Windows 7: Is it ok not to update Windows?

Its not intrusive either.
By default its @ 3am I think, and thats just once a month -- unless something critical can not wait & absolutely needs immediate attention.

This is why I just leave mine on Auto for Important only. Everything deemed critical is automatically installed when released.
Then I look through Recommended and optional and install the ones I want/need. (Although I usually just install everything)


I agree with everyone else as well. Unless the machine is never online, Always let Windows update.
The amount of space the updates take is minimal.

I have a simple principle in this matter. I trust the makers of an OS to know what they are doing. Whether Windows, a Linux distro or Mac, I let them install any updates automatically when possible. In Windows for instance, most updates are because Microsoft has found a vulnerability or a bug and releases an update to patch that. I feel not updating would be irresponsible behavior from me, not taking care of my property, my computer.

Maybe not a good metaphor but anyway, think this: You install a well known, working AV application with todays virus and malware definitions. Should you then leave it as it was when installed, no longer update definitions, trusting that the old virus definitions can take care of the future viruses, too? Windows Update works according to this same principle; your Windows when installed was / is as safe and OK as was known to Microsoft when they released the version you installed. When new threats, vulnerabilities, bugs and so on are found, they are patched with an update.

Of course it's up to you to decide what to do with your computer. The above mentioned is only my personal opinion.

Kari

Kari, there are exceptions. I recently got an update for my GPU which screwed things up. Before I really realized it, I had no suitable restore point left and uninstalling did not help either. But fortunately I had my trusted images that bailed me out.

And then there were also cases where updates were immediately known as buggy - even by MS. I remember one from a couple of years ago in Vista that did not even have an uninstaller - too bad for those that had neither restore points nor images. And that are most of the users, I think.

To be fair, a video driver would NOT be listed as critical, but rather an optional component. I never install driver updates and such from Windows update...unless they are marked as critical.

These do happen from time to time. Which is why I usually don't immediately install them, but rather hold off just a couple of days. However, these disasterous updates are usually few and far between. Over 98% of them I think have no real problems whatsoever.

So for example, those updates like USB camera devices that I do not have, or SD cards over 32GB that will blah blah unless.... or the 50+ language packs for ultimate users...

Or video card WHQL drivers that I have intentionally bypassed for valid reasons, or the 'Cumulative Media Centre' updates for a Media Centre I have long since disabled....

Or the Windows Live 2011 essentials that I also don't need or want et cetera.

The time and effort (ie a few seconds to read the description) is worth it.

As also mentioned, there are the occasional KB's that cause more harm than good.


Everyone has their own routine - the manual method has personally served me well.

Bloating is not really an issue here since most security patches replace plus like already mentioned: hard drive space is cheap these days...MUCH cheaper than the time you will waste when your computer is overrun with nasties just because you didn't run those security upgrades

IMHO not a good idea

-DG

True, we all have a different method of what is considered the best way to install updates, be it all automatic, all manual, or a mix of the 2.



But I think we can all agree on 1 major point.

Neglecting to update at all is a very bad idea. They are important.


Even if you do not Auto updates, I think at least one should at the very least set Windows Update to:
"Do not Download but check and inform me if updates are available."

Just my 2cents

(1) = Optional update
(2) = Windows 7 is offered in 35 languages. After installation, users of Ultimate and Enterprise editions can download 34 language packs in addition to the language of original installation
(3) = If not optional, at least not critical update

IMO we were talking about (automatically) installing important, critical Windows updates. Optional updates are not installed even if automatic updates is enabled.

Kari

Semantics Kari my friend, semantics

I always install the critical updates. - But I still do it manually. I personally prefer to to control my 'install/restart' rather than being 'reminded to'.


I was responding to another member of 'install all or be damned' in a subtle, yet obfuscated way.


Both of which no longer can have those descriptions applied

If you truly feel this way, you'd be doing all of us tech professionals a favor by cancelling your internet service right away. People with your mindset are often the ones who's computers become part of a large botnet attack.

ALWAYS ALWAYS keep your OS updated.