How do i

[Michelle]

Hi can anyone tell me how i know what updates to install
through automatic updates as i am a new user and do not
really know what i am doing

 

[Juggy]

It is recommended you should install all security updates.
Other than security updates you can install updates for
Internet explorer , windows media player and directx ( if
your playing games).

 

[Mike Kolitz]

Unless you have a reason not to install a particular update, just install
all of the updates that Automatic Updates downloads for you.

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup and Deployment

Remember to check Windows Update often,
and apply the patches marked as Critical!
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

 

[Jim Macklin]

Install the critical updates, install most of the
recommended updates IF after reading the description you see
that it applies to you and your system.
The driver updates do cause problems because the update scan
software sometimes mis-reads the computer and will install
the wrong driver. This was a problem with an Intel driver
for hard drive storage a year or two ago with W98 and for a
while this summer I was getting a note to install a Intel
modem driver update but it was the wrong driver and I didn't
install it. After a week or two, MS quit suggesting the
update, I presume they fixed heir problem.


| Hi can anyone tell me how i know what updates to install
| through automatic updates as i am a new user and do not
| really know what i am doing

 

[lionerooskie]

Hi can anyone tell me how i know what updates to install
through automatic updates as i am a new user and do not
really know what i am doing

Generally it is a good idea to install all *Critical* updates.
These updates usually plug security holes and/or major bugs.

lr

 

[Ian & Lorraine]

Hi can anyone tell me how i know what updates to install
through automatic updates as i am a new user and do not
really know what i am doing

As others have just said, the automatic updates/windows update critical
updates are a very good thing. Since you are a "new user" as you say, I'd
like to just add that if you ever receive an email message claiming to be
from Microsoft, with a "patch" as an attachment, immediately delete it.
There are a lot of these fake Microsoft emails currently bouncing around out
there; they are viruses.

.....Coincidentally, I JUST received one of these fake Microsoft emails as I
was typing this post!

Regards,
Ian.

 

[cimex]

I take the reverse view:
Install all critical/security updates, and, unless you need the others, stay
away from them. Every day, this newsgroup gets at least ten complaints of
varied problems resulting from updates. Some have had their Spanish Windows
XP turned to French! I myself lost the ability to shut down my computer. Get
the Automatic Updates, but, do not allow them to install automatically. This
gives you a chance to make a decision about installing an update, while
receiving all critical updates in a timely fashion:

Start
Control Panel
System
Automatic Updates tab
Settings: "Download the updates automatically and notify me..."
OK

 

[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

 

[Mike]

I suggest that you only install ONE critical update at a
time,and wait a day or two to see if it has a negative
affect on your computer before installing another one.
That way is is easier to pinpoint which one may be
causing a problem.

 

[Tom Fahey]

Except that Automatic Updates only brings the security updates and critical
updates. It doesn't provide those wonderous things like Messenger 4.7
through the automatic process. For that, you still need to manually go
through Windows Update.

 

[cimex]

Thanks.

Except that Automatic Updates only brings the security updates and critical
updates. It doesn't provide those wonderous things like Messenger 4.7
through the automatic process. For that, you still need to manually go
through Windows Update.