Computer Repair Advisory: Windows XP Repair Disk May Disable Automatic Updates
Experts in computer repair in Fort Lauderdale are observing that one of the commonly used methosd for repairing Windows PCs may disable automatic installation of Microsoft updates, also known as patches.
Not surprisingly, the company taking a beating for this in the media - a revelation weeks ago in which Microsoft mandated a Windows patch for users who had turned off automatic updates is largely to blame.
In July, Microsoft released a patch designed to install itself even if Windows users specifically opted out of automatic updates.
It became a hotly-contested issue of control, and since the PC belongs to the end user, most pundits believed it was the end user who ultimately should have the right (and ability) to decide what software it uses.
Microsoft eventually explained that the forced update concerned Windows Update itself, and as such, was installed on machines that were configured to keep track of new patches, even if the user opted out of them.
Some Fort Lauderdale computer repair experts say this could have been more transparent - ideally it would be explicitly explained that unless a user completely shuts down / disables Windows Update, some of the files related to Windows Update will automatically change on occasion. This could have been the end of it.
Even more friction ensued, however, around the time computer service experts and users alike found that people who used the computer repair option from a Windows XP CD-ROM were no longer able to install Windows updates, putting them at risk for worms, malware and other sources of harm.
The computer repair disk, computer services say, actually unregisters some of the files that were installed in the Windows update, and in doing so, may prevent Windows Update from working at all. Not exactly ideal.
The bottom line is that the company should recognize that repair disks may break Windows Update, something that should never happen. Microsoft is working on the problem and has issued a fix, but it needs to work on its efforts to make sure its updating software is never again hampered. This is vitally important.
As the linchpin for a securely running machine, Windows Update will, by definition, require the occasional update from time to time. Here's hoping Microsoft provides better notice in the future, and that users heed common sense when told to install it.
Something to bear in mind.
