Windows Vista Is it imperative to install every update?

After reading the many problems that folk have had with installing updates I am getting very nervous about installing updates in case my computer goes on the blink. I have been told by someone more experienced than me , only to install updates that are classified as "critical" or "security ". I now have SP1 installed correctly but there are 10 updates waiting to be installed , that are classed as "Important" or "recommended ". I should be very grateful for any advice.

 

Thank you for the very quick reply! I shall install all the important ones now. Many thanks for your help; it is very much appreciated.

 

Thanks to everyone !

Thank you to everyone for your very helpful information. I really appreciate you giving your time and help.

 

Well I followed all the advice and installed 8 important and recommended updates one at a time and then rebooted when instructed to do so. Unfortunately. my computer restarted and then got stuck at the desktop and would not unfreeze. I managed to turn it off at the tower and then left it for 10 minutes, rebooted and tried again. In all I tried 4 times and it froze solid each time. I then managed to do a system restore to before I downloaded and installed the updates and then scheduled a disc check at the next restart and it
found and repaired some files. It would appear to be working ok now but I daren't install the updates again. Any advice please, I guess that I must be doing something wrong but I really don't know what! Thanks again in advance.