H
Helen Arnoldus
Is it better to have Windows set to "automatic" or "download updates but let
me choose when to install them"?
me choose when to install them"?
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B
Bob I
I favor the second method myself.
G
Guest
Well here is the deal if it is your home pc and it is not "mission critical"
to your daily work then go ahead and let it update automatically. If however
the PC is your server or a machine that you rely on for work I would be more
carefull about what is loaded. Most of these updates would probably not
affect your programs but nothing is certain and I would ere on the side of
caution. Hope that helps.
to your daily work then go ahead and let it update automatically. If however
the PC is your server or a machine that you rely on for work I would be more
carefull about what is loaded. Most of these updates would probably not
affect your programs but nothing is certain and I would ere on the side of
caution. Hope that helps.
A
Alias
Helen said:Is it better to have Windows set to "automatic" or "download updates but let
me choose when to install them"?
I don't like either option. I prefer to do it manually at Windows Update.
B
Bruce Chambers
Helen said:Is it better to have Windows set to "automatic" or "download updates but let
me choose when to install them"?
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.
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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