Windows Media Player BLINDSIDE update!

Doug

I caught the subterfuge when they tried it and defeated it. That
particular "update" is now HIDDEN and will be forever and
ever...amen.
-
Doug W.
-

"Bill Drake" <> wrote in message
news:O$.gbl...
>I was bitten by exactly the same situation as you describe.
>
> And I too was annoyed that Microsoft would label an "update"
> for
> WMP10 that was actually an "upgrade" to WMP11.
>
> This is one of the reasons I don't perform *any* upgrades to
> my
> machine without having a complete Ghost Backup before starting
> the upgrade.
>
> I had to reghost my machine back to its older form once I
> found out
> this "update" gave me something I didn't want, didn't need and
> had
> already rejected as inappropriate for my needs.
>
>
> Comment:
>
> In my experience, Computers are designed by cretins and built
> by
> monkeys. Mismanagement and incompetence are endemic to the
> computer industry - and nobody inside the industry is taking
> responsibility for the endless suffering they are causing the
> user
> base.
>
> Furthermore, to waste your time trying to get apologists and
> rationalizers to publicly acknowledge their mistakes - and
> more
> importantly to implement policy changes which make those
> mistakes
> less likely in the future - seems to be impossible.
>
> This industry is insane. They are not worthy of your trust.
> Protect
> yourself by implementing a stable and reliable backup regimen
> and
> assume that every update you install is suspect until proven
> otherwise.
>
> All else is simply a license to get shafted.
>
>
> Best I can do for now. <tm>
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> D. W. K. wrote:
>> It was not my "imagination"! They said (again) it was a
>> "version 10"
>> update! Is this fact getting lost somewhere here?
>>
>> "Doug" <> wrote..
>>>>> Uhm... If you just changed the way you get updates to
>>>>> 'download and
>>>>> notify' - you could choose what to install and read about
>>>>> each one
>>>>> - research a little (you know - put a little effort into
>>>>> it) and
>>>>> never install anything you do not want to...
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Shenan Stanley
>>>>> MS-MVP
>>>>> --
>>>>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> "D. W. K." <[removethis]dwkcpbd@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:uMJEaAqmHHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Thank you Shenan but... that IS exactly how my system IS
>>>> set up
>>>> right now! That is exactly how every other update I get
>>>> notifications about is treated. The problem is with THIS
>>>> particular
>>>> Microsoft update! THEY have chosen, for some reason, to
>>>> send it out
>>>> without ANY option to read anything about it first. Also,
>>>> why do
>>>> they dishonestly disguise it as a "version 10" update? DWK
>>>>
>>>> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:OQD6C2pmHHA.4032@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So, if I understand correctly *you* accepted an update to
>>> *your*
>>> computer that *you* did not get "ANY option to read anything
>>> about"
>>> and now you're mad because it wasn't what *you* imagined it
>>> might
>>> be? I can understand your
>>> consternation, obviously this is someone else's fault.
>>>
>>> In any event restoring from your most recent disk image or
>>> backup
>>> should put
>>> the situation right.
>>> --
>>> Doug
>>>
>>> I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
>>> I was just trying to help.
>>> Please use your own best judgment before implementing any
>>> suggestions or advice herein.
>>> No warranty is expressed or implied.
>>> Your mileage may vary.
>>> See store for details.
>>>
>>> Remove shoes to E-mail.
>
>

D. W. K.

Thanks Bill! I agree 100%! You are RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

DWK)


"Bill Drake" <bdrake@telus.net> wrote in message
news:O$xfVq7mHHA.4424@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I was bitten by exactly the same situation as you describe.
>
> And I too was annoyed that Microsoft would label an "update" for
> WMP10 that was actually an "upgrade" to WMP11.
>
> This is one of the reasons I don't perform *any* upgrades to my
> machine without having a complete Ghost Backup before starting
> the upgrade.
>
> I had to reghost my machine back to its older form once I found out
> this "update" gave me something I didn't want, didn't need and had
> already rejected as inappropriate for my needs.
>
>
> Comment:
>
> In my experience, Computers are designed by cretins and built by
> monkeys. Mismanagement and incompetence are endemic to the
> computer industry - and nobody inside the industry is taking
> responsibility for the endless suffering they are causing the user
> base.
>
> Furthermore, to waste your time trying to get apologists and
> rationalizers to publicly acknowledge their mistakes - and more
> importantly to implement policy changes which make those mistakes
> less likely in the future - seems to be impossible.
>
> This industry is insane. They are not worthy of your trust. Protect
> yourself by implementing a stable and reliable backup regimen and
> assume that every update you install is suspect until proven otherwise.
>
> All else is simply a license to get shafted.
>
>
> Best I can do for now. <tm>
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> D. W. K. wrote:
>> It was not my "imagination"! They said (again) it was a "version 10"
>> update! Is this fact getting lost somewhere here?
>>
>> "Doug" <hillbillybuddhist@shoesgmail.com> wrote..
>>>>> Uhm... If you just changed the way you get updates to 'download and
>>>>> notify' - you could choose what to install and read about each one
>>>>> - research a little (you know - put a little effort into it) and
>>>>> never install anything you do not want to...
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Shenan Stanley
>>>>> MS-MVP
>>>>> --
>>>>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> "D. W. K." <[removethis]dwkcpbd@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:uMJEaAqmHHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Thank you Shenan but... that IS exactly how my system IS set up
>>>> right now! That is exactly how every other update I get
>>>> notifications about is treated. The problem is with THIS particular
>>>> Microsoft update! THEY have chosen, for some reason, to send it out
>>>> without ANY option to read anything about it first. Also, why do
>>>> they dishonestly disguise it as a "version 10" update? DWK
>>>>
>>>> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:OQD6C2pmHHA.4032@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So, if I understand correctly *you* accepted an update to *your*
>>> computer that *you* did not get "ANY option to read anything about"
>>> and now you're mad because it wasn't what *you* imagined it might
>>> be? I can understand your
>>> consternation, obviously this is someone else's fault.
>>>
>>> In any event restoring from your most recent disk image or backup
>>> should put
>>> the situation right.
>>> --
>>> Doug
>>>
>>> I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
>>> I was just trying to help.
>>> Please use your own best judgment before implementing any
>>> suggestions or advice herein.
>>> No warranty is expressed or implied.
>>> Your mileage may vary.
>>> See store for details.
>>>
>>> Remove shoes to E-mail.
>
>

D. W. K.

Thanks Bill! I agree 100%! You are RIGHT ON THE MONEY!

DWK)


"Bill Drake" <bdrake@telus.net> wrote in message
news:O$xfVq7mHHA.4424@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I was bitten by exactly the same situation as you describe.
>
> And I too was annoyed that Microsoft would label an "update" for
> WMP10 that was actually an "upgrade" to WMP11.
>
> This is one of the reasons I don't perform *any* upgrades to my
> machine without having a complete Ghost Backup before starting
> the upgrade.
>
> I had to reghost my machine back to its older form once I found out
> this "update" gave me something I didn't want, didn't need and had
> already rejected as inappropriate for my needs.
>
>
> Comment:
>
> In my experience, Computers are designed by cretins and built by
> monkeys. Mismanagement and incompetence are endemic to the
> computer industry - and nobody inside the industry is taking
> responsibility for the endless suffering they are causing the user
> base.
>
> Furthermore, to waste your time trying to get apologists and
> rationalizers to publicly acknowledge their mistakes - and more
> importantly to implement policy changes which make those mistakes
> less likely in the future - seems to be impossible.
>
> This industry is insane. They are not worthy of your trust. Protect
> yourself by implementing a stable and reliable backup regimen and
> assume that every update you install is suspect until proven otherwise.
>
> All else is simply a license to get shafted.
>
>
> Best I can do for now. <tm>
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> D. W. K. wrote:
>> It was not my "imagination"! They said (again) it was a "version 10"
>> update! Is this fact getting lost somewhere here?
>>
>> "Doug" <hillbillybuddhist@shoesgmail.com> wrote..
>>>>> Uhm... If you just changed the way you get updates to 'download and
>>>>> notify' - you could choose what to install and read about each one
>>>>> - research a little (you know - put a little effort into it) and
>>>>> never install anything you do not want to...
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Shenan Stanley
>>>>> MS-MVP
>>>>> --
>>>>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> "D. W. K." <[removethis]dwkcpbd@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:uMJEaAqmHHA.208@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Thank you Shenan but... that IS exactly how my system IS set up
>>>> right now! That is exactly how every other update I get
>>>> notifications about is treated. The problem is with THIS particular
>>>> Microsoft update! THEY have chosen, for some reason, to send it out
>>>> without ANY option to read anything about it first. Also, why do
>>>> they dishonestly disguise it as a "version 10" update? DWK
>>>>
>>>> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:OQD6C2pmHHA.4032@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So, if I understand correctly *you* accepted an update to *your*
>>> computer that *you* did not get "ANY option to read anything about"
>>> and now you're mad because it wasn't what *you* imagined it might
>>> be? I can understand your
>>> consternation, obviously this is someone else's fault.
>>>
>>> In any event restoring from your most recent disk image or backup
>>> should put
>>> the situation right.
>>> --
>>> Doug
>>>
>>> I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
>>> I was just trying to help.
>>> Please use your own best judgment before implementing any
>>> suggestions or advice herein.
>>> No warranty is expressed or implied.
>>> Your mileage may vary.
>>> See store for details.
>>>
>>> Remove shoes to E-mail.
>
>

George

"Alan" <> wrote in message
news:.gbl...
> Mistoffolees
>
> To be fair to D. W. K. -- and others who might have inadvertently
> installed
> WMP 11 -- there is NO indication of what the "update" to WMP 10 actually
> involves.
>
> If someone opens WMP 10 -- depending upon the Player's Automatic updates
> settings,
> which are accessed via Tools | Options and clicking on the Player tab, the
> options presented are: "Check for Updates Once a Day, Once a week or Once
> a
> month." (There is NO checkbox to NEVER check for updates.) -- the Windows
> Media Configuration Manager will appear and the user sees a dialog box
> that
> states: "A Windows Media Update is available. Do you want to update now?"
> The options presented to the user are "Yes" or "Cancel".
>
> If a user manually checks to see if there are any updates to WMP 10 by
> clicking Help | Check for Player Updates, the user will see these
> statements:
> o - Windows Media Player 10 requires 1 megabytes (MB). Upgrading will take
> approximately 0 minutes over a 28.8 KBps connection.
> o - Click Next to begin the download and update or Click Cancel to
> postpone
> the update.
>
> There is NO indication anywhere that "updating" means an upgrade to WMP
> 11.
>
> One can argue that "update" can be assumed to mean that WMP 10 will become
> WMP 11.
>
> However, I do think that Microsoft should be much more explicit and
> transparent as to what a user is agreeing to if he or she decides to
> "update" an application that is working perfectly as is and which they are
> happy with.
>
> And while you think that WMP 9 was fine out of the box, there were some of
> us -- including me -- who made a conscious and informed decision to
> upgrade to WMP 10. There are also many people who are making a conscious
> and informed decision to upgrade to WMP 11 and that's fine. It is THEY who
> are making the decision, not Microsoft.
>
> However, those people who want to stick with WMP 10 shouldn't be fooled
> into thinking that when they agree to a WMP 10 "update" they are in
> reality going to end up with WMP 11.
>
> Microsoft pulled this same sort of deception when, at one time, it made
> IE7 a "critical update" that was automatically downloaded and installed
> onto the PCs of millions of unsuspecting users.
>
> Eventually, Microsoft got the message that this was NOT the best way to
> get people to "know and love" IE7.
>
> Alan
>
> "Mistoffolees" <> wrote in message
> news:%.gbl...
>>
>> D. W. K. wrote:
>>
>>> I am furious with Microsoft!
>>>
>>> For the second time now I have been blindsided by Microsoft with a
>>> notification regarding an "update to Media Player 10" which turns out to
>>> be a stealth installation of version 11! I DO NOT WANT VERSION
>>> 11!!!!!!!!
>>>
>>> This is disgusting! It was billed as a "Version 10" update and there was
>>> no opportunity to cancel this prior to discovering it was NOT an upgrade
>>> to 10 but a "forced down your throat" installation of 11!
>>>
>>> I would like to hear from someone at Microsoft as to why they have
>>> decided to do this in this way! This is infuriating to say the least! If
>>> you want to offer an update to MP11 then come right out and say so! At
>>> least give someone the opportunity to say NO!
>>>
>>> I WILL NEVER TRUST ANY MICROSOFT UPDATES AGAIN!
>>>
>>> DWK
>>> Simi Valley, CA
>>
>> While your protests are noted, just what was the compelling reason
>> for going to Microsoft or Windows Updates, finding an update to WMP
>> 10 and then deciding to proceed to update? Was there something wrong
>> with WMP 9 that came with Windows XP? Or were the enhancements to
>> WMP 10.X and WMP 11 just that tempting, specifically related to DRM,
>> copyright protection, piracy, etc.? IMO, WMP 9, out-of-the-box, is
>> just fine.
>

That and security may be a good reason for updating. Has anyone in here
ever heard of that instead of attacking a guy for trying to keep his PC
updated for security reasons. I am astonished that the most intelligent
people in here do not get that???? At least I thought they were
intelligent, and no UNCLE GRUMPY I am not talking about your arrogant
moronic arse :-)

George

George

"Alan" <> wrote in message
news:.gbl...
> Mistoffolees
>
> To be fair to D. W. K. -- and others who might have inadvertently
> installed
> WMP 11 -- there is NO indication of what the "update" to WMP 10 actually
> involves.
>
> If someone opens WMP 10 -- depending upon the Player's Automatic updates
> settings,
> which are accessed via Tools | Options and clicking on the Player tab, the
> options presented are: "Check for Updates Once a Day, Once a week or Once
> a
> month." (There is NO checkbox to NEVER check for updates.) -- the Windows
> Media Configuration Manager will appear and the user sees a dialog box
> that
> states: "A Windows Media Update is available. Do you want to update now?"
> The options presented to the user are "Yes" or "Cancel".
>
> If a user manually checks to see if there are any updates to WMP 10 by
> clicking Help | Check for Player Updates, the user will see these
> statements:
> o - Windows Media Player 10 requires 1 megabytes (MB). Upgrading will take
> approximately 0 minutes over a 28.8 KBps connection.
> o - Click Next to begin the download and update or Click Cancel to
> postpone
> the update.
>
> There is NO indication anywhere that "updating" means an upgrade to WMP
> 11.
>
> One can argue that "update" can be assumed to mean that WMP 10 will become
> WMP 11.
>
> However, I do think that Microsoft should be much more explicit and
> transparent as to what a user is agreeing to if he or she decides to
> "update" an application that is working perfectly as is and which they are
> happy with.
>
> And while you think that WMP 9 was fine out of the box, there were some of
> us -- including me -- who made a conscious and informed decision to
> upgrade to WMP 10. There are also many people who are making a conscious
> and informed decision to upgrade to WMP 11 and that's fine. It is THEY who
> are making the decision, not Microsoft.
>
> However, those people who want to stick with WMP 10 shouldn't be fooled
> into thinking that when they agree to a WMP 10 "update" they are in
> reality going to end up with WMP 11.
>
> Microsoft pulled this same sort of deception when, at one time, it made
> IE7 a "critical update" that was automatically downloaded and installed
> onto the PCs of millions of unsuspecting users.
>
> Eventually, Microsoft got the message that this was NOT the best way to
> get people to "know and love" IE7.
>
> Alan
>
> "Mistoffolees" <> wrote in message
> news:%.gbl...
>>
>> D. W. K. wrote:
>>
>>> I am furious with Microsoft!
>>>
>>> For the second time now I have been blindsided by Microsoft with a
>>> notification regarding an "update to Media Player 10" which turns out to
>>> be a stealth installation of version 11! I DO NOT WANT VERSION
>>> 11!!!!!!!!
>>>
>>> This is disgusting! It was billed as a "Version 10" update and there was
>>> no opportunity to cancel this prior to discovering it was NOT an upgrade
>>> to 10 but a "forced down your throat" installation of 11!
>>>
>>> I would like to hear from someone at Microsoft as to why they have
>>> decided to do this in this way! This is infuriating to say the least! If
>>> you want to offer an update to MP11 then come right out and say so! At
>>> least give someone the opportunity to say NO!
>>>
>>> I WILL NEVER TRUST ANY MICROSOFT UPDATES AGAIN!
>>>
>>> DWK
>>> Simi Valley, CA
>>
>> While your protests are noted, just what was the compelling reason
>> for going to Microsoft or Windows Updates, finding an update to WMP
>> 10 and then deciding to proceed to update? Was there something wrong
>> with WMP 9 that came with Windows XP? Or were the enhancements to
>> WMP 10.X and WMP 11 just that tempting, specifically related to DRM,
>> copyright protection, piracy, etc.? IMO, WMP 9, out-of-the-box, is
>> just fine.
>

That and security may be a good reason for updating. Has anyone in here
ever heard of that instead of attacking a guy for trying to keep his PC
updated for security reasons. I am astonished that the most intelligent
people in here do not get that???? At least I thought they were
intelligent, and no UNCLE GRUMPY I am not talking about your arrogant
moronic arse :-)

George

Rock

"Bill Drake" wrote
>I was bitten by exactly the same situation as you describe.
>
> And I too was annoyed that Microsoft would label an "update" for
> WMP10 that was actually an "upgrade" to WMP11.
>
> This is one of the reasons I don't perform *any* upgrades to my
> machine without having a complete Ghost Backup before starting
> the upgrade.
>
> I had to reghost my machine back to its older form once I found out
> this "update" gave me something I didn't want, didn't need and had
> already rejected as inappropriate for my needs.

I think that's excellent advice. I learned long ago to use a drive imaging
program. Whether it's an issue with an update having unintended
consequences or a failed install, or hardware failure, or anything else,
problems occur. Restoring a recent image is a fast and smart way to get
around these glitches.

<snip>

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

> D. W. K. wrote:
>> It was not my "imagination"! They said (again) it was a "version 10"
>> update! Is this fact getting lost somewhere here?
>>
>> "Doug" <> wrote..
>>>>> Uhm... If you just changed the way you get updates to 'download and
>>>>> notify' - you could choose what to install and read about each one
>>>>> - research a little (you know - put a little effort into it) and
>>>>> never install anything you do not want to...

>>> "D. W. K."wrote
>>>> Thank you Shenan but... that IS exactly how my system IS set up
>>>> right now! That is exactly how every other update I get
>>>> notifications about is treated. The problem is with THIS particular
>>>> Microsoft update! THEY have chosen, for some reason, to send it out
>>>> without ANY option to read anything about it first. Also, why do
>>>> they dishonestly disguise it as a "version 10" update? DWK

>>> So, if I understand correctly *you* accepted an update to *your*
>>> computer that *you* did not get "ANY option to read anything about"
>>> and now you're mad because it wasn't what *you* imagined it might
>>> be? I can understand your
>>> consternation, obviously this is someone else's fault.
>>>
>>> In any event restoring from your most recent disk image or backup
>>> should put
>>> the situation right.

Rock

"Bill Drake" wrote
>I was bitten by exactly the same situation as you describe.
>
> And I too was annoyed that Microsoft would label an "update" for
> WMP10 that was actually an "upgrade" to WMP11.
>
> This is one of the reasons I don't perform *any* upgrades to my
> machine without having a complete Ghost Backup before starting
> the upgrade.
>
> I had to reghost my machine back to its older form once I found out
> this "update" gave me something I didn't want, didn't need and had
> already rejected as inappropriate for my needs.

I think that's excellent advice. I learned long ago to use a drive imaging
program. Whether it's an issue with an update having unintended
consequences or a failed install, or hardware failure, or anything else,
problems occur. Restoring a recent image is a fast and smart way to get
around these glitches.

<snip>

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

> D. W. K. wrote:
>> It was not my "imagination"! They said (again) it was a "version 10"
>> update! Is this fact getting lost somewhere here?
>>
>> "Doug" <> wrote..
>>>>> Uhm... If you just changed the way you get updates to 'download and
>>>>> notify' - you could choose what to install and read about each one
>>>>> - research a little (you know - put a little effort into it) and
>>>>> never install anything you do not want to...

>>> "D. W. K."wrote
>>>> Thank you Shenan but... that IS exactly how my system IS set up
>>>> right now! That is exactly how every other update I get
>>>> notifications about is treated. The problem is with THIS particular
>>>> Microsoft update! THEY have chosen, for some reason, to send it out
>>>> without ANY option to read anything about it first. Also, why do
>>>> they dishonestly disguise it as a "version 10" update? DWK

>>> So, if I understand correctly *you* accepted an update to *your*
>>> computer that *you* did not get "ANY option to read anything about"
>>> and now you're mad because it wasn't what *you* imagined it might
>>> be? I can understand your
>>> consternation, obviously this is someone else's fault.
>>>
>>> In any event restoring from your most recent disk image or backup
>>> should put
>>> the situation right.

Rock

"D. W. K." wrote in message
> Contact Microsoft? You must be kidding! You would have better luck
> "contacting" the Pope!

<snip>

Well, you are the one who wrote, "I would like to hear from someone at
Microsoft..." If that's really your interest, I was just pointing out this
is not the mechanism to get their attention.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Rock

"D. W. K." wrote in message
> Contact Microsoft? You must be kidding! You would have better luck
> "contacting" the Pope!

<snip>

Well, you are the one who wrote, "I would like to hear from someone at
Microsoft..." If that's really your interest, I was just pointing out this
is not the mechanism to get their attention.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Ghostrider

Alan wrote:

> Mistoffolees
>
> To be fair to D. W. K. -- and others who might have inadvertently installed
> WMP 11 -- there is NO indication of what the "update" to WMP 10 actually
> involves.
>
> If someone opens WMP 10 -- depending upon the Player's Automatic updates
> settings,
> which are accessed via Tools | Options and clicking on the Player tab, the
> options presented are: "Check for Updates Once a Day, Once a week or Once a
> month." (There is NO checkbox to NEVER check for updates.) -- the Windows
> Media Configuration Manager will appear and the user sees a dialog box that
> states: "A Windows Media Update is available. Do you want to update now?"
> The options presented to the user are "Yes" or "Cancel".
>
> If a user manually checks to see if there are any updates to WMP 10 by
> clicking Help | Check for Player Updates, the user will see these
> statements:
> o - Windows Media Player 10 requires 1 megabytes (MB). Upgrading will take
> approximately 0 minutes over a 28.8 KBps connection.
> o - Click Next to begin the download and update or Click Cancel to postpone
> the update.
>
> There is NO indication anywhere that "updating" means an upgrade to WMP 11.
>
> One can argue that "update" can be assumed to mean that WMP 10 will become
> WMP 11.
>
> However, I do think that Microsoft should be much more explicit and
> transparent as to what a user is agreeing to if he or she decides to
> "update" an application that is working perfectly as is and which they are
> happy with.
>
> And while you think that WMP 9 was fine out of the box, there were some of
> us -- including me -- who made a conscious and informed decision to upgrade
> to WMP 10. There are also many people who are making a conscious and
> informed decision to upgrade to WMP 11 and that's fine. It is THEY who are
> making the decision, not Microsoft.
>
> However, those people who want to stick with WMP 10 shouldn't be fooled into
> thinking that when they agree to a WMP 10 "update" they are in reality going
> to end up with WMP 11.
>
> Microsoft pulled this same sort of deception when, at one time, it made IE7
> a "critical update" that was automatically downloaded and installed onto the
> PCs of millions of unsuspecting users.
>
> Eventually, Microsoft got the message that this was NOT the best way to get
> people to "know and love" IE7.
>
> Alan


For the record, neither WMP 11 nor IE 7 got installed in any of the
computers under our control, simply for the fact that we did our
homework. And, interestingly, we became acutely aware of the game that
Microsoft was playing after WGA and WGA(N), when "critical updates" were
not really that. But we knew enough about WMP 11 and IE 7 to be able to
inform our users not to make the updates. The lesson learned is get the
most information possible, even if it means searching outside of MS. And
if one were to read up on all of the security updates that come up on
Patch Tuesday, a significant number of them do not even apply to the
utilization of the computer into which they are going to be installed.
What the Windows computing world lacks is a replacement for the defector
Mark Russinovich. We were better off before he became a Technical Fellow
at Microsoft; this effectively silenced his insight into and criticism of
the really horrible Windows updates although he did get his licks in on
WMP 11.