Dianekk

Join Date 07/2002

Microsoft updates???

How do I know when to update and when not to? My computer works fine right now and I have heard some real horror stories about Microsoft updates. Right now I have 4 critical waiting to download. I used to download them all, whether I needed them or not. Should I keep on downloading or just basically download what I think is necessary? What about the security downloads, are they all necessary. I know this isn't a Microsoft discussion board but I really don't know who else to ask and you all seem so know so much about computers so I am sorry if I am asking a question to the wrong people in the wrong place. Like I said, you people seem to know an awful lot about computers so I trust your input.

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WOM

Join Date 01/2002

+253

Flip a coin. I downloaded the SP1 and my machine messed up. I have not downloaded anymore updates because of it.

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well this is quite a conundrum.
sometimes an update will cause issues with speed of your computer or repair one thing while breaking another.
Should something be caused by an update you can be assured MS will release an update for the update... whew...
for your part you should pay attention to any noticable changes after an update, and if something goes wrong you can uninstall it.

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The only update available at this time that is known to be bad for some machines is 811493...all the others 'seem' to be ok..........

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I must be lucky, because I can't recall any serious problems I've had with updating, and I install every updates, even ones I know I don't need. I guess it's like that Russian game with the gun.

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I have never had any serious problems caused from downloading updates updates from Windows Update page. The only updates I don't download is the non-critical stuff I don't care about such as .NET framework.

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I download all critical updates, and I also downloaded SP1, and I haven't had any problems with any of 'em.

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Leo the Lion

Join Date 05/2003

+100

i download all the critical updates.........and the only one i have ever had any problems with was 811493 which i uninstalled but a few weeks ago Microsoft removed it and updated it. I installed the update and its fine now.

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I never had any problems until I Downloaded Windows Intel Graphic Driver update and my XP crashed,(I got the BLUE SCREEN of DEATH!) After a complete reinstall I stopped updating. >

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I downloaded the SP1 and my machine messed up. I have not downloaded anymore updates because of it

ditto ...what WOM said

[Message Edited]

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Thanks for the help. That answers a lot of questions. This time they have a driver to update for the modem (noncritical update), so I was hesitating on that one and some of the others that did not pertain to my computer usage. I appreciate all the input.

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on a side note... AVOID their driver updates for devices like video cards and network cards. Instead get these from the PC OEM or manufacture of the card.

Modem should be ok... after all most likely you used a MS driver in the first place.

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I agree with Static for the most part, except the modem updates. I tried to install Microsoft's third party Video Driver "Intel", Modem Driver and sound driver. And, my operating system crashed and I had to reinstall my whole system. Now, the only drivers I install are Internet Explorer or Operating system drivers. Like Static said, AVOID ALL their third party drivers and visit your manufacturers website to see if they are truly compatible. I found that the modem driver that Microsoft offered for my WinXP was for Win98 not WinXP. And a soundblaster MDW? driver that soundblaster does not reccommend at all. Of course, Microsoft will refuse any liability for third party drivers offered at their site. This should tell one something about the reliability of such drivers.

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paxx

Join Date 03/2001

I don't download any updates. If my computer works I'm happy and I don't mess with it.

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Yeah, but with updates, it can work better!

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And the updates fix security problems. Updating is an important part of system security.

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Ditto TechCat... just avoid the drivers.

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I downloaded the new Microsoft updates yesterday and my Outlook Express would not work. Well, it worked, but it took 3 minutes or so for it to open. I tried deleting the updates through Add/Remove programs, and still the same problem. So I had to do a System Restore to get the Outlook Express to open correctly. Figure that one out??? Now I am scared to download any of the updates. Any suggestions? Call Microsoft? I hate not having the security updates added to my computer.

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paxx

Join Date 03/2001

I think security is overrated. I don't run a server, it's not mission critical. Besides I have a good firewall, and I do read about the most leathal security threats and there are usually ways to fix them without requiring any Microsft updates.

I used to download every update, but it messed up my system. So, no more. I fix when it needs fixing, otherwise I leave it alone.

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I too Downloaded Sp1 and got the blue screen had to reinstall windows and my drivers...that seems to the only prblem i had with Ms updates..

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Went back and reread the thread again It was 811493 update that did the job on my E-mail. That was the number of one of the two updates I had to delete to get things working again. It evidently just doesn't like my machine. Both times I downloaded it, the same thing happened. My Outlook Express would come up but it took 5 minutes or longer. Wonder why it works for some people and not others?? Wonder if it is something I have different in my settings that is screwing up that download for me. Maybe I wonder too much.

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as similar as computers are to each other they really have such vast possibilities in the array of configurations, that make it very difficult to creat a program that runs a specific way on every computer regardless of drivers being used or other installed software. Elimanating all possible conflicts would require us all to use the same setup. exact same hardware exact same drivers and installed software.
From time to time each of us may find we can not use certain drivers or software products simply because they do not work for us.
I disagree with some others here that you don't really need to worry about updates. You did your job by removing the one culprit, but keep patching those holes. Should an update go bad again in the future just remove it or system restore.

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In response to #20, Dianekk, I read somewhere that the virus scanner should be disabled when installing 811493. After I had the same slowdown problem, I un-installed 811493 and then downloaded the supposedly fixed version (with my virus scanner disabled) and it worked just fine.

Don't know if it was the update to 811493 or the virus scanner being disabled, but it may be worth trying.

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Thank you all for the information. Sorry I didn't thank you right away. I couldn't get back here because work was piling up. But wanted to make sure you knew I appreciate your help. These computers get frustrating sometimes with all the updates and trying to keep on top of things, especially with all the nuts out there that have nothing better to do than sabatoge computers! I am afraid if I get an update it will screw things up but also worried about not getting one and having bigger problems. Thanks again.

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The only problem Ive ever had with MS updating is when the gave me a new driver for my sound card...Which totally messed it up. And I had to rollback the driver...Other than that, no problems... As far as security, yes, I too think its overrated...but download em anyway. For proggy run speed and bootup time... (Semi-different issue) I use System Mechanic Industrial edition. My laptop used to take >5mins to boot up...I ran the regestry cleaner and invalid shortcut remover now it boots up in <1min.

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This sucks. I just got an automatic update for 2 more Microsoft updates with different numbers and I did go ahead and get them. Security updates to keep someone from accessing your machine. Same crap, my Email would not come up at all this time and I couldn't even GET ANY Email at all. Says my host server is shot or something like that. What the crap is up with this? I never had problems with updates before. I had to do a system restore again to get them out of my computer as a "remove programs from computer" will not get all the junk out. The one thing I did do different recently, is I put up a firewall on my Road Runner a week ago, but would that do anything as far as updates? That didn't keep me from getting Emails. I am no computer whiz when it comes to this kind of stuff. Sure would appreciate any input on why I am not able to do the updates. Like I said, it has never been a problem before.

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