Does windows update need Internet connection?

Periodically when shutting down the computer the window begins updating--"Do not power off or unplug your computer...Installing update.... 30%....". During this time, will turning off the DSL Internet connection off affect the update? (I often did, but haven't seen anything unusual)

 

No.. all updates are downloaded first before installation.

 

I see. Thanks.

 

And don't make you updates automatic. Put on manual so that you are in control.

 

As long as you know that updates arrive each second tuesday of the month, watch our for critical vulnerability warning, then yes. For family and friends, I tell them to put the important updates on automatic or they'll run an unpatched and vulnerable OS. Some of them can't be bothered to run updates manually.

 

On my Win 7 64 there will be a nag screen that says you have updates. That nag screen shows up each time I start the computer so there is no excuse for not doing that update manually. But there are the lazy and stupid out there and they will always be vulnerable.

 

Seconded on the manual control. I always vet each update before deciding to install or not. Unless it's a security update or it address an issue directly relevant to me, I usually don't bother.

 

My wife tends to ignore the manual updates. She uses hibernation, and a full boot just takes too long since she has many things she would have to open again. So, no, manual updates are not for everyone. And she is not lazy or stupid, there are other reasons people might not do it.

 

No turning off your DSL connections won't affect it as the updates already been downloaded and it is updating already at this point. But if you want to have update auto update you will need to turn on Windows Update to Automatically update to be sure everything is up to date. Now if you shut it off when the computer itself was doing the update that would cause negative effects down the line. And why turn off your DSL what did you benefit from that? Nothing really as it will have to connect to the ISP and negotiate the connection again and that can take time to do if you turn it on and off and also doing that could hurt the DSL modem more then it helps in turning on and off isn't always the best solutions for electronic devices.

 

Exactly, I run my updates manually, like the rest of the people who posted in this thread, but when I configure a computer for someone else, I ask them whether they can be bothered to update manually and set WU settings depending on their answer.

 

My chosen option is "Download updates but let me choose when to install them".

I've had few times to reboot while game or movie was in progress so I no longer have totally automatic updates in use.
Last time was actually couple weeks ago. Latest top gear was interrupted because laptop rebooted, just at the same time when they shot a car with a tank... Yea, that was a fresh install.

My second favorite is the reboot popup coming up while you are typing and taking focus. Then you hit spacebar and reboot...

 

Both good and sound arguments but the mass always seems to forget to update or turn it on to protect themselves and then call the support or family member whom helped them get setup to fix or clean out the infections or reboot their system. I find it easier to do that then to fix the catastrophe later.