KB976902 "black hole" update

[Gene E. Bloch]

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!

But then you can hide it.

I agree with your P.S. - in fact, I had no idea about all this until
just now when I read this thread. I looked and there it was, installed
already. It was done today little after noon (19:00 UT) my time.

So far, six hours into it, no bad effects

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

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

There is Bloch's Lemma: It's crazy not to be paranoid.

The Bloch in question is me...

So far, I'm six hours into this update and nothing so far has gone wr

 

[relic]

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

You did do some research and found that there are at least two who post as
relic and at least four that post as chrisv, didn't you?

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

But then you can hide it.

I agree with your P.S. - in fact, I had no idea about all this until
just now when I read this thread. I looked and there it was, installed
already. It was done today little after noon (19:00 UT) my time.

So far, six hours into it, no bad effects

I pass along a note I posted to a more lighthearted private group:

Subject: Sometimes it's better to be lucky than smart.

I was surfing the Rebel Alliance (a.k.a. SecureComp) when I ran across a
warning about the now notorious KB976902 Windows 7 Update. I looked at
my Windows Update utility, and there it was, listed by an early morning
automatic check for updates. Here is where the luck comes in. I had left
the update options set to the initial defaults, which included
automatically installing important updates! Fortunately, they were set
to be installed daily at 3:00 AM. The update check was at 5:35 AM.
(Missed it by /that/ much!) If I hadn't looked, I would have woken up
tomorrow
with the "Black Hole" update installed. Needless to say, I changed the
update settings.

 

[Ed Cryer]

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

I take regular system disc backups as well, but I don't get a cloned
copy, I just get an archive of the C drive on a USB HD using Paragon
Backup & Recovery.
That will cover both HD loss & any uncleanable stuff on the C drive.

Ed

 

[R. C. White]

?Hi, Lucid - and All.

KB976902 has been installed on my system since July 1, 2010, just one day
before KB976932, the SP1 Beta. No problems.

Seems to me the only problem is that it is unexplained by Microsoft, which
makes everybody wary - and suspicious. In fact, I didn't even know it was
there until I saw this thread of paranoia yesterday and went looking for it
on my computer. It is not listed in my Windows Update Install History. But
when I look in Control Panel | Programs and Features, then click Show
Installed Updates, there it is. It has been sitting in there quietly for
nearly 4 months and my computer has not exploded. SP1 beta was installed so
long ago that I don't clearly recall the sequence, but I do remember that I
had to go through some preliminary steps; KB976902 was probably one of those
steps.

There are similar threads in other, more-techie venues, with even many very
competent MVPs worried about KB976902. But most of the concern is about the
secrecy - or, at least, the lack of explanation by MS - and about the
"cannot be uninstalled" warning. About the only explanation that I've seen
is that it gets the system ready for future updates, without even mentioning
the SP. Many users report that it was installed without their even being
asked about it. I've seen few, if any, reports that KB976902 actually
caused a problem.

MS blew it with the "stealth" deployment of KB976902! And with the
appearance of the SP1 Release Candidate on October 26, 2010, which requires
the removal of the beta before installation of the RC, we'll be hearing a
lot more of this in coming days, I'm sure. But, in my experience, KB976902
is harmless.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-9/30/10)
Windows Live Mail Version 2011 (Build 15.4.3502.0922) in Win7 Ultimate x64
SP1 beta


"Lucid?" wrote in message

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

 

[Brian Gregory [UK]]

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

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en/vistawu/thread/ebd18ad2-cae7-4513-91d1-35b45467446d

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/10/demystifying-kb976902-a-k-a-microsofts-blackhole-update/

 

[johnbee]

"Ed Cryer" wrote in message

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

< I take regular system disc backups as well, but I don't get a cloned
copy, I just get an archive of the C drive on a USB HD using Paragon
Backup & Recovery.
That will cover both HD loss & any uncleanable stuff on the C drive.

Ed >

KB976902 was installed on my PC on 26/10. It was supposed to be important,
so Control Panel says. I have never bothered to look at what's been updated
before in any version of Windows because it all happens without me spotting
anything except the warning about not switching off. I have not
experienced anything going wrong - is all the talk just the usual anti
Microsoft rubbish?

 

[Brian Gregory [UK]]

"Ed Cryer" wrote in message



< I take regular system disc backups as well, but I don't get a cloned
copy, I just get an archive of the C drive on a USB HD using Paragon
Backup & Recovery.
That will cover both HD loss & any uncleanable stuff on the C drive.

Ed >

KB976902 was installed on my PC on 26/10. It was supposed to be
important, so Control Panel says. I have never bothered to look at what's
been updated before in any version of Windows because it all happens
without me spotting anything except the warning about not switching off.
I have not experienced anything going wrong - is all the talk just the
usual anti Microsoft rubbish?

More or less.
As far as I can see all Microsoft did wrong was accidentally release this
before there was any information available about what it is. Which lead to
speculation that it was a dangerous Trojan or similar that had somehow been
introduced into Windows Update.

 

[Expert]

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

But is there anything to stop you from creating your own restore point
prior to installing this crap update?

 

[Expert]

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

So in other words what you are saying is that this update was a complete
and utter waste of time to install. Right?

 

[relic]

But is there anything to stop you from creating your own restore point
prior to installing this crap update?

No, but if an update removes ALL previous restore points... poof!

Now by crap update, are you referring to KB976902, or to an update that
removes previous restore points? KB976902 has been taken care of by
Microsoft's removal and the most common update that removes restore points
has been Service Packs.

 

[Ed Cryer]

So in other words what you are saying is that this update was a complete
and utter waste of time to install. Right?

No. He's just saying that the thing didn't corrupt his system.
Anybody who reads more into it than that is illogical.

Ed

 

[Ed Cryer]

So in other words what you are saying is that this update was a complete
and utter waste of time to install. Right?

You display a complete and utter lack of rationality. Prejudice,
self-interest and man's-downfall occupy the interstices of the
hinterland that you seem to occupy!

Do something quickly to get yourself away from it and join the human race!

Ed

 

[Percival P. Cassidy]

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

It is shown as installed successfully on my machine. Should I be worried?

Perce

 

[relic]

It is shown as installed successfully on my machine. Should I be worried?

No. It won't cause any harm at all.