Windows update in limited user mode

[Frank]

Hello,
I run Windows XP SP3 and have Update setup to download and let me know that updates are ready.
Normally, when an update is ready a little yellow balloon shows in the system tray. Clicking this icon shows a window where the updates can be custom selected or all updates automatically installed. I normally select the custom option to select the updates I want or just to see what updates are being installed.

I usually run my computer now in a limited user mode. Unfortunately, in this mode, the time I find out that there are updates is when I try to do a shutdown. In the shutdown selection popup is a message, that updates will be installed if he normal shutdown button is pressed. In this case all updates are installed without further notification. The popup offers another option, that is, to shut down without installing the updates. I usually take this option. Then upon the next launch, my machine boots into the limited user mode. In the limited user mode the little yellow balloon does not show in the system tray so I try to log into the admin user mode and wait. Again, the little yellow update balloon in the system tray doesn't come.

How do I do a custom update if I operate my machine in a limited user mode?
Thank you.

[Broni]

You can't.

[Frank]

Thanks Broni.
Isn't there an executable to run to install the updates.
I could execute that .exe from Windows Explorer with a right click and Run-as the admin?

[Broni]

Try:
wuapp.exe

[Broni]

You can actually create a shortcut, and under "Properties" set it to "Run as Admin.".

[Frank]

Great idea.
Unfortunately, I am running Windows XP SP3 and not Vista.
Would wuapp.exe work on XP? And where can I download it from?

[Broni]

Oh, OK.
Try:
wuauclt.exe /detectnow
I need to start XP to double check this.

[Broni]

Actually wupdmgr.exe works here on XP.

[Frank]

Tried wupdmgr.exe with run-as. It launches Internet Explorer as admin into the microsoft update page to check for updates to do on my computer.

I already have a message in my shutdown window that there is an update ready to install. I just want to know what that update is, and to abort if I don't want to install it.

Tried wuauclt.exe /detectnow. It runs because there is a process in taskinfo called wuauclt.exe, but it appears to do nothing.

Not there yet. Any other ideas?
Thanks

[patio]

So are you saying you just need to be able to view the updates before allowing it to DLoad and install them ? ?
If you reset the update manager to just notify...not DLoad and notify you should be able to clik the tray balloon when it appears and review any updates.

[Broni]

It launches Internet Explorer as admin into the microsoft update page to check for updates to do on my computer.

There, you can review updates, and install those, you want.

patio
It probably doesn't work in limited user account.

[Frank]

Patio,
Broni is correct. There is no tray balloon for updates in limited user mode.

Broni,
You are right, I could just use internet explorer in admin mode to do (or just view) some updates. I did have a look at what IE wanted to install. It was some genuine advantage - don't think it's a security update. I switched that machine into admin mode and some time later the yellow balloon in the tray came up, I clicked it and then the custom. The update here was an IE security update. So, I don't understand why the update from the Microsoft site via just IE before didn't show this update as required. Maybe because it was on my computer all ready to be installed, it assumed I already had that update. Why wasn't that genuine advantage update not ready in the yellow balloon? Probably because I think I've seen it before and told it not to install.

Sorry about all that rambling. So, what I want to do is to view the updates before the installation and accept or reject some of the installations. But, I run my machines in limited user mode.

I have2 machines with updates ready. Tried to switch the other machine to Admin mode also, and ran it like that for hours, but, no yellow balloon. I don't know why it showed on one machine but not the other.

I am puzzled about the different proposed updates in my downloaded updates and via IE direct from the Microsoft website. This only shows that I need to install the updates that are downloaded.

[Broni]

What I'm saying, while in limited account, run wupdmgr.exe as Admin. It should open Windows Updates web page in IE, where you can review list of possible updates.

[Frank]

I take note about what you are saying. By the way, why use wupdmgr.exe as Admin when IE could be launched as Admin directly to do the update without the wupdmgr.exe?

On my first machine I also have the option to log in as the admin and then use the yellow balloon in the system tray.

On my 2nd machine I think there is problem. When I log in as the admin, the yellow balloon does not show in the system tray. I know there are updates ready because when shutting down there is a message that updates are available. I know it used to work. For some reason, it doesn't work now. Is there some setting to turn on this notification?
Thanks

[patio]

Kinda interesting as i get the tray notification when running a limited account...
Ahhh the wonder of Windows Eh ? ?