Vista - Must computer be turned on at scheduled time for Windows Update to download updates?

In “Windows Update” I have selected the recommended option of “install updates automatically” and left the timing at the default of “Every day at 3:AM.” I typically shut down my computer every night, so it is not running at 3AM. After my computer is turned on will I still get the Windows Update downloads? Will they install automatically at some point?
I am running Vista Home Premium 64bit on a Dell XPS 435MT.

Yes your computer needs to be turned on. If it's not, and you don't update manually, it will simply wait until you are powered on at 3am. And, if you are never powered on at 3am, you will never update.

Don,

Go to Windows Update, click Change Settings and set the time that suit you.

Thanks Zoloft and Martee. I'll make that change.

Another chenge you can make is to get windows to inform you when there is an update ready instead of automatically updating. This will allow you to review the updates instead of blindly installing them.

I personally have windows update set to NOTIFY ONLY, and it checks once a day atleast =)

I hate programs just downloading updates on their own without me knowing and that includes windows.

As for myself, I just manually check once a day. It's all about personal preference.

Thanks again for your responses. When using Windows XP I had it set up so that Microsoft would inform me about downloads and then I would decide which ones I wanted. I took all of the security-related ones, but passed on ones that had nothing to do with my software or hardware. I think I'll revert back to that approach given your comments. I heard some horror stories about Genuine Advantage that originally motivated me to not let Microsoft automatically download & install updates. While I was running a legal version of Windows, I was concerned that I, too, might experience some of those difficulties. And who knows when the next screwy, problematic download is on its way? Thanks again.

A little bit of overkill. There is no need for checking that often as updates are released on a schedule, the second Tuesday of the each month. Occasionally there is an update or two that will show up off-schedule but not often, and when there is it is usually posted on forums all over the place.

Couldn't agree more with this, especially if it comes to a driver update through WU. I have lost track of the number of times over the years where I have seen someone who's system became unusable after installing one. Best practice when WU offers a driver update is to go to the manufacturer's site and see what they have available and check it against what you currently have installed.

Here's an idea, just leave the computer on all the time. It doesn't use that much power -_-