Technical Tidbits™

Before I release the final part of the Why is my PC slow series, I wanted to get this out to you because I found out other windows users are experiencing the same thing.

I went to shut down my PC Wednesday evening and I received a different shut down screen than I’m used to seeing.

Microsoft's Shut Down Screen

Now, I found this quite odd since I have my auto-updates set to “Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them.” So I was like, “Microsoft Dudes! Where’s my updates?” And more specifically, where’s my install shield??

Auto-Update Settings

I did my usual Google search and found that it appears many other Microsoft users are having the same problem in the past month or so.  This was surely becoming, “The Case of the Missing Install Shield!”

So of course, my mind goes into “Microsoft Conspiracy Mode” and I start looking for solutions on how to get my shield back so I can scope out what kind of junk they are trying to give me this time!

There were a few good sites that told me what to try, but of course, Microsoft’s Live Search of the knowledgebase yielded nothing. And I did try three things with the command line (run) to try to initiate the download shield but to no avail.

Not to be out-witted by Microsoft’s sneaky tactics, I headed straight to the Windows Update site to check what updates were trying to install by doing a scan and seeing what I needed.

To my surprise, each of the waiting downloads appeared on the scan in Windows Update and showed that they were downloaded and waiting to be installed. (See my related YouTube video below this post.)

But because I NEVER accept the Malicious Software Removal Tool, I didn’t want it installing itself through the shut down screen. I used the results of the Windows Update online to uncheck that box and accepted the other updates, plus the root certificate update under the software category and let them install from the Windows Update site.

As the second installation starts, guess what pops up? My auto-update shield and the update installation window!

(Click to view full image)

Now, does this mean I fixed my problem? Not sure, but I think I figured out how this might have happened and we’ll see I can duplicate the results next Patch Tuesday.

And here’s what I think happened. Somewhere during the course of my day Tuesday or Wednesday, the updates installed. The install shield must have became hidden in my task bar because I know I was really busy those two days.

I’m going to have to assume that since I neglected my poor Microsoft install shield and the updates, Microsoft is programmed to install them, “by any means possible” which includes getting you to unconsciously click the “Turn Off” button which will install the updates.

But that’s only my guess. Only Microsoft can answer the question of, “Dude! Where’s my updates?”

P.S. Please check back here tomorrow morning to see Part 3 of the Why Is My PC So Slow series!

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