Solved Is the 'select updates to install' list in install order?

[needsleep]

You are notified that there are updates available.
You can select a link to show you the "Select Updates you want to Install" list.
From there you can select which updates to install.

Is the list ordered by what needs to install first, then second, then third, etc?
Can I deselect all and select a number of them in order, at my discretion?

Due to a virus, I just reformatted C: and re-installed Win 7, so I have 107 updates. This took all day last time on my machine.
In Win XP I had to get out of everything for a windows update. Still true for Win 7?

I don't want the machine down all day, but I have pockets of time to let it update.
Of course, I won't know how long each takes to run, but at least it won't be down for hours at a time, hopefully.

Thanks,

 

[NoelDP]

You can select or deselect to your hearts content.
Only those updates which will install without requiring other unselected updates will install.

My usual routine is to select updates in batches

#1 - Windows Security Updates
#2 - Other Windows updates
#3 - IE updates (go through IE9, update that, then install IE10, update that, then install IE 11)
#4 - .NET updates (these are usually the ones that cause most problems)
#5 anything else I missed

Keep doing each group until no more appear in that group (or you get a repeating fail) before proceeding to the ned

 

[needsleep]

Thanks for your reply. That was quite informative.

I have an allied question...
I have 44 optional updates of a generic type where the update title does not indicate what it resolves. For example,
"Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KBxxxxxxx)".
Should I investigate each and decide if its right for me, or can I install all without concern that any harm will occur?

I should add that the pane to the right does supply further information in about 50% of the cases.

Thanks,

 

[NoelDP]

All Windows Updates are pretty thoroughly tested before release - and ones that slip through to cause problems are quickly withdrawn and re-released after fixing.
The 'generic' updates are simply non-security ones, and therefore lower priority. They are mostly performance tweaks, or bug-fixes. Go ahead and install them.

I'd say that for the home user, if a patch is available, it should be installed as soon as possible - but probably best not to do so on the first couple of days after release. non-security patches can wait a week or two, but should still be installed.
Major updates like the IE ones are a matter of preference - personally, I see no real difference between IE10 and IE11, but there is a definite step-change between IE 9 and IE10 (I like 10/11).