>>>>Hi everybody,
>>>>
>>>>Just need to vent my frustration. I was working on a complex program, had ~ 10 different applications opened, then computer just re-started.
>>>>
>>>>I'm wondering if this is really an update or some virus.
>>>>
>>>>The more importantly, I'm guessing that my changes were not saved and I made a lot of them.... :(
>>>
>>>As Jerry Pournelle used to say, Save Early, Save Often.
>>>
>>>Check your Windows System and Application event logs for clues.
>>>
>>>Windows Update is almost certainly not to blame. Even if updates are applied while your session is open, it will ask your permission to restart. If you're not watching what you're doing and you click on "OK" in that dialog, well... Even if you do that, you'll get a regular logoff-type restart.
>>>
>>>If your computer doesn't have a UPS, another prime cause of problems like that is a brownout or power bump. This is likely if it was a sudden complete restart with no logoff, and the event logs don't point to something else.
>>
>>Al,
>>
>>Why I'm not unable to even bring this Windows Update dialog?
>
>Like I asked before, what do your event logs say?
>
>Malware is probably the most common cause of an inability to get to Windows/Microsoft Update, while you can still get to other sites.
>
>In another message you mention VirtualBox. If you're hosting a guest OS on your machine, that creates another layer of complication.

It's a bit depressing to look through all these error logs :(See attached pictures - I'm not sure why I'm seeing so many WMI errors.