Solved Register for Microsoft Updates without ever using IE 10

Hi All,

Sir/Madam,
I have just got a laptop from my brother (used) and made a 'minimum image' restore. I made all the windows updates for 'windows 8 single Languge x64' by 'check for updates, download them but let me decide to install'. As PROs advice, i never used IE and disabled it. Now i want to get updates for other microsoft products as well, but it seems impossible to register for that without using IE . When i go to 'Control Panel/Windows Update' settings and click on the link below 'Get updates for other Microsoft products FIND OUT MORE', nothing happens and update settings keep on saying 'you get updates for windows only'. i am a normal home user and looking for some alternative to register for Microsoft Updates ( regedit/ gpo/VBS etc.) other than using IE . i am deeply concerned for stable/best solution.

THE IMAGE :



Apart from that, i want to ask what if i enable IE for a moment or two and get registered for Microsoft Updates and then disable it again forever ? would i be getting windows & microsoft updates , normally ?

Please suggest me appropriately.

Thanks & Regards,
Vineet Garg.

Hi Vineet Garg,

Welcome to the 8forums

Someone that doesn't want to use IE may only need to use it once and never again.
You'll only need it to download a different browser, or of course download the installer for another browser from another computer

If you temporary enable IE to register for Microsoft Updates, you can safely disable IE afterwards without any issue

From what I remember, long time not used Windows 8, you may be able to register a different browser as default that Windows will uses when clicking 'find out more'.

I have just done a clean install of Windows 8.1, disabled IE and changed a few WU settings. I don't get the 'find out more' link, but I do get the message that I am receiving updates for Windows Updates and other products from Microsoft.

This install is done in VMware, in a new virtual machine.

3) his description tells as if Find out more provides/triggers a link/address ! anyway to copy/capture it and put into chrome ? 'right clicking' & 'shift+right click' does nothing.

Click to expand...

I meant it more like, if you click on the link Windows automatically opens the default browser. Of course, I haven't used Windows 8.1 in quite some time and I don't get the 'find out more' link so I cannot test/confirm it.

I don't know if in this situation there is a difference between Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 though (if the link shows up in Windows 8 and not in Windows 8.1).

Hi All,
@ axe0 : Sir, thanks for all your efforts.

1.i don't know if in this situation there is a difference between Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 though (if the link shows up in Windows 8 and not in Windows 8.1).
Sir, i also don't know , am totally new to windows 8. but the very same problem is appearing on win7 32bit sp1 ultimate also ?
2. i have attached a screenshot to my post (above) which is same for both : win 7 & win 8 !
3. i got this link @ Microsoft Technet : Opt-In to Microsoft Update (Windows)
but i think its more suitable for network administrators ?

Thanks & Regards.

Apart from that, i want to ask what if i enable IE for a moment or two and get registered for Microsoft Updates and then disable it again forever ? would i be getting windows & microsoft updates , normally ?

Click to expand...

I had answered this question, but will do it again just in case
Yes, IE is not a requirement for Windows Update to function.
You can enable IE, use the link, disable IE and have Windows Update function properly for Windows and Microsoft updates.

A quick question, when you are in Windows Update settings to tell Windows Update how you want to treat updates, do you get the option to have Windows Update check for other Microsoft products?
Again, this may be different with Windows 8.1 as this option is available in Windows 8.1.

The Find out more link is displayed if your setting is to receive updates for Windows only.
When you click the link, Internet Explorer is opened to a page on www.update.microsoft.com.
IE is started regardless if it is, or is not, the default browser.
In my opinion there is no other simple way to activate Microsoft Update; that is, there is no offline installer, or script, although after doing a search it seems there probably are (complicated) ways to do it.

In fact, I recently had to do this...to speed up my searching for updates, I turned off Microsoft Updates in the settings.
Now, I wanted to turn on Microsoft Updates again. I clicked the Find out more link, as described above. (I didn't record the actual URL.) On the page there was a checkbox to agree to license terms, and a button to activate Microsoft Updates. It only took a few seconds, and then the usual Windows Update was automatically started to check for updates. The Find out more link on the screen was now gone.

I don't know what actually happened when the button was clicked. My system may have already had the MU software, and so maybe just a registry setting was changed. IE is interfaced very closely with Windows in such a way that a different browser would not be suitable. It is important to note that IE specifically is started, and not a different default browser.

What is your concern with Internet Explorer? I think you certainly could, at least, enable it to perform this Microsoft Updates change, then disable it again.

axe0 is quite right answering & virtual6 is very prompt !

Hi All,
sir/madam,
sorry, i am a bit late !

@ axe0 , thanks sir.
1.Yes, IE is not a requirement for Windows Update to function.
You can enable IE, use the link, disable IE and have Windows Update function properly for Windows and Microsoft updates.
you are quite right sir & the problem solves. i enabled the IE , went to Windows Update , clicked the link and there i agreed the terms and a small install was made on my pc and after a restart, it was all fine. i disabled IE again and now the image says :



2.I have just done a clean install of Windows 8.1, disabled IE and changed a few WU settings. I don't get the 'find out more' link, but I do get the message that I am receiving updates for Windows Updates and other products from Microsoft.

perhaps you have gone through the process by choosing automatic updates sometime during installation or after that,etc. while it may be a choice offered to ones who are selective about updates !

3.A quick question, when you are in Windows Update settings to tell Windows Update how you want to treat updates, do you get the option to have Windows Update check for other Microsoft products?

in this respect i am going to insert images before and after the process. [Note:1. the image before process is from windows 7 32 ulti sp1 install and is almost identical to the one in windows 8 64 single language before the process. The only difference is that in windows 8, we are not provided the option to choose ''who can install updates'' (users) 2. please also refer to the image inserted in my first post in this thread ]

the image before the process :



The Image after the process :



@ virtual6
4. What is your concern with Internet Explorer?

i came to know that IE is so greatly seeded in windows os ,( as you also mentioned), that it makes it prone to infections ! and so many pros and myself would disable it in addition to just not using it ! but, surely it can be used for a moment or two to activate microsoft updates. by the way, you are very prompt ! Thanks.

Thanks & Regards,
Vineet Garg.