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Microsoft's Updating Process Causing Problems? Get NetChk-Protect for Free!

Z

Zepper

Elite Member
Individuals and SOHO users can get a year's use of Shavlik's NetChk-Protect program for free. Here's the Linkage. And click on the "CLICK HERE to Download Your Free Copy!" icon. It offers a "stronger" (I am editing this posting to replace: "better, more secure and stable" with the word actually used by Brian Livingston ("stronger") - it seems that some can't deal with my expansion) Windwoes/Microsoft Updating process than "Windows Update" or Automatic Update. Plus it will also update more of your other software than Windows/Microsoft Update. It also includes an anti-spyware function

This is a free license for personal/SOHO use on up to 10 PCs - beyond that a commercial license must be purchased.

Personally, my default Windwoes is Win 2k and I seldom have a problem using Windows Update (I don't allow ANY "automatic" updates - EVER!). One or another of the available updates in a session may not install on the first try, but it usually requires only one repeat attempt to get the job done. I don't use any other M$ software, so I'm guessing the majority of the problems are with updating Office and/or other M$ sofware.

But I'm going to try this anyway (if the system requirements don't break the deal - they are fairly weighty (e.g. I've never installed the .NET framework) - click the link in the email you receive for details) as then I won't have to use IE for doing my Windwoes Updates - the less use of IE the better, IMO.

Installing the NetChk software can be a bit tricky for noobs, so here is a link to simplified/detailed instructions which even the more advanced practitioners of the "Dark PC Arts" may find useful.

Credits: This info was obtained from Al Fasoldt's "Technofile" column in the Syracuse Post-Standard "Stars" magazine - Sun. Aug. 20, 2006. He has a web site with lots of articles, opinion pieces and tips - Google on- Al Fasoldt -and you'll find it.

Enjoy!

.bh.
 
personally, I don't get critical OS updates from 3rd party vendors....

do they provide a way to checksum against the original MS patches, to ensure they haven't been tampered with?
 
AFAIK, NetChk connects directly to the M$ site for the update files. I'm sure such info is available at the Shavlik site. For those with corporate-level security concerns, read the fine print on the commercial version's purchase contract/license with particular attention to the indemnification clause - that should tell you all you need to know...

re. "Windwoes, Micro$oft - Yay.. etc." AFAIC, Microsoft is a sleazeball outfit and I only use Win 2k because I have to have some version of Win (and 2k is the least oppressive of the current versions) to help my friends, family and clients. Otherwise, none of their stuff would darken my door. If you take offense at my usages well, one has no "right" against being offended.

"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." Thomas Paine.

.bh.
 
Who is Brian Livingston? His 'analogy' makes no sense:

Civilized countries don't allow doctors to sell prescription medicines, because physicians would be tempted to overbill patients for unneeded medications. Instead, patients receive a written prescription and go to a pharmacist to buy our pills, knowing that this step reduces any conflict of interest.

In a similar way, it's too much to expect Microsoft to have the power to download software automatically to hundreds of millions of Windows users - and then never use that power to install revenue-enhancing applications for itself.
Click to expand...
What revenue-enhancing applications? WGA will tell you if you are not running a genuine copy of Windows. How does notifying someone that they are running an illegal version of Windows enhance their revenue besides getting them money they are owed?

I see nothing in any of your links that describe how this product is more secure and/or stable than WU/AU/MU.

Do you have any of your own opinions on the subject?

And if Windows is taking away so many freedoms from you (and apparently this Livingston dude), why do you continue to use it?
 
"... why do you continue to use it?" Explained in an earlier post in this thread.

I posted this info for ATF denizens to make use of or not at their discretion. I'm not recommending for or against it nor am I defending one position or the other. I will recommend that (for use on mission-critical networks, etc.) software like this should be evaluated on a stand-alone system (or an isolated small network) with an isolated Internet connection prior to deployment. If you mistook my posting for a recommendation, then you are jumping to confusions...

Caveat emptor!

re. Analogy: I guess you don't take WGA as a revenue enhancement ploy by M$. :roll: What alternate reality do you exist in?

.bh.


PS: I've edited my OP to amend the apparently troublesome verbiage. Now ask me to explain the meaning of "stronger"... <sigh> .bh.
 
I posted this info AT denizens to make use of or not at their discretion. I'm not recommending for or against it nor am I defending one position or the other
Click to expand...
These are your words, no? "It offers a better, more secure and stable Windwoes Updating process than "Windows Update" or M$'s automated update"

Please answer my question. How does it offer a better, more secure and stable Windwoes [sic] Updating process than "Windows Update" or M$'s [sic] automated update? How is that not a recommendation or defense of one position or the other?

I guess you don't take WGA as a revenue enhancement ploy by M$.
Click to expand...
You haven't given me any reason to think otherwise. You link to and tell us to google opinion pieces from random people. Again I'll ask, do you have any opinion of your own on this subject?

I'm not offended by your "usages". I'm offended by your childish remarks that you use to try to make a point, as well as your avoidance of any questions asked of you in response and your apparent lack of the ability to form your own opinion. From someone who is an Elite member, I'm disappointed.
 
As explained above, I expanded the word "stronger" as used by Livingston into the four words "better, more secure and stable" which should have been a safe expansion (as those are implicit in the word "stronger" as commonly used in computerdom) within an advanced user community.

As also stated (perhaps indirectly) in the OP, I have not used NetChk-Protect. Thus I have no personal opinion of it - except for my general ABM$ principle... And as also stated there, I may not use it due to its requirement to load my system down with other Microsoft crap (e.g. the .NET framwork) that I have chosen to avoid to this point as it is not needed for my routine usage.
. I just found out that I lack three items in their list (yes, including .NET) so unless I start having Update problems or they start repeatedly questioning the validity of my Win 2k installation (having already passed four or five thorough validity checks - including sending them a scan of my 2k CD and Key sticker), I probably will pass on it for the time being. But it is nice that the NetChk installation routine tests for the presence of its required modules and reports your status on all of them and not just aborts the install leaving no clue as to the reason.

Whether you try NetChk or not is totally up to you. If you've not had Updating problems, then why are you here in this thread anyway. Or is it just to harass the messenger.?.

The usage of M$, Windwoes etc. are only childish/offensive to M$ religionists/Kool-Aid drinkers. If you are same, my sympathies. I don't do it a lot, but when the thread showcases a weakness (or predations) of Micro$oft or Windwoes, I use them to tweak the Micro$ofties who will inevitably flock to it...

.bh.
 
except for my general ABM$ principle
Click to expand...

Which pretty much invalidates you from being able to make an impartial review.

The usage of M$, Windwoes etc. are only childish/offensive to M$ religionists/Kool-Aid drinkers.
Click to expand...

Offensive or not it still makes you look like an idiot.
 
so unless I start having Update problems or they start repeatedly questioning the validity of my Win 2k installation (having already passed four or five thorough validity checks - including sending them a scan of my 2k CD and Key sticker
Click to expand...
That's unlikely, since Windows 2000 doesn't do a WGA check when accessing WU/MU, and none of the OSs do a WGA check when using AU. Not to mention WGA is opt-in.
 
You must have gotten to 10k posts over in P&N or offtopic or something.

Stupid drivel like this doesn't go very far in the OS forums.

If you can't spell Microsoft or Windows like a grown up how do you expect people to take you seriously?

If you are running a legit copy of Windows you should have no problems running automatic updates. If you do have problems, MS will support you free of charge. Trusting critical updates to a third party is asking for trouble.
 
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