Keeps prompting "OOo update available"

[normc]

Just downloaded and updated to v2.3.1. However, all applications (writer, calc ....) still show the downward pointing green arrow in upper right-hand corner with "OOo Update Available" bubble. Confirmed running v2.3.1 by clicking "About OpenOffice.org" under Help. What gives?

[jacobshm]

Me too. I reinstalled multiple times and I just gave up and left it alone.

[normc]

I'm running Vista home premium. U running the same, Jacob?

[jacobshm]

Yup. Any Luck?

[normc]

Still there. Not gonna do anything about it, just gonna leave well enough alone.

[tobnull]

I am getting the same thing, but I am using Windows Vista Home Premium. I actually download a couple of times and nothing still get the message every time. Guess it not a big deal since it says that I have 2.3.1. I have noticed one change it now tells me that automatic update is not available, did not say that until I did the update.

[normc]

Both Jacob and myself r using VHP as well.

I have also noticed the "automatic update is not available" msg. Kinda pain in the behind now, having to periodically manually check for updates. Oh well, at least it's still free !

[randommuz]

I am having the same issue on Vista Business.

[Hagar Delest]

Could it be an antivirus or firewall that prevents OOo to write the key in the registry ? Try to disable them and to reinstall (just a guess).

[normc]

Could it be an antivirus or firewall that prevents OOo to write the key in the registry ? Try to disable them and to reinstall (just a guess).

Have not tired it out yet. I'm running Vista Home Premium with:

- Windows Firewall
- Windows Defender
- Was using Norton but uninstalled it and switched to Avast Home a little while prior to this

What about you other guys?

I'm not using OOo heavily at the moment, so prob gonna leave well enough alone for the time being, or until someone comes up with a definitive solution.

[astowe32]

Hi All;

Has anyone been able to resolve this problem on Vista? I have tried to disable FW & AV and then uninstall/reboot/reinstall 2.3.1. OO works fine but In my case, keeps saying "Could not establish Internet connection to update23.services.openoffice.org" when using the Check for Updates. Internet is fine as are other network applications. When I travel to the host above it connects but redirects which is probably expected since I am using a browser and not auto update.

Is there a different update host that I can point to? I am pretty stumped with this little issue as it prevents Dict & Language pack additions also.

Thank in advance for suggestions.

Allen....

[floris v]

It is possible that Windows Defender doesn't allow OOo to change the registry and doesn't tell you about that.

[foxcole]

Have not tired it out yet. I'm running Vista Home Premium with:

- Windows Firewall
- Windows Defender
- Was using Norton but uninstalled it and switched to Avast Home a little while prior to this

NB: For ANY installation on any Windows OS, always, always disable all antivirus and other real-time protection software before you install. These commonly interfere with the registry and other system files, so the program is "broken" before you even use it. I can't emphasize this enough! Failing to do so causes more bizarre problems than you can imagine, just no telling when it will or won't.

[floris v]

NB: For ANY installation on any Windows OS, always, always disable all antivirus and other real-time protection software before you install. These commonly interfere with the registry and other system files, so the program is "broken" before you even use it. I can't emphasize this enough! Failing to do so causes more bizarre problems than you can imagine, just no telling when it will or won't.

That used to be sound advice. As I am lazy I don't normally do it anymore. The only software that I really couldn't possibly install with the antivirus on was Pharaoh. The install procedure just froze, leaving me clueless. I installed Word, all versions of OOo, Delphi and lots more without disabling any security software (well, I might disable Spybot resident next time because having to allow all those registry changes can be quite annoying).

[foxcole]

That used to be sound advice.

It still is for most people. As long as the OS uses the registry technology, antivirus programs can interfere with it. You might not see the effects right away or with programs you don't use very often... but I've seen people suddenly run into problems with their program settings (not OOo) and see some bizarre behavior with menus and other odd things happen, because they didn't know about disabling antivirus.

I personally rarely have to worry about it, because I use portable programs that don't need the registry for installation. They might use it for temporary functions, but then clean out all traces when they're done. So it doesn't matter if I have antivirus running when I "install" them... installation is just a matter of unzipping the files. That's how it should be, easy and clean.

[gandalf]

I also have run into the problem with the OOo update available message appearing each time that I start OpenOffice. One noteworthy difference is that when I check the version via help/about OpenOffice, it still shows 2.3.0, even though I have run the 2.3.1 install successfully (so the messages indicate) several times. Originally, I just followed the link from the OOo update message. When it appeared that this did not actually update (still showed 2.3.0), I removed OpenOffice via the control panel remove software, and then downloaded 2.3.1 from the OpenOffice site. Again, it appeared to install successfully, but upon starting OpenOffice Writer, the OOo update available message appeared, and help/about OpenOffice again shows 2.3.0. I am running MS Vista Home Premium Edition 6.0.6000.

[floris v]

Maybe it's a Vista problem then.

[007c]

I run Vista Basic, have used OOo for over a year and just started getting this problem with 2.3.1 , which means its a bug with OOo 2.3.1, not Vista. The notification can be disabled from inside OOo by unchecking the Tools-->Options-->Online Update option. A workaround until this is resolved is using the filehippo.com update checker ( udc.exe ). The program is located at the right side of the main page.

I would never recommend disabling your antivirus to install a program. This defeats the whole purpose of anti virus SW - to defend against running or installing a program that is infected. Doing so is like unfastening your seatbelt before you crash. If it was Windows Firewall you would be prompted to unblock, Windows Defender is for spy and adware so it has nothing to do with updates.

[floris v]

You can first run your antivirus to test the install file for viruses and disable antivirus when it doesn't spot anything (not completely safe). If you have to disable your firewall, simply unplug your network cable, a more sure way to prevent hackers from hijacking your system than a firewall. 8) Apart from that, how could I possibly disagree with you?
However, as I am not getting those annoying messages, and I have enabled autochecking for updates, it can't really be an OOo problem either, right?

[foxcole]

I would never recommend disabling your antivirus to install a program. This defeats the whole purpose of anti virus SW - to defend against running or installing a program that is infected. Doing so is like unfastening your seatbelt before you crash.

That's the fundamental fault of the Windows architecture and antivirus technologies. The thing "protecting" your system while you install is the very thing that breaks the installation. If you trust the site where you downloaded the file, then by all means disconnect from the Internet and disable antivirus. If you don't trust the site, then that's a choice you have to make. But I will repeat again, because of the way antivirus programs work (and because of the high likelihood of false positives) it may prevent the installer from creating everything necessary for the program to run correctly.

Of course, running OpenOffice Portable instead will avoid all problems with Windows registry entries because it never touches the registry.
http://portableapps.com/apps/office/openoffice_portable

If it was Windows Firewall you would be prompted to unblock

Firewalls only protect against Internet and network transactions. They can't see local programs like an antivirus program can.

[floris v]

Unless the install program wants to download updates or installation files from the net.

[randommuz]

I am running Vista Business Edition, I have tried disabling AVG Network Edition 7.5 during install, but OOo is still prompting me that an update is available. It is showing the version as 2.3.1 though.

[hjhood]

Another Vista Home Premium with same problem.

1. I have downloaded 2.4.1 twice now and both appeared to be a successful downloads.

2. Now the green download icon appears on the Writer screen and in the spreadsheet programs.

3. I click on the icon and it doesn't work because I already have a file 2.4.1:
"OpenOffice.org 2.4.1 is available.

The installed version is OpenOffice.org 2.4.

Note: Before downloading an update, please ensure that you have sufficient access rights to install it.
A password, usually the administrator's or root password, may be required."

4. Then to ensure things are alright I go to retrieve to check if I have all the updates and get new ones I get:
"Could not establish Internet connection to update24.services.openoffice.org"

I think I've got the update but will the update icon vanish? No! What gives?

[Hagar Delest]

Have you installed 2.4.1 after the download? I don't think the installer is run automatically.

[hjhood]

Hagar-
I thought it was a "load and go" routine since the Wizard indicated as much. But . . . I'll go back and reload 2.4.1 and see what the prompts say.
Regards - hjhood

[Hagar Delest]

I thought it was a "load and go" routine

I don't think so because OOo must be closed to run the installer (no patch system for OOo yet).So you should try to guess where OOo has put the new version installer and run it.

[randommuz]

I had the issue originally with version 2.3.1, but it wasn't happening for 2.4, but is happening again for 2.4.1. I have disabled the check for updates, but will try a few things tomorrow.

[johnj46]

I have exactly the same problem. I run vista home premium and downloaded the 2.4.1 update and installed it. I had to close Oo to do this and so went to the installation files and used "setup."
It seems to have installed the update but I can't see any difference but the version number remains at 2.4 so every time i start OO I get the "new updates available" message. I have tried re-installing it multiple times and disabled virus scanner whilst installing. I think the problem is just that the version number has not been updated.
It is anoying as I rely on the update message to keep my versions up to date.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, John.

[Hagar Delest]

Perhaps a key in the registry. Try to uninstall, clean the registry (CCleaner for example) and reinstall latest version.

[johnj46]

Thanks. Done that but still the same - I guess I have to put up with it until the next update and see what happens!
John.