Windows Update Pros Cons

[Piotr Konieczny]

First of all, greetings, this is my first post to your group.

Second, my question - is updating WinXP safe?

I have WinXP version 5.1 Build 2600 and I had it installed on my comp
for 10 months now. First thing I did was to turn auto-update off since I
heard some updates wreaked havoc with the system. Since then I installed
lots of other software afterwards, including various manual drivers -
like NVidia Detonators, graph/sound codeds, antivir/firewall stuff with
many autoupdates and so on. Everything works FINE, and I am happy with
the comp setup as it is. But...

After the recent scare of worms replicating through the security holes I
began to wonder if my soft (Norton Firewall/AV) protects me against it,
and if not, should I finally auto-update?

So, is it really possible that autoupdate can do something bad to my
comp? Will I need to reinstall drivers/codecs/anything?

Tnx for your help


--
Prokonsul Piotrus aka Piotr Konieczny

"Lennier, get us the hell out of here."
"Initiating 'getting the hell out of here' maneuver."
-- Ivanova and Lennier in Babylon 5:"The Hour of the Wolf"

/\ /\ /\
|| || || /\____________ _______
__ _||_||_||//-------------\/--------\_________
|\______||______/ || || || | | | | \___/ \
|| || | ---------------| | | | |___ |
||______||______\________________| |_____| | |___\___/
|/ || || || || \_____|_|/ |__|__/
|| || ||
\/ \/ \/

 

[Paul Smith]

First of all, greetings, this is my first post to your group.

Second, my question - is updating WinXP safe?

Leaving it certainly isn't safe. Security updates should be installed
pronto in my opinion.

Put it on for auto-update, best solution, again you don't have to install
any of it, as it does ask you for permission as to what to install unless
you set it to completely automatic, it's more of a reminder.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
http://www.smirnov.demon.co.uk/
http://www.doom3portal.com/ A Doom 3 fansite.

*Replace nospam with smirnov to reply by e-mail*

 

[Mike P]

Hello!
This is only my opinion but here goes,I would leave
windows auto update turned off some updates DO cause
problems, example I have an HP computer and service pack1
was out for about two weeks before it was found out that
it is incapatable with HP's partion, without a patch from
HP installed first if auto update was turned on and I
used system restore I would have had to reformat. Your
anti-virus and firewall will stop most problems
(worms).DO use windows update but wait a week or two
after a release and on the update discription their is a
hyperlink "read more" click on it and read. Updates are
a "one fix cure all" and may not apply to the average
home user with a single computer.Q811493 is another
example it stops a person from elevating their user
account but this patch "does" cause problems with some
people and it is desinged for an office type setting with
several computers on a network do you need it I doubt it,
does it slow your computer down? YES Maybe.However keep
your A/V auto update on.
I hope this makes sence to you Later

 

[@drian]

First of all, greetings, this is my first post to your group.

Second, my question - is updating WinXP safe?

I would leave auto updating turned off. For two reasons:

a) On dial-up, you can be there for hours downloading sizeable updates you
may not need. I just wish MS would release SP2 as most of the updates seem
to have SP2 in the name, inferring there will be an SP2 at some point

b) Some of the updates can cause stability problems. I know that, I
installed a few and without knowing which one, XP became erratic.
Eventually I installed it, put SP1 back on and left alone.

It's up to you, obviously. If you are on a broadband connection, I'd be
more inclined to perform some of the critical updates, but if on dial-up or
nothing at all, then you probably don't have an immediate rush to update.

@drian.

 

[kurttrail]

First of all, greetings, this is my first post to your group.

Second, my question - is updating WinXP safe?

As safe as playing russian roulette with your computer.

I have WinXP version 5.1 Build 2600 and I had it installed on my comp
for 10 months now. First thing I did was to turn auto-update off
since I heard some updates wreaked havoc with the system. Since then
I installed lots of other software afterwards, including various
manual drivers - like NVidia Detonators, graph/sound codeds,
antivir/firewall stuff with many autoupdates and so on. Everything
works FINE, and I am happy with the comp setup as it is. But...

After the recent scare of worms replicating through the security
holes I began to wonder if my soft (Norton Firewall/AV) protects me
against it, and if not, should I finally auto-update?

It's more important to keep your Norton up-to-date, than XP.

So, is it really possible that autoupdate can do something bad to my
comp?

Yes, it's a matter of probability rather than possibility.

Will I need to reinstall drivers/codecs/anything?

Maybe that hole damn software environment, if you're really unlucky.

Tnx for your help

For a more "Common Sense" approach for keeping you computer secure see:

http://microscum.com/comsense/

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei!"

 

[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

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

Automatic Updates Give XP Users New Headaches:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,11975,00.asp

Just my 2¢ worth- Larry

On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 23:31:53 +0100, Piotr Konieczny

|First of all, greetings, this is my first post to your group.
|
|Second, my question - is updating WinXP safe?
|
|I have WinXP version 5.1 Build 2600 and I had it installed on my comp
|for 10 months now. First thing I did was to turn auto-update off since I
|heard some updates wreaked havoc with the system. Since then I installed
|lots of other software afterwards, including various manual drivers -
|like NVidia Detonators, graph/sound codeds, antivir/firewall stuff with
|many autoupdates and so on. Everything works FINE, and I am happy with
|the comp setup as it is. But...
|
|After the recent scare of worms replicating through the security holes I
|began to wonder if my soft (Norton Firewall/AV) protects me against it,
|and if not, should I finally auto-update?
|
|So, is it really possible that autoupdate can do something bad to my
|comp? Will I need to reinstall drivers/codecs/anything?
|
|Tnx for your help

Any advise is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.

 

[cimex]

That is some of the soundest Windows-related advice ever. Thanks!

 

[Piotr Konieczny]

Much tnx to all who have responded so far (and to those that may yet .
Russian rulette, yes, I was afraid of that...

I will read some more then, especially about the Critical updates.

Next question - if I run the WinUpdate from my comp manually, will it
ask me before each update, mentioning if it is Critical/other and
providing a name to Google/link to read more about it?

What is the best way to download updates - by soft update or downloading
them manually from MS site (which one)?

Tnx again


--
Prokonsul Piotrus aka Piotr Konieczny

"Lennier, get us the hell out of here."
"Initiating 'getting the hell out of here' maneuver."
-- Ivanova and Lennier in Babylon 5:"The Hour of the Wolf"

/\ /\ /\
|| || || /\____________ _______
__ _||_||_||//-------------\/--------\_________
|\______||______/ || || || | | | | \___/ \
|| || | ---------------| | | | |___ |
||______||______\________________| |_____| | |___\___/
|/ || || || || \_____|_|/ |__|__/
|| || ||
\/ \/ \/

 

[Jim Macklin]

I miss that show.

I use the manual Windows Update (Start/Windows Update)
because I'm on a dialup connection and I want to select the
updates and may do them one at a time rather than the
batches that MS sometimes does.

To see what Windows Update looks like, just click on Start
and then Windows Update. You will see critical and
recommended updates and other driver updates. You can read
more about each update and download and install the ones you
want. I will usually install critical updates and think
about recommended updates if there is a problem addressed
that I have noted. I have had trouble with driver updates
and usually make a note of such and then check with Intel or
such other site to get the driver downloads.


| Much tnx to all who have responded so far (and to those
that may yet .
| Russian rulette, yes, I was afraid of that...
|
| I will read some more then, especially about the Critical
updates.
|
| Next question - if I run the WinUpdate from my comp
manually, will it
| ask me before each update, mentioning if it is
Critical/other and
| providing a name to Google/link to read more about it?
|
| What is the best way to download updates - by soft update
or downloading
| them manually from MS site (which one)?
|
| Tnx again
|
|
| --
| Prokonsul Piotrus aka Piotr Konieczny
|
| "Lennier, get us the hell out of here."
| "Initiating 'getting the hell out of here' maneuver."
| -- Ivanova and Lennier in Babylon 5:"The Hour of the Wolf"
|
| /\ /\ /\
| || || || /\____________ _______
| __
_||_||_||//-------------\/--------\_________
| |\______||______/ || || || | | | |
\___/ \
| || || | ---------------| | | |
|___ |
| ||______||______\________________| |_____| |
|___\___/
| |/ || || || || \_____|_|/ |__|__/
| || || ||
| \/ \/ \/
|

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have WinXP version 5.1 Build 2600 and I had it installed on my comp
for 10 months now. First thing I did was to turn auto-update off since I
heard some updates wreaked havoc with the system. Since then I installed
lots of other software afterwards, including various manual drivers -
like NVidia Detonators, graph/sound codeds, antivir/firewall stuff with
many autoupdates and so on. Everything works FINE, and I am happy with
the comp setup as it is. But...

After the recent scare of worms replicating through the security holes I
began to wonder if my soft (Norton Firewall/AV) protects me against it,
and if not, should I finally auto-update?

I do not care for Auto-Update, and prefer to have just the updates that
I can see are relevant to *me*. I would put on Service Pack 1 - but
spend the $10 on getting a full CD of it, or if you have Broadband,
download the Network (ie full) version - 130 MB - rather than the
'express one.

You really must though get the major security updates. AT very least
the Q824146 one that guards against the vulnerability of he Blast worm;
but preferably all the ones that are not of the sort where 'an attacker
would have to be able to connect'. And get the consolidated upgrades
for IE and OE

 

[Piotr Konieczny]

You really must though get the major security updates. AT very least
the Q824146 one that guards against the vulnerability of he Blast worm;
but preferably all the ones that are not of the sort where 'an attacker
would have to be able to connect'.

Even though I use up to date AV/Firewall soft?

And get the consolidated upgrades
for IE and OE

Recently I switched to Mozilla so I dont think I need those anymore.

Which reminds me of another problem. Even though I made sure IE/OE are
not 'the preffered mail client/browser' anymore and Mozilla is, some
soft (like ICQ) still opens IE/OE when I click on in their msg box. Do I
need to reinstall such soft and/or uninstall IE/OE to convice all my
apps to use Mozilla?


Tnx again



--
Prokonsul Piotrus aka Piotr Konieczny

"Lennier, get us the hell out of here."
"Initiating 'getting the hell out of here' maneuver."
-- Ivanova and Lennier in Babylon 5:"The Hour of the Wolf"

/\ /\ /\
|| || || /\____________ _______
__ _||_||_||//-------------\/--------\_________
|\______||______/ || || || | | | | \___/ \
|| || | ---------------| | | | |___ |
||______||______\________________| |_____| | |___\___/
|/ || || || || \_____|_|/ |__|__/
|| || ||
\/ \/ \/

 

[Alex Nichol]

Even though I use up to date AV/Firewall soft?

Yes. You might get a moment when the firewall went on the blink for a
moment. Recently a friend had BLAST get through in the few moments when
he was not protected in the course of updating his.

 

[Larry(LJL269)]

On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 19:40:37 -0500, "kurttrail"

|For a more "Common Sense" approach for keeping you computer secure see:
|
|http://microscum.com/comsense/

My opinion is summed-up by last paragraph:

Don't be a volunteer MicroGuinea-Pig! Let the
MicroMorons, that have faith in MS's Automatic Updates,
be the volunteer Beta-Testers for YOU!

Any advise is my attempt to contribute more than I have received but I can only assure you that it works on my PC. GOOD LUCK.