always install updates?

[bigdog2626]

should i install all windows 7 updates
i have read some people after installing a windows 7 update some errors appeared for some people such as video card updates and ect

 

[Corazon]

I'd say you should install all critical and important updates.

It's the optional ones you'll want to think twice about, particularly if the updates are meant for device drivers. Some of them are harmless but others, as you suspected, do tend to fubar things up slightly. (You can go to Device Manager and roll back driver updates from there if necessary.)

To be sure, always create a System Restore Point before letting Windows install updates (also set WU to check for updates but let you manually install them). Read the description for each update that's offered to you - if it's a device driver such as for sound or video, better to go directly to the manufacturer's page and download the drivers from there.

You can also rightclick on an offered update and select Hide so it won't bother showing up again if you decline it.

 

[bigdog2626]

ok i have my System Restore Point turned off because of windows xp ive had alot of virus with it so how safe is it in windows 7 im new to it and dont want to get virus's like i did in xp

 

[JMH]

* Before you update make sure you have a current System Restore point created PLUS a current Back Up of the system.

* Re your update settings -
> I suggest you change them to notify you but let you choose when to download them.
> Do a few at a time only rather than "oodles" at once.

* Install ALL critical & important updates.
Restart your computer (even if not prompted)
Optional updates are just that. You decide.

* Remember this is Win 7 and not Vista or XP (eXPired).

Links -
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html

 

[NoelDP]

ok i have my System Restore Point turned off because of windows xp ive had alot of virus with it so how safe is it in windows 7 im new to it and dont want to get virus's like i did in xp

System Restore should NOT be disabled - EVER.

Contrary to popular belief, a decent anti-virus will ignore items in the system restore folders, because it may be necessary to use System Restore to get back to a viable system if cleanup fubars the boot.
Once the system is clean, then create a new system restore point
You can then use Disk Cleanup to remove all but the last (new) restore points.

 

[cyclic]

System Restore should NOT be disabled - EVER

No argument there, it's for protection, why would you disable it. Mine is set for just the boot drive and fixed a few problems over the years.

 

[bigdog2626]

well im going to have to learn to use it properly then because if it saved you in windows 7 it may save me 1 day as well hope it dont get virus's like it did in xp

 

[maxseven]

I agree w/earlier posts:

1. System Restore can be a life-saver. Well, a time-saver anyway! Keep it turned-on with your System C: drive at least.

2. Always install critical Windows updates. I've *never* had to un-install one due to problems.

3. Install Optional updates only as-needed. Hide the ones you don't want-or-need.

Good luck.

 

[NoelDP]

well im going to have to learn to use it properly then because if it saved you in windows 7 it may save me 1 day as well hope it dont get virus's like it did in xp

System Restore has never 'got viruses'!
What is has is backups of files which have been removed by anti-virus programs, or by the user - in case they are required to get the system running again so that an alternative removal strategy can be tried.
A virus stored in this way CANNOT reinfect the computer unless it is restored to a time during which it was previously infected - NO files in the store can be alunched by any process in Windows.

This has been true since Win ME - and remains true today.
The perceived problem arose because many anti-viruses initially tried simply to delete the affected files in the store - and were unable to do so (Norton was particularly bad at this) for a variety of reason, or broke System Restore in the porcess. Norton even produced a version of NAV that was claimed as ME compliant, which broke System Restore EVERY time it was set to scan the PC.

They then decided that telling everyone to disable System Restore prior to scanning was a 'good idea' - which is EXACTLY the wrong thing to do, since sometimes the only way to remove a virus successfully was to run a scan to delete the file, then run System Restore back to a time BEFORE the computer was infected!

Luckily most AV manufacturers are a little more savvy nowadays (even Norton, much to my surprise), and now co-exist happily with System Restore.

 

[sygnus21]

well im going to have to learn to use it properly then because if it saved you in windows 7 it may save me 1 day as well hope it dont get virus's like it did in xp

You need to have a better understanding of what restore points do. From Microsoft: Create a restore point

A restore point is a representation of a stored state of your computer's system files. You can use a restore point to restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. Restore points are automatically created by System Restore weekly and when System Restore detects the beginning of a change to your computer, such as when you install a program or a driver

Anyway you can't get a virus from simply creating/restoring a restore point. However it may be possible to return a file that had virus during the creation of the the restore point; that returning to that point could reintroduce the virus.

On the other hand - How antivirus software and System Restore work together

During a restoration, an active antivirus program scans for infected files. If the antivirus program detects any infected files, the antivirus program tries to modify, move, or delete the infected files. If the antivirus program successfully cleans the infected files, System Restore restores the cleaned files. However, if the antivirus software cannot clean a file, the antivirus software deletes or quarantines the file. As a result, the restoration does not work because these actions to the file cause an inconsistent restoration state. As a result, System Restore reverts to the state immediately before the restoration.

What that basically says is that if your AV is active during a restore the file will be cleaned and the restore allowed to happen, if not no restore will occur.

And though this article talks about XP note the last review date: Article ID: 831829 - Last Review: September 23, 2011 - Revision: 4.0

Hope this helps.

As to your question - Yes, always install Important updates. I'd also advatise the Recommended ones as well.

My two cents.

 

[pincushion]

should i install all windows 7 updates
i have read some people after installing a windows 7 update some errors appeared for some people such as video card updates and ect

I agree that it is best to maintain an up-to-date system so installing Critical and Important updates as they appear is essential. I have had very few problems with this approach and I think it is more likely that problems will occur if other software or drivers are out of date. I'm afraid that is the nature of computing - it is a high-maintenance business, especially if you try to control the increasing number of programs that insist on checking for updates whilst at the same time maintaining compatiblity and operability.

I have never used Restore, preferring imaging, but this is essentially the same thing (but better in my view) and have never had any major problems or malware of any sort on my systems whether W7, XP or W98SE.

 

[DBone]

System Restore should NOT be disabled - EVER.

Good advice to most, but since I create a system image bimonthly, I have system restore disabled. If something major were to happen, I personally would only trust a complete re-image, and not "just" a restore.

 

[bigdog2626]

ok i just checked my system restore and i had three system restore times that i could choice to restore to
so im thinking i do have system restore enabled which i thought i disabled
so i guess its enabled