Is it safe to install old updates?

[goopy]

Greetings.
WU has picked up 10 old updates on a new installation that's should be up to date (Feb 2020). What's the considered opinion of this forum on installing these updates? Any known issue with them or potential conflict with more recent versions of similar updates?
Many thanks and best regards,

 

[Bree]

It's safe to install them because, if it turns out they have been superseded, windows update will complete with a 'not needed' message rather than 'successfully installed'.

I would look at the details for each of the non-security ones that just say 'Update for Windows 7...'. Many of these are telemetry and/or preparation for upgrading to W10. Those I would deselect and hide.

If you are at all concerned, check the details of all of them before deciding whether to install or hide each one.

 

[flavallee]

I had several very outdated updates appear after updating Windows 7 Pro SP1 64-bit to February 2020.
I selected and hid them all with no ill effects.