After much argument here at work: Yes, I know you can turn it off (or to 'download updates but ask before installing') that isnt my problem. My problem is that they changed the default behaviour. I have ALWAYS had auto update set to 'install automatically' and, pre SP2, it never rebooted without asking. Now it does. And now I have to go and change the settings on a number of computers to 'Download and prompt for installation' and educate the users to click 'ok' instead of 'close' when prompted.

How about a "dont restart my fucking machine without asking first" option? Registry hack, anyone?

Comments

there is no "XP Server"

[henare.livejournal.com]

WIndows XP is only a desktop product.

[smellykaka.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there's an option for that. Maybe chucking SP2 on reset it to "reboot without asking"?

[musclebearnz.livejournal.com]

well you can imagine the panic attack I had, arriving at work this morning (husbear1 & IT guru still in Thailand I must add), nothing working, ringing Telstra, they thought I was a moron. Rhonda trying to help in her own special way, telling me to turn the screen off and then on again and then that would fix everything...
Miraculously I found my emergency set of instructions for when catastrophes happen... Everythings ok, I dont have to cancel my trip to Sydney tomorrow !

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

What's your employer's IT department like? Ultimately it's up to them to decide whether or not to force reboot machines after installing patches... AFAIK XP doesn't do that by default, but it can be made to do so depending on domain policy, SMS policy, etc.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

This is part of why I haven't installed SP2 on anything. From where I stand, I have better security by just not using Internet Exploiter or Outreek. ;)

[smellykaka.livejournal.com]

How about a "dont restart my fucking machine without asking first" option? Registry hack, anyone?

I think if you found a registry key that made Windows reliable, you could be almost as rich as Bill(me) Gates...

[andrewhime.livejournal.com]

As much as that is shitty behavior, I don't know why you'd select to let Windows update itself without user input. I've always had it set to download and prompt. I want to know what I'm installing. I understand of course that average users don't need such an option, like in a work environment, but for my personal use, it's the only way to go.