Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updates?

D

Don100

Member
In “Windows Update” I have selected the recommended option of “install updates automatically” and left the timing at the default of “Every day at 3:AM.” I typically shut down my computer every night, so it is not running at 3AM. After my computer is turned on will I still get the Windows Update downloads? Will they install automatically at some point?
I am running Vista Home Premium 64bit on a Dell XPS 435MT.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS 435MT
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 2.67 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI RADEON HD4670 512MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Serial ATA 2 Hard Drive 7200 RPM
    Mouse
    Wireless Nausicaa 2.4GHz RF, with USB dongle
    Keyboard
    Wireless Nausicaa 2.4GHz RF, with USB dongle
    Internet Speed
    15 mb/s
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

Yes your computer needs to be turned on. If it's not, and you don't update manually, it will simply wait until you are powered on at 3am. And, if you are never powered on at 3am, you will never update.
 

My Computer

System One

Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

Don,

Go to Windows Update, click Change Settings and set the time that suit you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway P7805u FX
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo T9600 2.80GHz 1066MHz FSB
    Motherboard
    Intel PM45
    Memory
    8GB 1066MHz DDR3
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTS 1GB DDR3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 17" WUXGA TFT
    Screen Resolution
    1920x 1200
    Hard Drives
    WD 2x500GB
    Case
    notebook
    Other Info
    BT/BD
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

Thanks Zoloft and Martee. I'll make that change.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS 435MT
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 2.67 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI RADEON HD4670 512MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Serial ATA 2 Hard Drive 7200 RPM
    Mouse
    Wireless Nausicaa 2.4GHz RF, with USB dongle
    Keyboard
    Wireless Nausicaa 2.4GHz RF, with USB dongle
    Internet Speed
    15 mb/s
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

Another chenge you can make is to get windows to inform you when there is an update ready instead of automatically updating. This will allow you to review the updates instead of blindly installing them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77-DS3H
    Memory
    4 x 4GB corsair ballistix sport DDR3 1600 Mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte Geforce GTX 660 TI
    Sound Card
    creative x-fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Primary CiBox 22" Widescreen LCD ,Secondary Dell 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    Both 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500G HD (SATA) 1 x 2TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Complient PSU
    Case
    Antec 900 Ultimate Gaming Case
    Cooling
    3 x 80mm tri led front, 120mm side 120mm back, 200mm top
    Mouse
    Technika TKOPTM2
    Keyboard
    Logik
    Internet Speed
    288 / 4000
    Other Info
    Creative Inspire 7.1 T7900 Speakers Trust Graphics Tablet
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

I personally have windows update set to NOTIFY ONLY, and it checks once a day atleast =)

I hate programs just downloading updates on their own without me knowing and that includes windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me, myself and I
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E 8500
    Motherboard
    Asus P5Q3 DELUXE
    Memory
    4x 1GB DDR3
    Graphics card(s)
    Asus GeForce 9800GTX+
    Sound Card
    SoundBlaster X-Fi X-treme gamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Syncmaster 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    1x 250gb SATA 4x 1TB SATA in RAID5
    PSU
    CoolerMaster 650Watt
    Case
    CoolerMaster 690
    Cooling
    4x 140mm, 3x 120mm, 1x 80mm casefans
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Keyboard
    Razer Lycosa
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 12mbit/s
    Other Info
    My other OS is a Linux =)
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

As for myself, I just manually check once a day. It's all about personal preference.
 

My Computer

System One

Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

Thanks again for your responses. When using Windows XP I had it set up so that Microsoft would inform me about downloads and then I would decide which ones I wanted. I took all of the security-related ones, but passed on ones that had nothing to do with my software or hardware. I think I'll revert back to that approach given your comments. I heard some horror stories about Genuine Advantage that originally motivated me to not let Microsoft automatically download & install updates. While I was running a legal version of Windows, I was concerned that I, too, might experience some of those difficulties. And who knows when the next screwy, problematic download is on its way? Thanks again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS 435MT
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 2.67 GHz
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI RADEON HD4670 512MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Serial ATA 2 Hard Drive 7200 RPM
    Mouse
    Wireless Nausicaa 2.4GHz RF, with USB dongle
    Keyboard
    Wireless Nausicaa 2.4GHz RF, with USB dongle
    Internet Speed
    15 mb/s
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

Zoloft said:
As for myself, I just manually check once a day.
Click to expand...

A little bit of overkill. There is no need for checking that often as updates are released on a schedule, the second Tuesday of the each month. Occasionally there is an update or two that will show up off-schedule but not often, and when there is it is usually posted on forums all over the place.

roy69 said:
Another chenge you can make is to get windows to inform you when there is an update ready instead of automatically updating. This will allow you to review the updates instead of blindly installing them.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more with this, especially if it comes to a driver update through WU. I have lost track of the number of times over the years where I have seen someone who's system became unusable after installing one. Best practice when WU offers a driver update is to go to the manufacturer's site and see what they have available and check it against what you currently have installed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    Athlon x2 7750 BE
    Motherboard
    Asus M4A78 Pro
    Memory
    2x2gb Kingston
    Graphics card(s)
    Sapphire HD 4830
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Xtreme Music
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer P221w and Acer 1916w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 and 1440x900
    Hard Drives
    2x80 GB Seagate 7200.10 in RAID0, 500 GB Seagate 7200.12
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 500W
    Case
    Antec Sonata III
    Cooling
    AC Freezer 64 Pro and a couple of 120 mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 v2
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Internet Speed
    10000/1000
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

Here's an idea, just leave the computer on all the time. It doesn't use that much power -_-
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel C2D E8400 @3.0ghz OC'd 3.8ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q SE PLUS
    Memory
    G.SKILL 2gb x4 DDR2
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX260
    Sound Card
    Onboard 5.1 Surround Sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer X223W 22" 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 and 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 750gb
    PSU
    Corsair H520X 1000W
    Case
    Antect 300
    Cooling
    2x 120mm front, 1x 120mm side, 1x 120mm rear, 1x 200mm top
    Mouse
    Some Logitech Mouse
    Keyboard
    G15 rev1
    Internet Speed
    7mbps down, 768kbps up
    Other Info
    Vista Ultimate x64
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

BryceEason said:
Here's an idea, just leave the computer on all the time. It doesn't use that much power -_-
Click to expand...

It depends on alot of things, power schemes, cie, speedstep. Leaving a computer on all the time can cost an extra £138 per year average.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77-DS3H
    Memory
    4 x 4GB corsair ballistix sport DDR3 1600 Mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte Geforce GTX 660 TI
    Sound Card
    creative x-fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Primary CiBox 22" Widescreen LCD ,Secondary Dell 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    Both 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500G HD (SATA) 1 x 2TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Complient PSU
    Case
    Antec 900 Ultimate Gaming Case
    Cooling
    3 x 80mm tri led front, 120mm side 120mm back, 200mm top
    Mouse
    Technika TKOPTM2
    Keyboard
    Logik
    Internet Speed
    288 / 4000
    Other Info
    Creative Inspire 7.1 T7900 Speakers Trust Graphics Tablet
Re: Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updat

All eight of my computers are on 24/7/365 except for updates where I reboot and such. I have seen no difference in my bill monthly from when I didn't have computers on all the time. I see that as a poor excuse sorry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel C2D E8400 @3.0ghz OC'd 3.8ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5Q SE PLUS
    Memory
    G.SKILL 2gb x4 DDR2
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX260
    Sound Card
    Onboard 5.1 Surround Sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer X223W 22" 19" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 and 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 750gb
    PSU
    Corsair H520X 1000W
    Case
    Antect 300
    Cooling
    2x 120mm front, 1x 120mm side, 1x 120mm rear, 1x 200mm top
    Mouse
    Some Logitech Mouse
    Keyboard
    G15 rev1
    Internet Speed
    7mbps down, 768kbps up
    Other Info
    Vista Ultimate x64
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