Automatic Updates behavior on Windows XP?

[Pat]

If I enable Automatic Updates for WinXP, it will only install CRITICAL updates, right?

IOW, it won't update IE6 to IE7, or WMP10 to WMP11, for example?

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

If I enable Automatic Updates for WinXP, it will only install CRITICAL updates, right?

Wrong. It will install everything. If you don't want that, then do
your updates manually around the middle of every month.

 

[Vanguard]

If I enable Automatic Updates for WinXP, it will only install CRITICAL
updates, right?

IOW, it won't update IE6 to IE7, or WMP10 to WMP11, for example?

Enabling it says nothing of how you configured it. By "enabling it",
does that mean you have it only notify you of updates (the best method
despite what Microsoft claims), notify and download but not install the
updates, or download and install the updates without asking you (the
absolutely worst choice)?

- Automatic = download and install without prompt. That means you
delegate complete authority to Microsoft to alter your host whenever
they feel like it.

- Download and then prompt. That means your host gets taxed with
updates which maybe you don't want yet plus they may occur when YOU want
to use your own host, like playing a game or video editing.

- Notify only (don't download and don't install). That is the safest
choice. You decide when to tax your host with the download(s). You
decide by selecting Custom (whereas Express leaves you blind) as to
which, if any, updates you will apply plus provides you will a blurb and
further info link to understand what the update is for.

Even if only critical updates were automatically downloaded (and
optionally installed without prompt), how will you know what Microsoft
claims is critical is really critical to you? You're going to let
Microsoft deem what is critical for your particular setup? If you are
going to blindly allow Microsoft to make changes then why do you care if
they are deemed critical or not regardless of whether or not they apply
to you?

Do you also use Express Install when you visit the Windows Update site,
or do you use the Custom selection so you can actually see and make your
own choice as what to download and install?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
"notifies you when critical updates are available"

 

[Doug Knox - [MS-MVP]]

It depends. IE 7 is considered a major Security update, vs. IE 6, so it is
considered critical. Drivers and other software updates may considered
recommended, unless there is a known security exploit that is addressed in
the update.

 

[Pat]

- Automatic = download and install without prompt. That means you
delegate complete authority to Microsoft to alter your host whenever
they feel like it.

No, no, no! I certainly don't want that. But I do understand how it works.

- Download and then prompt. That means your host gets taxed with
updates which maybe you don't want yet plus they may occur when YOU want
to use your own host, like playing a game or video editing.

The selection is,
"Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them"

How do I CHOOSE to install the updates? Is there a list somewhere that I have to access?
Or do I browse to a directory on my hard drive? Where are the updates placed?

- Notify only (don't download and don't install). That is the safest
choice. You decide when to tax your host with the download(s). You
decide by selecting Custom (whereas Express leaves you blind) as to
which, if any, updates you will apply plus provides you will a blurb and
further info link to understand what the update is for.

The selection is
"Notify me but don't automatically download or install them"

Do I get a popup when browsing? How does this work?


From Windows Update, I understand how Custom install works, and from WU I understand how
Automatic works. I'm trying to understand how all the different modes work.

I do understand how important it is to be selective - for example, I've read about
problems with the most recent .NET updates.

Thanks,

Pat

 

[Pat]

Ah, never mind, I see it. There's an icon in the task bar that tells me if an update is
available.

BTW, it is only updating existing components. It is not "upreving" components - that it,
it is not updating IE6 to IE7, or WMP10 to WMP11.

Pat

 

[Pat]

... :

The selection is
"Notify me but don't automatically download or install them"

O.K, what this selection does is this:

You get a popup when updates are available. You click the popup, and you get a list of
updates.
Any update you select is only DOWNLOADED when you click the Download button.

The updates are installed when you shut down the computer.

You know, this is probably the best way to install updates, because when you shut down,
Windows kills all unnecessary processes, then installs the updates.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

If I enable Automatic Updates for WinXP, it will only install CRITICAL updates, right?

No, if you leave it set to "Automatic," you'll get everything offered,
whether you want it or not.

IOW, it won't update IE6 to IE7, or WMP10 to WMP11, for example?

Yes, it will.

I really don't like to see people use the Automatic Updates, unless
they take precautions to ensure that no patches get installed without
the user's express permission, given only after he/she has researched
each individual patch to ensure that it applies and is necessary. Due
to the nearly infinite number of possible combinations of hardware,
device drivers, and applications on any given PC, it's impossible to
guarantee that all patches will be 100% harmless. In a very small
number of cases, patches and hotfixes can cause conflicts or other
problems. So, as with all changes to an OS, caution is advised.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, all "Critical" updates
should be installed. These address serious issues that can affect a
large number of computers. There will be only rare occasions when a
Critical update will not apply. Of special importance are those that
address security vulnerabilities. If people had installed the available
critical updates in July of 2003, the Blaster and Welchia worms would
not have spread throughout the Internet the following month. In the
unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control
Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to
uninstall the troublesome hotfix.

For the "Recommended" updates, simply study the information
provided to see if these updates apply in your specific situation. If
they don't apply, or you're not experiencing the problem(s) addressed,
you needn't install them. For instance, I have no use for WinXP's
MovieMaker, so I ignore any updates to it. Again, in the unlikely
event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's
Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the
troublesome hotfix.

In general, though, I've found it best *not* to download the
"Driver" updates from Windows Update, unless they're for a hardware
device originally manufactured by Microsoft. Device drivers provided
by each component's manufacturer's web site are likely to perform
better and offer more features than will the watered-down, "generic"
drivers that those manufacturers provide to Microsoft for distribution
via Windows Update.


--

Bruce Chambers

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