Which Windows updates do you really need?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Max
  • Start date Start date
M

Max

Dear readers,

I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
snooping in your PC'!?
Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?

Thanks, Max.
 
Max said:
Dear readers,

I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
snooping in your PC'!?
Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
Click to expand...

Get the Microsoft Update critical security updates. Read the
descriptions of the others, and act accordingly: it's not rocket science.
 
Max said this on 1/8/2009 12:14 PM:
Dear readers,

I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
snooping in your PC'!?
Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?

Thanks, Max.
Click to expand...

I think your 'big brother' concerns are ill founded. But that asside,
I do all critical updates and maybe hardware updates. Its the optional
updates that I question heavily. They are optional for a reason.
 
Thanks for the responses.

Yet, it remains difficult for so many updates are marked as 'critical
security update'. Anyway I don't install those updates that relate to
hardware, functions etc. that I don't use & have switched off.

Max.
 
Critical updates
Software updates, depends
Driver updates, never unless for MS hardware
As for snooping that doesnt happen, unless you call the validation tool
snooping
 
You need the Critical Updates. The rest are up to you. Read the
descriptions and decide.
 
Max said:
Dear readers,

I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the
MS
website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away
from
snooping in your PC'!?
Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?

Thanks, Max.
Click to expand...
Since the only updates we are likely to see correct security issues, you
need all of them.
Jim
 
Max said:
Dear readers,

I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
snooping in your PC'!?
Click to expand...


In the overwhelming majority of cases, 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.


Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
Click to expand...

The Microsoft Knowledge Base articles pertaining to each hotfix/update
already contain that information; you just need to learn what you have
and use on your computer, and no one else can tell you that, as no one
else can see your computer.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Back
Top