Manual Windows updates, what do you update?

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#1

This question was prompted by a conversation I had with someone earlier today. I found the question interesting, so I thought I garner your opinions :slight_smile:

Essentially, the conversation went something like this:

First party: I download my Windows updates manually, so I pick and choose which updates I need.
Second Party: So you don’t download every update for all products, doesn’t that leave you vulnerable?
First Party: I can’t see why, I only download updates for components I use. Anything I don’t is either deleted or totally restricted.

That’s more or less it. So the question is what do you do:

Are you a first party kinda guy/girl, just pick and choose, I take what I want, when I want it!

Or

Are you a Second party kinda guy/girl, download everything regardless. Better to be safe than sorry

Don’t forget, this just concerns manually downloading updates, not Auto updates.

Toggie

#2

1st

#3

I only download “updates” that are absolutely critical from
http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/
have BITS running so micro$oft can decide what I can do with my hardware ? no way !

#4

1st.

#5

hehehe what would happen if I am the 2nd? I can’t imagine how much of a performance drag my system will be if I installed .NET framework.

#6

Just think how many people do exactly that, and probably don’t even think about it!

#7

I was actually one of those clueless, but somehow I was careful enough to research what .net was before considering to install it or not 8).

#8

Just think of all those ‘wonderful’ .net apps your missing out on :-X

#9

If I only I could’ve found a job as a junior computer programmer when I graduated from college, it would’ve been useful :-X.

#10

1st

#11

1st, though I’ve been known to use the “set and forget” auto updater for new users.
Better they get a problematic Windows update than get bent over by someone else.

#12

I do pick my updates other than critical patches. As far as NET framework goes I had no choice as I couldn’t run Google Sketchup without it. It seems a shame that to run a wanted graphics application I have to load in something else I don’t want.

Dave

#13

I agree, Dave. Depending on the scenario, it may be possible that you can still disable some of the .NET Services that are kinda scary; I have found that I can keep those disabled and still use the applications that need the .NET framework installed (apparently they don’t need it running…).

LM

#14

Thanks for the info Little Mac, I don’t seem to have a service running for NET framework in XP home, but I will do a bit more research into the elements that make it up. I see there is a setting in Internet Explorer for NET framework I presume this can be happily disabled.

I don’t like this Software Distribution Service 2 that keeps adding points in system restore apparently when Windows updates are done. I have seen comments that suggest if you try to do a restore at these points it generally doesn’t work. In the few weeks I have had my new computer system restore is littered with SDS 2 entries even at times when my computer wasn’t switched on.

The computer is not set for auto updates, so I am mystified at this strange addition to Windows and exactly what it is monitoring generally. There seems to be no official Microsoft info on it, yet it was installed on my computer from new, so it must be either a patch or a part of Windows.

Dave

#15

There is an interesting discussion on SDS here

Thing is, how did you come to have SDS installed when Auto updates are off, was it via an update , I wonder and if so, which one?

You could always turn SR off, I always do…

#16

1st … but agree with ~cat~ about the set and forget for new users.

#17

Thanks for the link Toggie it was interesting reading.

SDS was on my computer from new, when I checked system restore there were entries in between the installs of software that the supplier put on. This suggest’s that either it comes with Windows now, or the supplier was allowing auto updates while setting it up. I actually have found system restore useful in the past that’s why I have left it running, but if I find SDS causes a problem with it then I may think again. I do use Norton Ghost and Acronis True Image so maybe SR isn’t important.

Dave

#18

Dave,

If you do regular image backups (and especially before any changes of hardware, software, etc), then I’d say SR is definitely not needed. If you do periodic image backups, and other incremental/data non-image backups (with MS Backup, or Comodo Backup, etc) on a more frequent basis, then SR is probably not needed. Otherwise, it’s just your call; if you have no other solution, SR can be handy. If you keep it on, I think it’s a good idea to regularly clear out old restore points, and only keep the most current.

I’m wondering if the SDS isn’t related to some Windows Service, which if it isn’t running, you don’t have those entries…

LM

#19

1st but I can’t remember any one update I chose not to install except for the program that verifies that your Windows is not pirated so you can download Windows Defender etc. Now I have to download and run once on demand if I want to download these programs --only WD so far. That’s the way I like it, knowing what my computer is doing. But the thing is that every update is either Windows patches which I believe make me safer, or definition updates for Windows Defender, no separate applications.

There are other things like javastuff and Intel Application Accelerator (“Intel® Application Accelerator is a driver that replaces the standart Windows ATA drivers with drivers optimized for Intel® chipsets”) which run their own stuff to keep themselves updates. I don’t mess with them since I don’t have a clue about them. :-[

Alas NET Framework was preinstalled on my machine, I didn’t get to choose. What’s so bad about it, don’t I really need it, and how could I disable it then? I can’t locate anything in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run nor in Control Panel > Administration Tools > Services. ???

Anyway it so sounds like too many programs will need it in the future so we’ll have to have it even if it sucks? :frowning:

#20
Alas NET Framework was preinstalled on my machine, I didn't get to choose. What's so bad about it, don't I really need it, and how could I disable it then? I can't locate anything in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run nor in Control Panel > Administration Tools > Services.
In Services, you're looking for ASP.NET State Service and .NET Runtime Optimization Service (at the moment, I think that's it); oh yeah, there's also a "User" installed for NET. There are, I think, three different versions of .NET out now, all independent of each other to some extent (what I mean is, some app may need 1.1, another may need 2.0, and yet another may need 3.0; the latest version does not uninstall the previous version, nor "stop" it in somehow). I have a couple apps that need the NET framework, and I have those services disabled (and the user account removed); the apps still work.

You can always try disabling those things and see if you run into application issues. If you don’t have issues, you can uninstall the NET Framework from Add/Remove Programs.

LM