Is there a list of must-have updates?

[johnhoh]

Hi - July 2015 was the last time I did a full windows update, and disabled it after that. My machine is for use at home behind on non-wireless router, is super stable, and I like it that way and don't plan to upgrade.

But I don't know if its a big security risk to NOT use windows update. In any case, I just went in and checked WU and there's about 92 updates that I COULD download if I wanted, and am looking for guidance as to what to do from here, hoping to maybe pare the list down to just a few updates that are really needed (if any!)

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
These are the only ones you need for windows to find the rest that are missing,
When manually installing updates you need to switch your update settings to Never check for updates and restart the machine first.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2797-windows-update-settings-change.html
After restart verify that the windows update service is not running if it is Stop and switch to Manual apply and okay.

Make sure KB3020369 is installed if not manually install it this is the main article page with all versions,
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369
These other links do prompt you to download as soon as you click on them just to give you a heads up

Win-7 32 bit
https://download.microsoft.com/down...B0A-35769CBBE6B0/Windows6.1-KB3020369-x86.msu
Win-7 64 bit
https://download.microsoft.com/down...020-EC41D56B074F/Windows6.1-KB3020369-x64.msu

Then manually install KB3172605 main article page with all versions,
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172605
KB3172605
Win-7 32 bit
https://download.microsoft.com/down...A9C-6B30C3E1735A/Windows6.1-KB3172605-x86.msu

Win-7 64 bit
https://download.microsoft.com/down...67F-C713F7821374/Windows6.1-KB3172605-x64.msu

After switch your windows update and service settings back to what you had prior and manually check for updates and the rest should show up shortly.

 

[johnhoh]

Thanks. If I understand what you are saying, you've given me the process to follow if I wanted to be sure to list every possible update so I can get fully up to date. But that's not really my goal. I don't have a feel for how vulnerable my machine is since its out of date, so I just wanted to see if there were perhaps just a few key updates that plugged "big" security holes. I'd really like to avoid going through the trouble to install 100+ updates with their iterative reboots and potential disruption of system stability.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
As long as your update settings are in order and separating updates properly just focus on the Important section first then cull through the optional ones,


Here's my avoid list

 

[johnhoh]

thanks a lot that's very helpful, I'll do all that now.

What got me started down this path was recurring firefox crashes, that I still have not figured out. I do use silverlight a lot under IE while firefox is also running, wonder if that might be a contributing factor... If you are interested here are details of the issue...

crash advice ? mozillaZine Forums

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
You must use NetFlix then ?
I see no other reason to need silverlight.

 

[johnhoh]

I only use silverlight for freestockcharts.com.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
That's a new one to require silverlight
As far as I've read silverlight is being dumped by Micro...
Even NetFlix will be going to html5 soon