Windows update control

[pointer434]

I have 4 PCs doing the same thing. 3 are win98 workstations and 1 is a windows 2000 laptop.

The network is serviced by a linux proxy/firewall.

The issue is, each of these workstations is trying to connect to windows update. Actually, each machine is trying to connect excactly 8 times per second. That translates into a HUGE logfile not to mention tons of unwanted traffic. The firewall is set to block .bat and .cab files from being downloaded by users.

Therefore, my logfile shows many thousands of failed attempts by these machines to fully connect to windows update.

I tracked down the wupdmgr.exe file on each of these machines and deleted it but after a day (maybe a reboot) it reapears. This file does control the machines urge to connect to update but i do not see how to controll it. I see no settings whatsoever. Nothing shows in controll panel and nothing is in Add/remove programs that relates to it.

Any ideas as to how to controll its urge to connet to the windows update site, or a lesser setting on the proxy that would still acheive the objective???

Thanks for any help

Pointer

 

[vickero007]

Check in Control Panel>>Automatic Updates and see what the schedule is.

-Volkoff007

 

[pointer434]

Nothing shows up in Control panel. ????? Nothing is in Add/remove programs.

This is killing me.


Pointer

 

[vickero007]

http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/q132/8/85.asp&NoWebContent=1

Nothing at all is in the Control Panel folder?

Try doing Start>>Run and type control wuaucpl.cpl and that should open the WU properties box.

-Volkoff007

 

[pointer434]

I went to 2 of the 98 machines and from the run box i enterd control wuaucpl.cpl and the run box disapears. Same thing from the dos prompt. It just returns to the C:\ like it is a good command but it never opens up a file.

On my administrator 2000 workstatin (not one of the problem PC's) i did as you suggested and Automatic updates opend up. Naturally i have the box unchecked and mine does show in control panel.

I think that there is a difference between update control and Automatic Updates. I think that update control is the .exe that you give microsoft permission to install on your machine when you first go to thier update site. As i understand it, after a successfull connection to windows update, Update control will attempt to connect once per week. If at any time that it is not successfull, then it will try repeadedly untill it gets there.
Automatic update was installed on my machine along with sp3. Unchecking the box from the control panel effectively disables it.
These win 98 machines do not have "automatic update" installed. Maybe i should just download it in order to be able to control it. ???

Pointer

 

[pointer434]

I am sorry if i mislead you there. Yes, all the normal icons show in control panel; just not one for Automatic Updates. I'm really sorry that i sent you barking up that tree.

me bad


Pointer