Here's how to permanently disable RealPlayer 8 (and RealPlayer 7) Updates:
Step 1:
Rename the directory: "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update"
to
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Updatex"
(You could also just delete this directory.)
Step 2:
Open RealPlayer. Under menu: View | Preferences, you will see that the Update tab has disappeared. Also try clicking Help | Check for Update -- it won't do anything.
So what's the catch? RealPlayer won't be able to download new codecs anymore for newer RealPlayer files.
Solution: Use Realplay8_upto_realvideo9 1.2 found here (Note: Part of the installation text is in Japanese, but it is very intuitive.):
http://202.102.234.148/soft/hnkknddown/Rea...up_Real9v12.exe
or try
http://202.102.234.148/soft/down1.asp?downid=1&id=1044
Edit: It appears that this might not completely disable updates in RealPlayer 8. You need to go one step further and rename
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Plugins\http3260.dll"
to
"xhttp3260.dll".
Now RealPlayer should never successfully check for an Update.