Guest AliceZ Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 I went to the Windows Critical Update page to see if there were any Critical Updates. There was a pop-up asking if I wanted to download "Windows Component." I didn't know what to do; so I clicked no. Then I tried to get into the Critical Update page again and I got the same pop-up. I then clicked on the Install button, and in a second or two I was allowed into the Critical Update screen. Was it okay to allow that to install? I never saw something like this before before. Why did it ask if you wanted to install or if you did not want it to install if you couldn't go any further unless you clicked on the "install." I have WinXP sp3. Quote
Guest Shenan Stanley Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 AliceZ wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > I went to the Windows Critical Update page to see if there were any > Critical Updates. There was a pop-up asking if I wanted to download > "Windows Component." I didn't know what to do; so I clicked no. > Then I tried to get into the Critical Update page again and I got > the same pop-up. I then clicked on the Install button, and in a > second or two I was allowed into the Critical Update screen. > > Was it okay to allow that to install? > > I never saw something like this before before. > > Why did it ask if you wanted to install or if you did not want it > to install if you couldn't go any further unless you clicked on the > "install." > > I have WinXP sp3.</span> Fine and expected if you do not go there often. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Quote
Guest AliceZ Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 I am sorry, but I do not know what you mean by "> Fine and expected if you do not go there often." Was it okay that I downloaded it? And, just what is the 'Windows Compoment Publisher" and why must it be downloaded/installed? I manually check for Critical Updates every week. I am not that familiar with computers, updates, etc. ===================== "Shenan Stanley" wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > AliceZ wrote:<span style="color:green"> > > I went to the Windows Critical Update page to see if there were any > > Critical Updates. There was a pop-up asking if I wanted to download > > "Windows Component." I didn't know what to do; so I clicked no. > > Then I tried to get into the Critical Update page again and I got > > the same pop-up. I then clicked on the Install button, and in a > > second or two I was allowed into the Critical Update screen. > > > > Was it okay to allow that to install? > > > > I never saw something like this before before. > > > > Why did it ask if you wanted to install or if you did not want it > > to install if you couldn't go any further unless you clicked on the > > "install." > > > > I have WinXP sp3.</span> > > Fine and expected if you do not go there often. > > -- > Shenan Stanley > MS-MVP > -- > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html > > > </span> Quote
Guest Shenan Stanley Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 AliceZ wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > I went to the Windows Critical Update page to see if there were any > Critical Updates. There was a pop-up asking if I wanted to download > "Windows Component." I didn't know what to do; so I clicked no. > Then I tried to get into the Critical Update page again and I got > the same pop-up. I then clicked on the Install button, and in a > second or two I was allowed into the Critical Update screen. > > Was it okay to allow that to install? > > I never saw something like this before before. > > Why did it ask if you wanted to install or if you did not want it > to install if you couldn't go any further unless you clicked on the > "install." > > I have WinXP sp3.</span> Shenan Stanley wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > Fine and expected if you do not go there often.</span> <responses inline> AliceZ wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > I am sorry, but I do not know what you mean by "> Fine and expected > if you do not go there often."</span> Not sure if I can expand on that - but let me give it a shot... You asked, "Was it okay to allow that to install?" in reference to what you were told you needed to download and install when you went (I assume) to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/. I told you that it was "Fine and expected if you do not go there often." Meaning - what you got was likely a normal update for a Windows Update component that allowed you to properly scan for and receive further updates unrelated to the Windows Update system itself. You did nothing wrong, you must've done it right if after installing you were offered further updates and were not offered said updates prior to that and those new updates downloaded and installed successfully. <span style="color:blue"> > Was it okay that I downloaded it?</span> Yes. <span style="color:blue"> > And, just what is the 'Windows Compoment Publisher" and why must it > be downloaded/installed?</span> I believe it is an ActiveX component used between your browser (Internet Explorer) and the Microsoft Updates web page to aid in the proper scanning and retrieval of available updates. As for why it must be downloaded and installed... Just like anything else - the web page, the update engine, etc - all of it gets updated, patched, etc. If it was perfect out of the box - you wouldn't even need a patching system. ;-) <span style="color:blue"> > I manually check for Critical Updates every week.</span> Okay - so the 'often' thing might have confused you. I did not realize (do now) that WGAN and some other Windows Update components have had patches/updates released for them in the past two weeks - outside of the normal 'every second tuesday of each month' schedule. <span style="color:blue"> > I am not that familiar with computers, updates, etc.</span> Yet - you manually update your computer? grin So - to shorten it and fully put your mind at ease... There was an update you obviously needed to properly connect and scan for updates. You should have installed it and you did no harm in installing it and are actually better off for having installed it. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Quote
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 If you wish to use Windows Update website, you must allow the installation of that ActiveX Control. Automatic Updates does not require it. -- ~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/ AliceZ wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > I went to the Windows Critical Update page to see if there were any > Critical > Updates. There was a pop-up asking if I wanted to download "Windows > Component." I didn't know what to do; so I clicked no. Then I tried to get > into the Critical Update page again and I got the same pop-up. I then > clicked on the Install button, and in a second or two I was allowed into > the Critical Update screen. > > Was it okay to allow that to install? > > I never saw something like this before before. > > Why did it ask if you wanted to install or if you did not want it to > install > if you couldn't go any further unless you clicked on the "install." > > I have WinXP sp3. </span> Quote
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