Have you set Windows to "Install updates automatically"?

I'm a retired IT guy. I was a Systems Programmer on large mainframe systems for a number of years and I learned very quickly (the hard way) to NEVER blindly trust software fixes. They sometimes do more harm than good and you can be worse off than beforehand. BTDT!

As a result, I let MS notify me of the fixes then I usually wait a few days before I selectively download them and apply them. In the mean time I am watching the web to see if anyone says they are having issues with them.

I do much the same with software from other vendors too.

The tip of the spear I am not!

 

I agree with NEVER

One thing I have found helpful is ALWAYS create a restore point before
installing anything on your system.
This is one reason to not have anything install automatically on your system with out knowing what will happen.

 

I only let MS download. They have already caused my Vista Ultimate computer to crash. Due to a buggy WGA download that they snuck onto my system without my knowledge or consent. I lost several programs that cost around $300. Of course no help from MS only got the run around. They did agree that my copy is valid though.

 

I used notify only for a number of years, until I noticed that I was installing 95% or more of the updates. When I switched to Win7, and saw that it creates restore points automatically before installing updates, I switched to Automatically Update. Haven't had any problems so far.

 

I'm with Whiskeyman

 

I follow this sentiment as well.

I am tired of letting anything update automatically and then having troubles due to the update.
I let windows notify me as a reminder to check and see which ones are ok, that I want.
In addition, I also use Secunia software inspector
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/ to let me know about some of the programs that may need an update, and then investigate as to if and when.

Takes more time but saves me trouble in the long run.
As a former software developer, I know what changes can do to a system or just the program.

 

Agree with catsend

I agree with you catsend - create a sytem restore point before installing anything!
Learned the hard way about that!

I definitely get notification of updates and then choose the ones to install. I just feel more comfortable doing it that way.

 

I have turned automatic updates off, (win xp) and I dont have any Windows updates, really. Only updates I take are for antivirus software, I download and install them manually. After I did a reformat and reinstall, I decided to see what happens, if I skip the entire updating-hassle.

My laptop has win xp SP1 and it has been working well all the time, already for 7 months. My computer with only 512 MB´s of RAM (that´s considered insufficient to run xp well nowadays, am I correct?) is not slowed down while I am trying to do something with it, because av-software or windows starts updating itself.
And I havent spend any time wondering whether or not some update is necessary, or trying to find out if some updates are possibly causing problems.
Naturally there are some limitations, because I dont have all the latest sofware, eg. I dont have Flashplayer at all, but I really don´t miss those flashing and bouncing adverts, that can be seen in many websites.

 

When dealing with certain machines, I allow the updates to download but I manually install them due to the fact that either updates break installations or are not needed. I do however on my personal computers allow download and installation of updates automatically.

 

I only let them notify me. I've taken some downloads from them that had nothing to do
with my security.
To those of you that think you can do a system restore and remove it your dreaming. If it says a non-removable download your stuck with it.
- Bill -

 

You can "Remove" anything with the Revo Uninstaller

 

If you know where it's at. In which case, you can remove it yourself.
- Bill -

 

WThornB, You are 100% right; anyone can remove "it" ... the problems usually begin to mount after awhile because there are so many leftover files even after one removes "it ".
Revo Uninstaller removes all of those little bits & pieces that are just taking up space on your 'puter's harddrive.

Revo Uninstaller also lists all the programs on your 'puter so you don't hafta go looking for any of the "its "

 

Royal-T,
You missed my point.
I have Revo uninstaller with Hunter mode etc. The point I was trying to make is that when Microsoft says an update can not be removed they mean it. After you install it I doubt that you'd ever be able to find it. If you did you wouldn't be able to remove it without tampering with Microsoft's programming. And that's a big NO NO!!!
I'll check my updates before I install.

 

OK... my bad!

 

I also use Revo, and it does a good job. But, it doesn't do a complete job, as it leaves all kinds of information behind in the Registry. To complete the job you need to use a program like RegSeeker to search for and delete what Revo doesn't.

 

Every time I install the windows update, windows corrupt itself.

 

I was told not to let windows automatically update as it is prone to allowing dodgy stuff in. But to make sure you check regularly manually. I don't know how right or wrong that is.