Dell says Do NOT Update Windows XP!

[dc]

Just hung-up from confusing conversation with Dell
representative who INSISTED I do NOT update my Windows XP
via Microsoft's website automated update option. He was
very adament but refused to explain fully & only said
Dell receives many customer complaints stemming from
those updates. My question, Why then does the Updates
analyze my PC & displays list of suggested critical
security updates strongly recommended to protect it from
viruses?

Anyone with insight into this please respond. At this
point, he did not convince me to stop the updates.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You received poor advice from that so-called Dell tech.
Windows Updates are vital for the continued performance
and security of your PC. Those that have problems with
the updates likely have some sort of corruption with their
O/S to begin with. Windows Updates will not usually fix
a problematic operating system.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Just hung-up from confusing conversation with Dell
| representative who INSISTED I do NOT update my Windows XP
| via Microsoft's website automated update option. He was
| very adament but refused to explain fully & only said
| Dell receives many customer complaints stemming from
| those updates. My question, Why then does the Updates
| analyze my PC & displays list of suggested critical
| security updates strongly recommended to protect it from
| viruses?
|
| Anyone with insight into this please respond. At this
| point, he did not convince me to stop the updates.

 

[Rob Schneider]

What might be happening is that Microsoft provides driver updates, and
my experience with an accidental "upgrade" of a video driver for my
laptop resulted in failure. I was able to fix it easily though. I have
my doubts about the viability of getting driver updates via the
Microsoft service.

However, I have no reason to not accept the "critical updates and
service packs" and even the ones marked "Windows XP". For the latter I
don't take them unless I want/need. For former, I take them all.

If Dell really thinks that, then why did they include this abilty to get
updates in the software they licensed to you? Further, if they think
this, then they should be providing you with an updated version of
"Help" which removes this functionality.

I don't agree with their esteemed advice, but who knows?

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[Larry]

Are you sure he wasn't talking about drivers from the windows update page?
I'm just curious because I have made the mistake of using their drivers and
it wasn't any fun.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The Dell tech is mistaken if he meant not to install the Critical
Updates.
Driver updates on the other hand should come directly from the
hardware manufacturer.

Call Dell back and see if you get the same answer.
If you get the same answer, ask for a link on their website.
If Dell suggested no updates, there would certainly be a reference on
their website.
If the tech can not provide a reference, immediately ask for a
supervisor tom complain about the very dangerous advice given by a
Dell tech.

See also:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/update.htm

 

[Kevin Weilbacher]

As others have indicated, doing critical updates is fine via WU, but that's
all! Do NOT try to install the drivers nor the other window updates!

-kw

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

That particular Dell "technician" is an idiot. His outright
refusal to offer any explanation or technical details is evidence
enough. I'd have asked to speak with his supervisor, myself, if faced
with such a refusal.

That said:

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. Caution is advised.

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, 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, (and this might be what the Dell Tech was
thinking of, but he should have said so, if it was) 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

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Mike Trozzo]

You received poor advice from that so-called Dell tech.

<snip>.

This, boys and girls, is what happens when you outsource, just so you can
pay $1.50 an hour. He probably said his name was Mark (or whatever), but his
name was really Rajneesh.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

No, no, no. I've spoken with Rajneesh, and he's fairly sharp.
I'd bet the bad advice came from Ravi. ;-}

Iow, it doesn't matter where the technician is located; both
countries have more than their fair share of ineptitude. People are,
after all, people, where ever you go on the planet. Sadly.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Skorpion (CET)]

Greetings --

No, no, no. I've spoken with Rajneesh, and he's fairly sharp.
I'd bet the bad advice came from Ravi. ;-}

Iow, it doesn't matter where the technician is located; both
countries have more than their fair share of ineptitude. People are,
after all, people, where ever you go on the planet. Sadly.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

Unfortunately, in the realm of Support Technicians, especially "front line"
Techs, it will never be any better. The nature of the job causes high
turnover rates resulting in folks that haven't been on the job long enough to
actually learn the software/hardware they are intended to support. Hence,
scripts...

I don't even try to contact front-line support anymore.

In fact, I'll avoid any "call center" situation whenever possible.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Agreed. Anyone who does have sufficient technical knowledge to
actually be helpful can easily get a better paid job far away from the
call centers.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Roger Abell]

When not satisfied, ask for level two support.

 

[Guest]

just use a anti virus and you'll be fine from viruses..but then again it'll happen no matter what
Some updates are bad for ur PC. Even at corporate level..we don't update our reps laptops.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

That's a shockingly callous and careless attitude for a business
to take. I assume your firm won't be making the Fortune 50000 any
time soon.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

just use a anti virus and you'll be fine from viruses..but then

again it'll happen no matter what.

Some updates are bad for ur PC. Even at corporate level..we don't

update our reps laptops.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Bruce;
I had to look at it a few times since there is no comma "50000", just
how far down is that?
But similar to what I was thinking.
It would appear that he installs no updates at all, not a really good
across the board plan for success.
Laptops are usually moved around contributing to their being a major
security risk with the patches, but without the patches...