windows updates....

[Baz]

...what is this one for .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1

yes a service pack so I must have the original even though I cant remember getting it but what is .NET Framework

do I need it

[Rik]

It depends on whether you run apps that use .NET, Baz. If you do, yes, if you don't, you could uninstall .NET completely. On balance, I'd say install it.

[Glenn]

Here you go Baz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework

[Baz]

Thanks.What apps will use it.Seen as I cant remember getting it as an update does it come with any other program which may have installed it or is it only available from windows site


thanks but sorry Glenn the Wiki link is about as clear as mud to me 

[Rik]

AFAIK, it comes direct from MS. I couldn't tell you which apps use it, just that I know that I have some that do.

[Ray]

No it comes with other programs, Baz, if it's not installed and they need it they will install it.

[Baz]

so if you uninstalled it would things stop working that needed it

[Rik]

Yup.

[Technical Ben]

Anything to everything could use it. It's a simpler programming language than say C or it's variations. So like Microsofts own version of Java or Flash (But without the universal compatibility).
I broke .net on my mums laptop via a failed update. I was in big trouble when none of the craft programs worked after that. 

[pctech]

Lot of the user interfaces of security products use it I believe to give you that web feeling.

[Niall]

I left my pc on last night to download yet another game from Steam (think I'm goon a bit OTT with steam lately ) and I woke up this morning to find my pc had installed an update and rebooted, which I have my pc set not to do, as I install the updates manually when it tells me there are new updates.

What caused that?

[pctech]

Think MS can override the settings for critical updates.

Do you have Secunia PSI installed?

[Niall]

No I just check for my updates for programs every day, and m$ ones a couple of times a week.

[Rik]

Which AV, Niall?

[Technical Ben]

Steam has an auto installer. Depending on the game, it probably put DRM of the likes of securirom on the PC. This requires a reset. As it's a programs request to shut down, and not a windows request, I guess it sidestepped the windows settings.
[edit]
Oh and On topic. Some games need .net too. So they install automatically with the code. Comes on some of the older games disk IIRC.

[Niall]

It was nothing to do with Steam. It was Windows restarting the pc. On restart it said "windows has restarted your system after installing new updates", or whatever the exact wording Windows uses.

And I use Avast free edition. Unless a recent update has changed my download settings, I don't know why Windows suddenly did that. I shall check now.

Ah ha, yes indeed, some recent update has changed my settings to automatically download and install updates. Wonder what that was. I noticed someone mentioning that on here a few weeks ago, that their settings had changed, but I checked mine then and everything was the same. It seems some other update has changed the setting.

[Steve]

Microsoft Security Essentials was blamed a few weeks ago for turning on automatic updates.

[Niall]

Yeah that was the one, but mine hadn't changed. I can't think of any updates recently that would have changed that. Unless an AV update did something. Ah who cares, it's all working as intended now

[D-Dan]

KB976902 was accused of re-setting it when it was accidentally released in October. Now it's been released none-accidentally maybe it's still doing it.

Steve

[pctech]

Not quite sure what the problem is, for years MS was rightly slammed for its lax attittude to security, now they are getting serious on security and folks are still moaning.