Windows Vista Ultimate Update Service

[Mike]

I've heard some are having problems with certain updates. Is it a good or
bad idea to use the auto-update service? Are there certain updates to steer
clear of?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Charlie42]

I've heard some are having problems with certain updates. Is it a good or
bad idea to use the auto-update service? Are there certain updates to
steer clear of?

It is a very bad idea to stop the update service! Keeping your system
updated with the latest patches and fixes is vital to securing your computer
and get bugs fixed.

If you should run into problems with certain updates, take it from there,
and look for help on the web or in groups like this one.

Charlie42

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Turning off automatic updates is a bad idea, and no there have been no
updates that have caused widespread problems. As with all things, some
updates have caused problems for some but for the vast majority of us it has
been smooth sailing.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've heard some are having problems with certain updates. Is it a good or
bad idea to use the auto-update service? Are there certain updates to steer
clear of?

I recommend setting it to alert you of new updates, but not installing
them automatically. I don't install many of the optional updates. And
especially don't install driver updates, which should always be gotten
from the hardware manufacturer's web site, not from Microsoft.

 

[Mike]

Auto update on. Alert only. Thanks for the advice.

Mike

 

[Paul Randall]

I've heard some are having problems with certain updates. Is it a good or
bad idea to use the auto-update service? Are there certain updates to
steer clear of?

Thanks,

Mike

As others have said, some people have problems with auto updates and others
don't. The sad thing is that there is no way for you to know how they will
affect your machine. I think some people download them automatically but
then install them manually, one at a time, setting up restore points so that
they can hopefully undo one that causes problems, assuming the problem
doen't wait a month or two to rear its ugly head.

I think you should read what others are doing, try out various methods, and
decide on how much time and effort you want to put into it. Some people are
very strict in separating data from programs that have to be installed, so
that they can do periodic full images of the programs (which can be quickly
recovered) and incremental backup of data. Then they just let auto update
do its thing.

-Paul Randall