How do I know what updates to download?

[Andrea]

I just purchased a PC with Windows XP. Looking at the
Microsoft website, there are a ton of downloads, patches,
etc. How do I know which ones to download? Do I download
every single patch? Is it best to run the automatic
notification and download each recommended patch?

 

[purplehaz]

At the very least do all critical updates. (and imho, I would just go ahead
and do all the updates)
Also turn on your firewall right now, if its not on already.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I just purchased a PC with Windows XP. Looking at the
Microsoft website, there are a ton of downloads, patches,
etc. How do I know which ones to download? Do I download
every single patch? Is it best to run the automatic
notification and download each recommended patch?
.
I just went through the same thing; I downladed a few at

a time, starting with the Critical updates. to down load
tthem all at once could take over 5 hrs if using a dial-up
connection.

 

[Lem]

I just purchased a PC with Windows XP. Looking at the
Microsoft website, there are a ton of downloads, patches,
etc. How do I know which ones to download? Do I download
every single patch? Is it best to run the automatic
notification and download each recommended patch?

Do install all of the critical updates

Do not install any of the driver updates (if you really think you need a
new driver for a device, get it from the device manufacturer, not from
Microsoft)

Read the descriptons of the rest of the suggested updates. Some of the
them you obviously will not want or need -- like umpty-seven different
language packs or fixes for Microsoft applications that you don't have
installed. If you're not sure if you need something because you can't
figure out what it is: (a) don't install it blindly and (b) post back
here and ask about it.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I just purchased a PC with Windows XP. Looking at the
Microsoft website, there are a ton of downloads, patches,
etc. How do I know which ones to download? Do I download
every single patch? Is it best to run the automatic
notification and download each recommended patch?
.

DO NOT!!!! do what other posters advise,think for
yourself,many,many updates cause system problems, start
with the critical updates first and click on the "read
more" hyperlink and read the tech specs on the hotfix
many security updates are for an office environment with
other people who have access to your machine
Q811493,KB328310 and KB824141 are just a few,the security
holes these are suppose to fix can only be exploited
through direct access to your computer ie:cannot be
exploited remotely (they have to have their hands on your
keypad) do you need them at home NO,and Q811493 is known
to cause your computer to slooowwww down my advise is to
read what they are for and if they apply to you install
one at a time with at least two days in between to see if
you have a problem with it. a pain in the b_tt yes but if
you have problems its easier to trace down.And most
security risks can be cured by a third party firewall.
When Microsoft releases patches for patches that patch
the last patch it tells me that they are being released
to soon and to often.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Well, the old saw, "If it's not broke, don't fix it..." does often
apply to operating systems. 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 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.

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.

In general, 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

 

[mrblue]

DO NOT!!!! do what other posters advise,think for
yourself,many,many updates cause system problems, start
with the critical updates first and click on the "read
more" hyperlink and read the tech specs on the hotfix
many security updates are for an office environment with
other people who have access to your machine
Q811493,KB328310 and KB824141 are just a few,the security
holes these are suppose to fix can only be exploited
through direct access to your computer ie:cannot be
exploited remotely (they have to have their hands on your
keypad) do you need them at home NO,and Q811493 is known
to cause your computer to slooowwww down my advise is to
read what they are for and if they apply to you install
one at a time with at least two days in between to see if
you have a problem with it. a pain in the b_tt yes but if
you have problems its easier to trace down.And most
security risks can be cured by a third party firewall.
When Microsoft releases patches for patches that patch
the last patch it tells me that they are being released
to soon and to often.

How do you delete these updates?

 

[Alex Nichol]

I just purchased a PC with Windows XP. Looking at the
Microsoft website, there are a ton of downloads, patches,
etc. How do I know which ones to download? Do I download
every single patch?

If your machine does not have Service Pack 1 (look in Control Panel -
System to see if that is mentioned on the front page with the version
number), then start by getting that. I would recommend spending the $10
to get it on a CD, from
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/default.asp
and down at the bottom is the link to order it. Or if you have
broadband, download the 130 MB 'Network' version on the same page

Then having installed that, get the consolidated patch that came out
last month - reference is 826939 Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;826939
and get the 'Download 826939 package now' about a quarter way down, in
More Information, which is a single 9 MB download

Also get the consolidated update to Internet Explorer - at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx

It is currently the fifth item - Cumulative Security. . . Internet
Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 Q824145

The IE Sp1 itself was included in the XP SP1

That will reduce the further updates to manageable proportions.