updates

This is probably a dumb question, but what the heck:

What is general concensus regarding Win 98 updates.
I've heard pros and cons. I should download a bunch of them according to MS. Do they cause more problems than they cure???? Waiting with baited breath.
neil

 

Well
Breathe!

Being a Sr. Systems Analyst I have done maybe a thousand when you consider that you would do it more than once on a computer that stays in service for 2 - 3 years or more.

Worse things people do is updates on computers that are bloated with Windows and Internet temp files. Ad/Spyware system errors in device manager. Invalid system files or other config errors.

Sometimes even with viri.

Do it right clean it up, terminate firewalls scanners IM's etc.

Almost aways it will work and be better.

No doubt MS sends out some bad updates but not that many. And I will give them credit they usually fix it reasonably quickly if it causes problems.

YOU ARE BETTER OFF STAYING UP TO DATE. HOW YOU GET THERE IS IMPORTANT ALSO!

Mike

 

neil--You probably should install all Critical Updates. (I assume you go to the Windows Update site to find new updates.) Many deal with security issues.
Whether you install Recommended and other categories of updates is really up to you. The descriptions offered at Windows Updates should help you decide.

 

Welshjim and others - for some reason windows update for win98 shows a critical update for IE6. I prefer IE5.5sp2 and avoid that update. It should be in the recommended updated. I quess they want everyone to go to IE6.
Ken

 

If your 98SE works OK, just leave it as it is.
None of the so called "updates" will make it any faster, more secure or more reliable. On the contrary you may find yourself
in deep ***** if you install them.
They are just MS way of showing you they are doing "something "
- they have enough cash for this.
Just stick to good old basic '98 and enjoy it.
The chances you get cracked, hacked as a private user are nil.
What for a cracker wants to look at your My Documents ?
regards

 

Some folks have credit card numbers, bank account numbers and passwords on their computers. Some people have stuff on their boxes that they don't want others to know.

Keeping virii, spyware, password stealer's, keystroke loggers, and on and on and on is VERY important to a lot of people.

Downloading to your computer and installing from safe mode is the way to stay out of problems. I have had problems with updates in the past by trying to install from the update site. This is mainly because of programs and drivers running while the updates are being installed.

Computers and Sex should be done safely.

 

Bill,
Do you mean keeping OUT ......

Good advice in your post, tho' I wonder why anyone would have
their credit card number / bank account number on their PC.
The MS updates do not protect you from viri.
regards

 

Thanks for all the advice.
I finally put a branch between my teeth and updated everything critical, and a few others. That was a few days ago, and so far everything seems to be working OK.
As long as I'm here, I noticed threads advocating "backup/restoring registry" What does that do for you? This is probably wrong thread to ask this.

Again, thanks for all inputs.

neil

 

neil--Most simply put, if you make an incorrect change in your Registry your PC may not run. If you have made a backup copy, it may allow you to restore a version that worked. You make the backup by clicking Registry|Export. Usually you do that for only the part of the Registry in which you are making the change, so you can quickly restore just that one section.
If you have ScanRegistry running automatically when you boot, Windows in fact makes a backup of your whole Registry the first boot each day and saves five days worth (by default). In that case you can restore the whole Registry if needed from one of those backed-up copies (they are stored as "rbxxx.cab" files in C:\Windows\Sysbckup, where the x's are numbers) and you would not have to do a Registry|Export of the whole Registry when making a change.
Some reading
http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/regback1.html

http://www.winguides.com/article.php?id=1&guide=registry

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...l=/TechNet/prodtechnol/win98/maintain/reg.asp