xp patches

[Linda]

I am confused re: XPHome Update downloads. Here's the
dilemma. When I read up on what a patch is supposed to do
it may say "only install if you experience this exact
symptom". I may not know if I have this problem or will
have. The question is "Will it hurt anything if I
download it anyway. Regardless if I'm experiencing the
problem or not. Windows Update says I need to install 32
updates. 24 of which are critical. I never know if these
updates apply to my computer or not. When they check your
computer from the Windows Update site to check your
computer for needed updates, does the program take into
consideration the entire configuration of your machine?
Any information anyone has gleaned will be greatly
appreciated.

 

[ras]

You are correct. Windows Update recommends the updates for your computers
configuration. Generally you are going to want every Critical Update. It
takes some time but the best way to download these updates is one or two at
a time and then reboot two or three times afterwards to make sure they have
not caused problems. If you come across one of the updates that states
"only install if you experience this exact symptom...." then install it if
you think you will use it. Some are updates to programs you might not ever
use.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am confused re: XPHome Update downloads. Here's the
dilemma. When I read up on what a patch is supposed to do
it may say "only install if you experience this exact
symptom". I may not know if I have this problem or will
have. The question is "Will it hurt anything if I
download it anyway. Regardless if I'm experiencing the
problem or not. Windows Update says I need to install 32
updates. 24 of which are critical. I never know if these
updates apply to my computer or not.

The entries in Windows update have a brief description - and usually a
Read More button to find out, or a reference number like Q123456 which
you can look up at
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;123456

I suggest two types you should be able to leave on a stand-alone machine
are those that make explicit reference to Servers; or those that say 'an
attacker would need to have access/be able to logon': those relate to
corporate systems that need to be able to prevent a possibly disaffected
employee getting at things he is not supposed to.

If you start with the major roll-up upgrade 826983 and the consolidated
one for IE - 824145 then you should not find many other updates needed