What is "VIA Rhine III ....." Microsoft Update? 1

[yalamo]

This morning, I received a regular update notice from Microsoft (which surprised me since I just installed some updates yesterday) that I have a new update to download:
"VIA Rhine III Fast Internet Adaptor" with no information on what it's for or what it does.

Being a good soldier, I went on to download and install it. It then said it was not installed, and the notice appeared again. I now have that little Microsoft shield in my System Tray and can't get rid of it.

I doubt that the update is important or does anything usefull, (and I hope it's not harmful) but I would like to get rid of it.

Anybody know what it is, what it does, and how to stop that shield notification? I have Win XP home.

 

[linney]

Microsoft thinks you have this type of hardware and is offering you (what they think to be) updated drivers. Personally I would not rely on any drivers from Microsoft preferring to gather and install my own from the manufacturer's site.

You should be able to configure Windows Update (by visiting the actual site and checking the available settings) to not offer updated drivers.

As far as the icon is concerned clicking on it should bring up a window where you have the ability to decline the update.

http://www.google.com/search?source...GGLD:en&q=VIA+Rhine+III+Fast+Internet+Adaptor

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306525&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Description of the Automatic Updates feature in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294871&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[Kaycek]

Actually, the Via Rhine III is the NIC (Network Interface Card) that is on board your system. One of the positive things that Microsoft has done, is to start alerting us to the fact that there are new upgrades for our other hardware. It makes it a lot easier than always having to search for them.

Using those drivers can be a blessing, as it isn't necessary to worry about when will I have to look for new hardware drivers again.

 

[yalamo]

Linney, thanks for the quick reply and information.

Unfortunately, the only choices in the window I get by clicking on the little shield are "Download" and "Cancel". I don't want to download, and cancel just closes the window and leaves the shield icon there with a balloon saying "Updates are ready..." every time I mouse over it. I would like to get rid of it so that if I get worthwhile updates in the future, I won't miss them.

Kaycek, you're right; this is the NIC that I have. However, if I try to install the update, I get a window that says "Updates were unable to be successfully installed." (Could this be because I am using a router?) In any case, I haven't had any problems with the network (if it isn't broken, don't fix it), so I would like to get rid of that niggling shield.

Any ideas?

 

[bcastner]

Check the log files in both of these locations:
%windir%\Windows Update.log
%windir%\SoftwareDistribution\ReportingEvents.log

Report back the specific error message generated when the driver update fails.

 

[yalamo]

bcastner, it gets curiouser and curiouser.

In the ReportEvents.log file, there is first a message reporting a successful install:
"AutomaticUpdates Success Content Install Installation Successful: Windows successfully installed the following update: VIA Technologies Inc. - Networking - VIA Rhine III Fast Ethernet Adapter"

Then, the following set of messages is repeated 4 times (apparently for each time I tried to get rid of that pesky shield icon):
"AutomaticUpdates Success Content Install Installation Ready: The following updates are downloaded and ready for installation. To install the updates, an administrator should log on to this computer and Windows will prompt with further instructions: - VIA Technologies Inc. - Networking - VIA Rhine III Fast Ethernet Adapter
{CB439245-572D-4146-A1D4-591072F28361} 371 2005-03-11 06:30:57+0200 1 182 101 {F02EBEF9-60D5-4A57-9A58-63ECEB23C07E} 100 80070103 AutomaticUpdates Failure Content Install Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80070103: VIA Technologies Inc. - Networking - VIA Rhine III Fast Ethernet Adapter."

It seems that the update has been installed; I just want to get rid of the icon.

 

[bcastner]

See the section: NEW PROBLEMS INTRODUCED BY SERVICE PACK 2 (SP2)

The first tip.

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

 

[yalamo]

bcastner, thanks, and a star!

I did what you suggested in the link (and I also rebooted to make sure), and now there's no more pesky shield.