is it a good idea to install the 26 "update for Windows 7" "kbxxxxxxx" updates that sit in the 'optional updates' section of my Windows Update notification bar. are they needed for anything? do they make my computer work better? what are they there for?
Some optional updates are useful and should be installed, some like Bing related items, Silverlight aren't, since you don't mention the KB numbers it's really hard to answer that.
Post a screenshot of them.
The 'Update for Windows 7' entries in the optional items are mostly 'good idea, but not essential' items - and one or two fall into the 'only bother if you may be affected by the issues involved' category.
Without knowing the details of which ones are involved, it's difficult to make choices but I'd say that any one dated before the beginning of this year would be a good idea - one of the more recent ones that that has been known to cause problems and is really only necessary if you're planning on upgrading <cough> to Windows 8.x
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