Glad to see someone else is having problems with updates as well. I lost all my features I liked due to that thing.
Also, the list of updates is long, how do I know for sure what I actually need?
Anyone care to step to the plate?

Go to the Security Center (get that by clicking on shield),
Click on get latest update.
This brings up Microsoft Update,
Under Options click on: Review Update History.

I always get updates manually, and then I usually read what the updates are for, not that that is much help, I almsot always accept the MS updates.

And check these steps, I see I have some updates to download...and if I click on the "+" I will be told something about the update.

Hope this helps, hope I didn't ask some other question, and I'm not running for any office...

the shield will show you exactly what the updates are if you just click on it, you can see each one and get additional info on each one, you can also uncheck any one you do not want to get and it will not install it. When you have done all the updates listed at the shield and the pc is rebooted the shield will go away till the next time there are updates available for your pc. You can choose to set it to automatically install all those updates or you can choose to have it just tell you they are there but not install them. That is the method I prefer, I can look at them and see what is available and decide. Personally I never ever get mine by using the shield or auto updates I always use my IE browser and go to the actual download website, have it scan my pc to see what my pc needs then I choose custom to look at what is listed and I select only the ones marked as critical to install, (not sp3 though not for me)To go to the windows update website just go to start> all programs> up at the top click on windows updates.

If once it scans it lists updates those are ones that have been selected for you pc only some people get more than others etc that is due to their specific setup and programs.
Some versions of MS office will come with windows updates but some will not so if you have office on your pc you must go to the dedicated windows office update site and have it scan your pc and then do the critical updates for office.

I personally like to wait about a week after they are released before I install them on my pc, I am on lots of forums that instantly get reports of any conflicts or issues with the updates so I have learned I don't want to be first in line, I let the other guys go on ahead, if no one gets a bite taken out of them then I go.

At the windows update site you can check your installed updates history, you can also see on the left side any other updates that are available either for your pc such as drivers and for programs and such, those are up to you.

I get emails from Microsoft when new updates are going to be issued and they inform me of everything that is going to be affected, if there are changes to the bulletin I get an update, so I know to be on alert and watching.

For example there is an out of band update being issued either sometime today or tomorrow depending on your timezone, this is very unusual because they are normally done on patch Tuesdays each month(2nd Tues) so for them to issue something out of band is unusual. this is a MS technet bulletin about it.
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for October 2008
Microsoft to rush out emergency Windows patch
Advance Notification for Out-of-Band Release

and this is the actual KB of this particular out of band fix
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 Critical

a lot of this kind of info goes out to us ahead of time so that there is some advance notice and believe me there are a lot of people just waiting for the responses if there are problems so they can start working on them asap.

so if you got an update today now you know why.

Glad to see this here. I just installed the last batch this week and now here is one more and was wondering why. So, now I'll live with that shield in the tray for another week or so. Sandy

Mine must be set to automatic.. this is what I get when I click the shield {{gwi:1500999}}
I checked out the links U gave me & most of it is Greek to me.
Where do I get it off automatic? It has been automatic for about 2 years..
BTW I have XP.
Dar

Regarding the emergency out of band update that was just issued on the 23rd I have installed it and it is fine on my pc and seeing no problems with it on the forums I am on, this is a very important one so I suggest getting it asap, I started a new thread dedicated to that. When MS sends out an emergency update they get my immediate attention.

To change your automatic update settings go to start> control panel> automatic updates (windows updates) and there you can change it to just inform you but not install them.