Win XP Updates -- NON Security Related

[ll]

I am asking about Win XP updates that are _not_
security related.

With that many lines of code in XP, you can be certain
that there are bugs. That's just simple statistics.
Does MS also create patches for the more important
non-security-related bugs? If so, where are they?

I have looked on the MS website and cannot find
what I am looking for. A search of the website
turns up many links about updates. Typically
they will have subjects like:
"Get the latest _security_ updates _automatically_".
That is precisely what I am NOT looking for.
I do that already.

I want to review a list of available patches for
other issues. How do I do this?
Thanks.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Use the Custom option at Windows Updates. That will show you updates that
aren't security updates. Otherwise, most of the code updating, bug fixes,
etc., are contained in Service Packs, though HotFixes may be available.
AFAIK, the only way to find those last ones is to search the KB for info on
the "bug" you think needs fixing.

 

[ll]

Use the Custom option at Windows Updates.
That will show you updates that aren't
security updates.

That's not what I am talking about.
I'm not talking about running Windows Update
on a subject computer. In any form.

All "custom" does is get you an occasional
Optional Software patch, and -- rarely --
an Optional Hardware patch.

In both those infrequent cases those updates are
displayed only because MS has decided to show them
to you.

I'm a unix and network sys admin. I do this stuff
for a living for unix systems. Some of the patches
that are not security related would curl your hair,
if you know what components your computers use.

I just want to look at a list of all available patches
and decide what I, not MS, think is important for
my computers.

HotFixes may be available.

Perhaps that's what I'm looking for.
I'll search their website for that term.
Thanks.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Windows is not Unix. Not even close, <s>. Yes, there are any number of bugs
that have fixes, whether HotFixes, Registry edits, or other procedures that
you can do. But AFAIK, HotFixes, Service Packs, and Updates are the only
"patches" available. HotFixes are a category that MS uses to address
specific issues that generally do not apply to most systems, and MS has you
call to get them so they can keep track of how many times they're used,
under what conditions, for follow-up, etc.

 

[Andrew Murray]

Since most of the bugs in Windows *are* security related, this is obviously
where the priority lies....