Is it REALLY fucking necessary for Windows Updates to FORCE a restart of the computer?

[ghostsofgiants]

Especially when I'm downloading a 4gb file from Archive.org?

On that note, anyone know of a good download manager for Firefox that'll let me resume downloads in such situations?

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. Apparently, you haven't been briefed on the Microsuck Prime Directive

which is to control all aspects of everyone's life.

[kentauros]

2. I don't know about stuff for firefox (long-time Opera user here)

but here's a link that will tell you how to shut off the auto-restart function temporarily: http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/disable-windows-update-restart-nag-289998.php

It is temporary since Windows will reset that function when you do finally restart. I noticed there was at least one comment for editing the registry, but I am not comfortable doing that. If you are, have at it! :) Since it will supposedly shut off that reminder permanently.

Gotta love archive.org
4gigs? Must be a movie or documentary. I go there for the music, mostly :)

[ghostsofgiants]

3. A DVD image of a great BBC documentary about the war on terror...

http://www.archive.org/details/ThePowerOfNightmaresDVD

http://www.archive.org/details/ThePowerOfNightmares if you wanna watch it online.

And thanks for the link. I"m quite comfortable with the registry, so I might look into that.

[tjwmason]

10. The documentary was great.

Good to see that well thought out television, and detailed consideration of the reality isn't dead.

[DS1]

12. You can watch the entire series on google video, if you don't feel like downloading it

And yes, it's a great series. Screw you Strauss and Kutup!


As far as M$, that's "fixed" in Vista, it won't reboot without permission. One of the things I used to hate, just like you experienced, is setting off a big download before leaving to work then finding my system back at the login screen.
Ugh.

[ghostsofgiants]

17. I'm downloading the DVD image so I can give copies to people and such.

Yeah, it's a pain in the ass, but installing Vista is not an acceptable solution, haha.

[AmyDeLune]

4. "DownThemAll" addon for Firefox,

it lets you pause and resume downloads. :)
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/201

[ghostsofgiants]

5. I actually already have that, though I never really use it.

It would seem, however, that I can't pause or resume files from archive.org. Lame.

[pokerfan]

6. Use their FTP port

and whatever ftp client you prefer. Most of them support resumption of a download.

[ghostsofgiants]

7. They support FTP?

I did not know that.

[pokerfan]

8. apparently

http://www.archive.org/about/faqs.php#262

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Yeah, I loaded it up in CuteFTP and its actually much faster than the HTTP download.

I'll have it in about an hour and a half instead of 12 hours, haha. Thanks for the heads up.

[DarkTirade]

11. It's never done that for me.

It'll keep popping up an annoying message every three seconds to remind me that I have to reboot, but it never forces it.

[NJmaverick]

14. I leave my XP work computer on overnight at work

it reboots itself overnight. Worse it forces Outlook to close poorly and so it needs to scan and fix it's database. Windows sucks!

[DarkTirade]

24. There should be an option to not reboot automatically when it updates.

I'm not sure how to get to that option, but it should be there.

Also, Outlook sucks. Use Thunderbird. :P

[underpants]

13. I had that happen to me yesterday at work

:shrug:

[CreekDog]

15. you replicants must hate those forced catnaps

:rofl:

[emperor124]

16. Huh I never had that problem

Whenever the updates finish it just asks me if I want to shut off my computer or not. Weird. That happened on my friend's computer the other day though, right while I was in the middle of playing Starcraft :(

[ghostsofgiants]

18. Sometimes it'll ask, sometimes it won't.

And if it does ask, and you say no, sometimes it'll get pissed off and tell you "Okay, we're restarting this shit now."

[hobbit709]

19. I turn automatic update off.

Since 99% of the patches are to fix problems with Internet Exploder or Outhouse Distress or other M$ apps-none of which I use-my Windows runs much better.

[Madrone]

20. I use a stand-alone download manager -

LeechGet. Love it. It breaks the files up in chunks so they download faster. It also supports resuming downloads - although I think that may hinge more on whether the site you're downloading from supports it.

[ghostsofgiants]

21. Yeah, like I said above, I don't think Archive.org supports it.

But its FTP access worked like a charm.

[fizzgig]

22. asshole microsoft

x(

[Fox Mulder]

23. I know.

It's fucking annoying. I just had it happen to me. x(