Windows updates: should I update?

[Dual Trace]

I inherited my son's computer and I am going to connect it to internet. My
son did not have it connected to internet and used it for games only. It
worked quite fine, but was time for a faster one, so I got his old machine
which is still pretty good: Compaq 2.8GHz, 2MRAM, etc., Windows XP SP2.

After reading about various kind of problems some updates can create, I am
reluctant to update.

What's your advice?

Thank you,
Dual Trace

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I inherited my son's computer and I am going to connect it to
internet. My son did not have it connected to internet and used it
for games only. It worked quite fine, but was time for a faster
one, so I got his old machine which is still pretty good: Compaq
2.8GHz, 2MRAM, etc., Windows XP SP2.

After reading about various kind of problems some updates can
create, I am reluctant to update.

What's your advice?

Going to be connected to the Internet?
Update.

 

[John]

I inherited my son's computer and I am going to connect it to internet. My
son did not have it connected to internet and used it for games only. It
worked quite fine, but was time for a faster one, so I got his old machine
which is still pretty good: Compaq 2.8GHz, 2MRAM, etc., Windows XP SP2.

After reading about various kind of problems some updates can create, I am
reluctant to update.

What's your advice?

Thank you,
Dual Trace

Most Windows updates are fixes for security problems. And most of them work
properly without causing any trouble. If you're putting the computer on
line, then all in all, you'd be better off to update, and to continue to
update as new ones become available.

-- John

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Set a system restore point and then update.

 

[Gerry]

John

Update.

What are the anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall arrangements?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[JS]

Do an image backup of the Windows partition and then update.
The image backup requires separate storage media (2nd partition on hard
drive or a second hard drive either internal or external)
This way if anything goes wrong you can get back to where you started from.

True Image (has a 15 day trial version also)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Norton Ghost
http://www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost12

JS

 

[Dual Trace]

I will install Kaspwrsky 7. Should I run first session of Windows update
before or after installing Kasper?
I know, once I have Kasper installed I will get more updates later anyway.
Thanks,
Dual Trace

 

[Gerry]

Sorry John. My post was intended for Dual Trace.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Before You Connect a New [or Used] Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html

Security FAQ & Checklist
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8463

 

[Gerry]

What are you going to do about anti-spyware and a firewall? You need a
reasonable level of protection before connecting to the internet!


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I inherited my son's computer and I am going to connect it to internet. My
son did not have it connected to internet and used it for games only. It
worked quite fine, but was time for a faster one, so I got his old machine
which is still pretty good: Compaq 2.8GHz, 2MRAM, etc., Windows XP SP2.

After reading about various kind of problems some updates can create, I am
reluctant to update.

What's your advice?

Running with software that does not have the latest fixes (many of
which are security-oriented) is foolhardy. Yes, an occasional update
does cause a problem and may have to be backed out, but this happens
very rarely. There's certainly risk either way, but not applying fixes
through fear of a problem is overreacting, and clearly the worse of
the two alternatives.

 

[GHalleck]

I inherited my son's computer and I am going to connect it to internet. My
son did not have it connected to internet and used it for games only. It
worked quite fine, but was time for a faster one, so I got his old machine
which is still pretty good: Compaq 2.8GHz, 2MRAM, etc., Windows XP SP2.

After reading about various kind of problems some updates can create, I am
reluctant to update.

What's your advice?

Thank you,
Dual Trace

By all means update. Do not do an Express update but a Custom one. This
allows the end-user to see what are the updates being proposed for the
computer. The important ones are security-related. One might want to
think about updates to Microsoft applications but should be wary of some
updates that are available for non-Microsoft products. Insofar as update
for hardware items, the better choice is to obtain them from the website
of their makers.