KB976902 "black hole" update

[Lucid?]

I'm holding off installing this one until I can get some reliable
info....after checking Google, I am suspicious. Thoughts anyone?

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

I'm holding off installing this one until I can get some reliable
info....after checking Google, I am suspicious. Thoughts anyone?

I haven't had an original thought in years, but I am following the
advice given here until I learn more.

http://cubicspot.blogspot.com/2010/10/kb976902-black-hole-update.html

Question: When it says the update can't be uninstalled, won't restoring
a pre-installation restore point or backup do that?

 

[Seth]

I haven't had an original thought in years, but I am following the
advice given here until I learn more.

http://cubicspot.blogspot.com/2010/10/kb976902-black-hole-update.html

Question: When it says the update can't be uninstalled, won't restoring
a pre-installation restore point or backup do that?

It means you can't go into the control panel, select the update and run the
uninstall command on it. Using a restore point is not uninstalling
anything, it is overwriting to a prior point in time. There are pros and
cons to that approach as well as anything else you may have changed or
updated on the system could be undone and possibly broken by using a system
restore point.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

It means you can't go into the control panel, select the update and
run the uninstall command on it. Using a restore point is not
uninstalling anything, it is overwriting to a prior point in time.
There are pros and cons to that approach as well as anything else you
may have changed or updated on the system could be undone and
possibly broken by using a system restore point.

I understand that restoring the system to a prior time is not the same as
uninstalling a specific patch, but if it removes the uninstallable
update from the system, should that update have catastrophic
consequences, I can live with it.

 

[Ed Cryer]

I understand that restoring the system to a prior time is not the same as
uninstalling a specific patch, but if it removes the uninstallable
update from the system, should that update have catastrophic
consequences, I can live with it.

Well, it's effectively the same.
Look at it this way. After restoring to a point prior to the
installation of the patch, if you go into Windows Update it will be
there asking you to install it.

Ed

P.S. I've installed the thing and no explosion yet!

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Well, it's effectively the same. Look at it this way. After restoring
to a point prior to the installation of the patch, if you go into
Windows Update it will be there asking you to install it.

Ed

P.S. I've installed the thing and no explosion yet!

The keyword being "yet." I'm going to wait until I learn a little more
about it. Trust, but verify.

 

[relic]

Question: When it says the update can't be uninstalled, won't restoring
a pre-installation restore point or backup do that?

Not always. Some updates remove all previous restore points and may or may
not make one for 'this' update.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Not always. Some updates remove all previous restore points and may
or may not make one for 'this' update.

Well, just to be sure, I made a fresh DVD System Image, in case I should
ever decide to install this update.

 

[Ed Cryer]

Not always. Some updates remove all previous restore points and may or
may not make one for 'this' update.

Now that stinks of paranoia. How many Windows updates can you quote that
have wiped out restore points?

I can tell you that this update goes in without touching previous
restore points. All mine are still intact. In addition there are two
more created today after I've installed 4 updates.

I've also done some bench-marking on my system, running heavy games and
other stuff. It's as stable as ever, no sign of any problem.
I truly believe that someone's started a paranoid panic here; some
people love conspiracies!

Ed

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Now that stinks of paranoia. How many Windows updates can you quote
that have wiped out restore points?

I can tell you that this update goes in without touching previous
restore points. All mine are still intact. In addition there are two
more created today after I've installed 4 updates.

I've also done some bench-marking on my system, running heavy games
and other stuff. It's as stable as ever, no sign of any problem. I
truly believe that someone's started a paranoid panic here; some
people love conspiracies!

I'm not paranoid. People are really out to get me! I just don't like to
install something that I don't understand and may not want. I
also don't install the updates for Windows Live Essentials that MS sends
me. I don't have and don't want WLE installed. Those "updates" are just
a sneaky way to install it without my knowledge.

 

[Ed Cryer]

I'm not paranoid. People are really out to get me! I just don't like to
install something that I don't understand and may not want. I
also don't install the updates for Windows Live Essentials that MS sends
me. I don't have and don't want WLE installed. Those "updates" are just
a sneaky way to install it without my knowledge.

WEll, we'll see; but I don't believe it. I have only one update sitting
in my Windows Update, and that's WLE itself. I don't want it either, so
I've left it unticked. It's in the "optional" area, but I'm not going to
"hide" it because I may choose to have it later.

This is MS, not Google sending round cars down your street to pick up
stuff on unprotected wireless routers!

Ed the Windows-lover

 

[bobster]

?Same here. No problem after installation. W7 worked fine before and works
fine now.

The ABMers are always out there looking for anything to bad mouth MS about.

==========================================================================

"Ed Cryer" wrote in message

Not always. Some updates remove all previous restore points and may or
may not make one for 'this' update.

Now that stinks of paranoia. How many Windows updates can you quote that
have wiped out restore points?

I can tell you that this update goes in without touching previous
restore points. All mine are still intact. In addition there are two
more created today after I've installed 4 updates.

I've also done some bench-marking on my system, running heavy games and
other stuff. It's as stable as ever, no sign of any problem.
I truly believe that someone's started a paranoid panic here; some
people love conspiracies!

Ed

 

[John Aldred]

I'm holding off installing this one until I can get some reliable
info....after checking Google, I am suspicious. Thoughts anyone?

I think that this is connected with the forthcoming release of SP1 for
Windows 7, judging by the debate on TechNet.

IIRC Microsoft did something similar prior to the release of SP2 for Vista.

The service stack (I think that is the correct term) had to be updated
before the Vista SP could be offered over WU.

Windows 7 SP1 RC has just been released. For those feeling adventurous, it's
available as a public beta. I suspect that you will find that you will need
the latest updates (including KB976902) plus the sign-up tool in order to
be offered KB976932 (SP1 RC) over WU.

Windows 7 SP1 will not be released until the first half of next year,
apparently.

So I guess that there is no rush to install KB976902 for the majority of
people. Meanwhile perhaps Microsoft will let us into the secret of this
mysterious update.

 

[relic]

Now that stinks of paranoia. How many Windows updates can you quote that
have wiped out restore points?

Every Service Pack released. Now you can go away.

<rest snipped unread>

 

[relic]

Well, just to be sure, I made a fresh DVD System Image, in case I should
ever decide to install this update.

I think the reason for many having some doubt about KB976902 is that it
isn't in Microsoft's Knowledge Base. A search on microsoft.com only get a
couple hits that are unrewarding.

 

[Lewis]

I haven't had an original thought in years, but I am following the
advice given here until I learn more.

Question: When it says the update can't be uninstalled, won't restoring
a pre-installation restore point or backup do that?

Actually, no. Effectively, yes?

 

[Lewis]

In message <[email protected]>

Not always. Some updates remove all previous restore points and may or may
not make one for 'this' update.

Wait. What? What updates remove previous restore points?

 

[chrisv]

Every Service Pack released. Now you can go away.

<rest snipped unread>

Over the years, I've seen that relic can back up what he posts.

 

[Nova Barro]

Over the years, I've seen that relic can back up what he posts.

Over the years, you and relic have been in lockstep far too often for
me to take you seriously.

 

[chrisv]

Over the years, you and relic have been in lockstep far too often for
me to take you seriously.

Your choice, but he DID back up what he posted.
"Great minds think alike."