On sketchy Internet connections, checking for software updates locks the UI

[tannerhelland]

On sketchy Internet connections, checking for software updates locks the UI

[tannerhelland]

Today I ran some tests while passing "INTERNET_FLAG_ASYNC" to InternetOpen - this forces the program to use asynchronous connections, which should theoretically have helped. It did help the interface not freeze up, but it leads to other errors (including total failure to download anything at times) so scratch that as a possible solution.

[tannerhelland]

FYI this describes the problem with attempted solution #1 in more detail: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/189850

[tannerhelland]

Here's a new solution - silently check for updates on program close. When the program is closed, unload everything possible, hide the main form, then perform the update check. If an update is found, set a flag in the .INI file, and the next time the software is run, notify the user. This would keep startup light and lean, and the program should still close just as quickly (at least perceptually).

Even better would be a silent download, but I'm hesitant to do that because it might appear questionable to a firewall or other program... needs more consideration.

[tannerhelland]

Forget all this messy stuff; an easier solution is to simply reduce the frequency of update checks. As of 63dea6f software update checks are only run once every 10 days, and I'll be modifying the Preferences dialog to make that user-editable.