Updating

[Miles]

* R. C. White wrote, On 01-Mar-11 7:35:

Hi, Miles.

Are you aware of the distinction between "Windows Update" (WU) and
"Microsoft Update" (MU)?

WU updates only Windows and its components, such as Internet Explorer. MU
updates other programs from Microsoft, such as Office and its components.
The distinction is easily overlooked, even by experienced Windows users.

These are discrete services and used to be installed separately if you
installed a Microsoft app such as Office. But now we can easily add MU to
WU by simply checking a box on the WU page. In Win7, click on WU, then
"Change Settings". On this page, look under "Microsoft Update" and check
(or uncheck) the box in front of ""Give me updates for Microsoft products
and check for new optional Microsoft software when I update Windows". When
this box is checked, WU becomes MU - but it is still referred to as just WU
in most places.

Personally, I DO have the box checked and I am glad to receive notice of
available updates for everything. But I also selected "Check for updates
but let me choose whether to download and install them" (rather than
"Install updates automatically (Recommended)") under "Important updates"
earlier on this page.

RC

RC, this is great info that I was not aware of and will check it so
all will be seen -- are they auto checked for download when done this way?

I found it by clicking somewhere on the update page and apparently it
opened the MU window which I also want that info for such as msft
mouse, word & powerpoint viewers, and there may be additional at a
later time.

Incidentally in the recycle bin I found msft office & works which
apparently I had deleted when first started on this new laptop last
year. Perhaps that why download of updates were included, but not
installed??
Miles

 

[Rob]

* R. C. White wrote, On 01-Mar-11 7:35:

RC, this is great info that I was not aware of and will check it so all
will be seen -- are they auto checked for download when done this way?

I found it by clicking somewhere on the update page and apparently it
opened the MU window which I also want that info for such as msft mouse,
word & powerpoint viewers, and there may be additional at a later time.

Incidentally in the recycle bin I found msft office & works which
apparently I had deleted when first started on this new laptop last
year. Perhaps that why download of updates were included, but not
installed??
Miles

Perhaps you just deleted the folders instead of uninstalling?
If you did that, all of the Office entries will still be in the
registry, so the updater will assume it is still there..
If you did that, restore the files from the recycle bin then uninstall
Office properly.

 

[Tester]

I have a broadband service and the modem runs all day and night. I shut
down the computer at night. During the day I would like to be able to
block the Internet connection unless I am going online for short
periods. Is there a switch in the computer to do that without shutting
down the modem?
TIA

How is the computer connected to your modem? Is it via Cat5/Cat6 cable?
If so then you can simply unplug the cable when you don't need the
internet connection.

If you are connecting via a wireless connection then most (if not all)
laptops have a switch to turn off the wireless connection. If it is
your desktop that is connecting wirelessly via an external USB receiver
then that too can be "removed safely" by right-clicking in the system
tray and following the appropriate instructions.

hth

 

[choro]

How is the computer connected to your modem? Is it via Cat5/Cat6 cable?
If so then you can simply unplug the cable when you don't need the
internet connection.

If you are connecting via a wireless connection then most (if not all)
laptops have a switch to turn off the wireless connection. If it is your
desktop that is connecting wirelessly via an external USB receiver then
that too can be "removed safely" by right-clicking in the system tray
and following the appropriate instructions.

hth

Why disconnect the CAT cable when you can simply unplug the modem from
the mains or simply turn it off at the mains OR pull out the power
connector from the back of the modem?

Or are there any drawbacks to doing it this way?

I feel that disconnecting and reconnecting the CAT cable can eventually
lead to the connectors failing to make contact whereas switching it off
at the mains can hardly lead to a physical fault. The reason being that
the smaller the connectors the more likely something going wrong if one
keeps on plugging and unplugging the device.

With this in mind I keep the mini USB connector connected to my external
hard drive and hardly ever play with it, instead preferring to unplug
the standard USB connector to my desktop.

 

[Tester]

My reply is given inline below:

Why disconnect the CAT cable when you can simply unplug the modem from
the mains or simply turn it off at the mains OR pull out the power
connector from the back of the modem?

Because some other people might be connected to the modem. you don't
want to start a fight in the office do you?

Or are there any drawbacks to doing it this way?

Drawbacks are that you will disturb other users or in some countries (UK
especially) BT recommends that always keep your modem connected to the
telephone socket otherwise it might need to re-calibrate for optimum
performance in terms of speed. UK is very much backward when it comes
to internet and other technologies.

I feel that disconnecting and reconnecting the CAT cable can eventually
lead to the connectors failing to make contact whereas switching it off

They cost peanuts. £3 in the UK for a 1.8M cable; Switching off and
switching on the modem can also wear it out and cost you £60 to replace.

at the mains can hardly lead to a physical fault. The reason being that
the smaller the connectors the more likely something going wrong if one
keeps on plugging and unplugging the device.

With this in mind I keep the mini USB connector connected to my external
hard drive and hardly ever play with it, instead preferring to unplug
the standard USB connector to my desktop.

People do all sorts of things and you are not an exception to the rule.
It is what turns you on that matters after all. My doctor tells me to
go to bed early and to wake up early so that I am fresh and very alert.
I rarely do this!


hth

 

[choro]

My reply is given inline below:


Because some other people might be connected to the modem. you don't
want to start a fight in the office do you?

Oh, yes, I never thought of this one as I am retired and work at home on
my own.

Drawbacks are that you will disturb other users or in some countries (UK
especially) BT recommends that always keep your modem connected to the
telephone socket otherwise it might need to re-calibrate for optimum
performance in terms of speed. UK is very much backward when it comes to
internet and other technologies.


They cost peanuts. £3 in the UK for a 1.8M cable; Switching off and
switching on the modem can also wear it out and cost you £60 to replace.

My modem actually has NOT got an On/Off switch! Consequently it is on
round the clock unless I switch it off at the wall socket! Not very
eco-friendly, is it?!

People do all sorts of things and you are not an exception to the rule.
It is what turns you on that matters after all. My doctor tells me to go
to bed early and to wake up early so that I am fresh and very alert. I
rarely do this!

I just keep mine on all the time and on the very rare occasion that I
need to turn it off I just reach for the back of the modem and pull out
the power connector unless I feel like having a break at the same time
and switch it off at the mains.

 

[Tester]

Choro,

It looks like we have something in common here. I don't switch off my
home broadband at all.

Bye for now.

 

[James Silverton]

Why disconnect the CAT cable when you can simply unplug the modem from
the mains or simply turn it off at the mains OR pull out the power
connector from the back of the modem?

Doesn't the modem or router have an on/off switch?

--


James Silverton, Potomac

"Not": obvious change in "Reply To"

 

[Paul]

I have a broadband service and the modem runs all day and night. I shut
down the computer at night. During the day I would like to be able to
block the Internet connection unless I am going online for short
periods. Is there a switch in the computer to do that without shutting
down the modem?
TIA

Sure. Go to Settings : Control Panels : Network Connections.

For example, I have a "Local Area Connection 3" there, which
corresponds to my LAN adapter.

Right click the icon - the word "disable" will be at the top of the list.
Select it. (Note - don't do this to a dialup interface, this is for
a LAN one.)

Now, if you go to Command Prompt window, and try some ping commands,
they're going to fail.

Now, go back to the icon, right-click, and select "Enable".
Repeat the ping tests. Ping should now be working.

I just poked around, until I found that For safety, I tested it
in a virtual machine (because I'd hate to break my main OS).

HTH,
Paul

 

[Nil]

Doesn't the modem or router have an on/off switch?

It's been years or decades since I've seen a home router or broadband
modem with an on/off switch. You have to unplug them from the power
source.

 

[Paul]

It's been years or decades since I've seen a home router or broadband
modem with an on/off switch. You have to unplug them from the power
source.

My Speedtouch has a push button switch on it, and it was bought last year.

The on/off pushbutton switch, is item #5 here.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/PCB_Thomson_Speedtouch_516i.jpg

So some companies are crazy enough to still include the switch. I have
all my network stuff on a power strip, and I just turn off the power
strip at night. Problem solved No wasteful wall warts running all
night. If I were to use the pushbutton, then the wall wart continues
to run all night.

Paul

 

[Char Jackson]

Doesn't the modem or router have an on/off switch?

None of them do, or at least I haven't seen any that have a power
switch. Those kinds of devices are meant to be on continuously.

 

[James Silverton]

It's been years or decades since I've seen a home router or broadband
modem with an on/off switch. You have to unplug them from the power
source.

The Actiontec MI424WR Router that Verizon FIOS supplies and I use is
about 2 years old and has an on/off switch. What's wrong with that?

--


James Silverton, Potomac

"Not": obvious change in "Reply To"

 

[Char Jackson]

Sure. Go to Settings : Control Panels : Network Connections.

For example, I have a "Local Area Connection 3" there, which
corresponds to my LAN adapter.

Right click the icon - the word "disable" will be at the top of the list.
Select it. (Note - don't do this to a dialup interface, this is for
a LAN one.)

Now, if you go to Command Prompt window, and try some ping commands,
they're going to fail.

Now, go back to the icon, right-click, and select "Enable".
Repeat the ping tests. Ping should now be working.

I just poked around, until I found that For safety, I tested it
in a virtual machine (because I'd hate to break my main OS).

I made the first reply in this thread and mentioned scripting. More
specifically, the scripting I had in mind was to programmatically
disable and enable the interface, rather than the clicking you
mentioned. Don't worry, you won't break anything.

Now that the thread has progressed, however, I withdraw any advice I
may have given along the lines of disabling the interface. Just use a
NAT router and firewall and leave the connection alone.

 

[Nil]

The Actiontec MI424WR Router that Verizon FIOS supplies and I use
is about 2 years old and has an on/off switch. What's wrong with
that?

I don't know what's wrong with that. Why ask me?

 

[Nil]

My Speedtouch has a push button switch on it, and it was bought
last year.

The on/off pushbutton switch, is item #5 here.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/PCB_Thomson_Speedtouch_516i.jpg

So some companies are crazy enough to still include the switch. I
have all my network stuff on a power strip, and I just turn off
the power strip at night. Problem solved No wasteful wall
warts running all night. If I were to use the pushbutton, then the
wall wart continues to run all night.

Is that on on/off switch? The Motorola modem that I previously
rented from Comcast had a switch that broke the network connection,
but didn't interrupt the power. A few months ago I swapped it for a
new one - they gave me one with the same model number, but this one
had no switch. Motorola must have eliminated it from the design,
probably because too many people accidentally hit the button and
then complained that their internet connection was dead (I did it
myself more than once.)

 

[James Silverton]

I don't know what's wrong with that. Why ask me?

I didn't really mean to ask you personally but the editing went a little
haywire It was a general question since some people seem to feel
on/off switches are not necessary or are antediluvian.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

"Not": obvious change in "Reply To"

 

[Nil]

I didn't really mean to ask you personally but the editing went a
little haywire It was a general question since some people
seem to feel on/off switches are not necessary or are
antediluvian.

I'd say they aren't necessary, since few if any come with them any
more. It's obviously a cost-cutting measure. An on/off switch doesn't
do much good unless they can put it between the power supply and the
wall current, but most routers and modems use external power supplies
(wall warts,) so a switch on the main box doesn't make good sense. They
save manufacturing and design money by eliminating both the PS and the
switch.

 

[Char Jackson]

I'd say they aren't necessary, since few if any come with them any
more. It's obviously a cost-cutting measure. An on/off switch doesn't
do much good unless they can put it between the power supply and the
wall current, but most routers and modems use external power supplies
(wall warts,) so a switch on the main box doesn't make good sense. They
save manufacturing and design money by eliminating both the PS and the
switch.

I'm also in the "aren't necessary" camp.

 

[choro]

Doesn't the modem or router have an on/off switch?

NO! It is always on unless I turn it off at the mains, unplug it OR
remove the power input cable.