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Resolved Question

Windows Updates

Oct 17, 2014 10:14AM PDT

There were 16 Important Updates for me....I chose to install in two groups of 8. The first group of 8 installed fine, but the second group stopped after downloading and would not install. History showed 4 failures and 1 canceled. Finally got it going again and WU successfully installed 3 of the 4 failures and the 1 canceled. One failed update (KB2984981) was completely left out of the successful reinstall.

My question is should I not worry about the 1 failed update that was not reinstalled and hope Windows Update will realize the error and bring it forward again, or should I download it myself from Microsoft? I am wondering if I was meant to have it or not.

Miki
Windows 7 64-bit

Discussion is locked

michhala has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Read what happened next day.
Oct 18, 2014 4:48AM PDT

After each WU group or individual install mentioned in my OP yesterday, I did a restart but the failed and cancelled updates remained in History. About 12 hrs later I shut down the computer for the night. When I turned on the computer next morning (today) my Windows Update told me new updates were installed.....I checked my History, and it was born anew -- it showed 21 successful installs, and the 4 failures and 1 cancelled that were there yesterday had disappeared. Although I ended up with 5 extras (probably the 4 failures and 1 cancelled) and not the original 16, I am going to accept the "magic" at face value Happy

Miki

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Yep, I've Had That Happen Also
Oct 18, 2014 5:27AM PDT

The computer glitched the first time and basically healed itself after being completely shut down over night.. As long as the updates installed, I see no problems for you.

Just for info: I've installed all the recent updates on our Windows 7 machines and have had no problems so far.. All installed the first time from the Windows Updates site, the computers shut down and restarted correctly..

In addition, all the updates for Java 8 Update 25 and Flash player installed correctly also.. One thing a little unusual about the Java install this time.. As usual, I manually uninstall the previous versions of Java from the Control Panel-Programs and Features, then I reinstall both of the new Java x64 and Java x32 on the computer.. This time, just to make sure that all remnants were gone from the C:\Windows\Programs Files(x86)\Java and C:\Windows\Programs Files\Java folder, I opened the folders and to my surprise, the previous folder for "JRE1.8.0.20" was still there. (That's the old installation folder for "Java 8 Update 20".) Easy enough, I simply deleted the old version subfolders from each location and it went away, but it was a little abnormal as uninstalling the previous version should make the older version disappear from both locations.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Your post reassured me...
Oct 19, 2014 1:07PM PDT

Thank you, Grif, I feel much better now.

RE Java -- Some time ago we were having multiple problems with Java and I removed it from Programs and Features. Since I am not aware of any problems caused by my so doing, I have not reinstalled. However, I often do a Search for remnants of a program I have uninstalled and find related folders in C:\Windows\Program Files (x86). I used to do the Search on my XP machine and manually remove the related folders with no harm done. That said, on my Windows 7 I am not as brave and leave the folders as is.... the old adage "don't fix if not broken" comes to mind. Would you believe I used to go into the Registry and manually remove, too.

Miki

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(NT) Grif your post resolved and was best answer
Oct 19, 2014 1:11PM PDT
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Yep, About Java: If You Don't Need It, Leave It Uninstalled
Oct 20, 2014 9:12AM PDT

I need it on a couple of sites I use, but if you're seeing no ill effects from it being gone, great. It's just another possible vulnerability, and another update, that would need to be done.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Agree with Grif.
Oct 20, 2014 9:16AM PDT

I got rid of it ages ago and have seen no side effects.

Dafydd.

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(NT) My thanks, Dafydd
Oct 21, 2014 5:49AM PDT
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(NT) Thank you, Grif
Oct 21, 2014 5:47AM PDT