bcool, Tech
I downloaded/installed 8 MS updates from the MS update site today - KB953839, KB890830, KB951066, KB952954, KB953838, KB950974, KB951072, KB952287. No problems experienced either with the download or the installation, which was done with 4 of Avast 4.8.1229's shields (Standard, Web, Network & Mail) running. Firewall is ZA 7.0.483.000
Can't comment about automatic download - always initiate updates manually so I know what is being done when.