Is Windows Update important?

[Double]

Windows Update has often put my system in some interesting situations, and I truly never want to update ever again. I recently reinstalled my system and the last time I did updates, my system prompted me to restart and was instead left hanging on the "shutting down" message for an hour, forcing me to shut it down improperly.

Truth is, I don't use any Microsoft apps except Windows Explorer.. and I only browse sites that I know are generally safe. Instead of using Internet Explorer I use Firefox with NoScript, Ghostery, WOT, Adblock Plus, and I've even updated the main plugins (Java, etc). I also have Malwarebytes and Norton as well.

I've also never understood the importance of driver updates either, my system seems to run the same with or without them. I'm even beginning to think that updating is causing my system to work harder in the background, rather than when it was in factory condition.. but is this true? So many questions...

 

[Golden]

You have some good anti-malware software and keep Java updated, yet you fail to see the significance of keeping the operating system updated........?????? :huh:

Fact : your system is more secure and runs better if the OS is updated.

 

[whs]

Updates are there to correct bugs in the system (and sometimes to add minor functions) - and there are thousands of bugs. The industry standard is 1 bug per 1000 lines of code - and Windows 7 is appr. 55 Million lines of code. Make the computation.

It is perfectly alright if you want to live with the bugs and do not want to update. If you are happy with your system, why bother.

But when you come here because you encountered a problem, the first thing we are going to ask you is to update your system.

 

[tman69]

IMHO--Double is correct, Golden and whs are 'lemmings' (no offense intended).

my system has NO updates installed and runs 'perfectly' and is 'extremely' secure.

 

[Kari]

IMHO--Double is correct, Golden and whs are 'lemmings' (no offense intended).

my system has NO updates installed and runs 'perfectly' and is 'extremely' secure.

What? I really hope no OP needs to rely on you in any issue with Windows, seems it would be a sure way to disaster.

Kari

(Sorry, can not say anything more, I would be banned from here due excessive use of foul language if I posted what I think about unintelligent, unproductive, unprofessional posts like the one I quoted.)

 

[whs]

IMHO--Double is correct, Golden and whs are 'lemmings' (no offense intended).

my system has NO updates installed and runs 'perfectly' and is 'extremely' secure.

Well, I rather be a safe lemming than a dead lemming. I think you don't know what you are talking about. In 35 years of operating system development I have learned about the significance of updates. Even more so today because of the threats from the web.

 

[Dave76]

Agree with Golden, whs, and Kari.

If you come here for any help, we will ask you to install the updates, any knowledgeable person understands the necessity of keeping your OS up to date, secure and all bugs fixed.

Sorry tman69, but you are the 'lemming' (no offense intended).

 

[Britton30]

IMHO--Double is correct, Golden and whs are 'lemmings' (no offense intended).

my system has NO updates installed and runs 'perfectly' and is 'extremely' secure.

R-i-i-i-i-ght on there matey! Mine would be secure if I pulled the little blue cable from it, lol! Mark this one "troll", no offense meant.

Windows Update has often put my system in some interesting situations, and I truly never want to update ever again. I recently reinstalled my system and the last time I did updates, my system prompted me to restart and was instead left hanging on the "shutting down" message for an hour, forcing me to shut it down improperly.

Truth is, I don't use any Microsoft apps except Windows Explorer.. and I only browse sites that I know are generally safe. Instead of using Internet Explorer I use Firefox with NoScript, Ghostery, WOT, Adblock Plus, and I've even updated the main plugins (Java, etc). I also have Malwarebytes and Norton as well.

I've also never understood the importance of driver updates either, my system seems to run the same with or without them. I'm even beginning to think that updating is causing my system to work harder in the background, rather than when it was in factory condition.. but is this true? So many questions...

Yeah, skip all future updates. we'll see you. Probably here: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/

 

[tman69]

to all those who have posted about this topic...I am not 'the lemming'

"Lemming--A term used to reference a person who...mindlessly follows the behaviors and actions of the masses."

I stick by my statement--win7 32bit Ultimate--no updates installed at all--have NEVER crashed, nor had any BSODs, lockups or security problems. And I'm a firm believer in NOT updating drivers unless there is a problem...you are all entitled to believe what you will...doesn't change the possibility that you may be wrong.

sorry for opening such a can of worms...

 

[boohbah]

tman69, how did you get away with posting 417 times without us realizing your lack of common sense

 

[Dave76]

It's not the best thing to post on a Forum, others may follow and find themselves with serious issues and blame this forum.
If you choose to use this method, it's entirely up to you but, out of respect for others you should agree it's probably not the best coarse of action for most.

Your and others mention of this methodology may be considered small 'masses' and therefore the 'Lemmings' title is appropriate for you.

 

[marsmimar]

So if I'm understanding things correctly, I don't have to ever change the oil, or transmission fluid, or antifreeze in my car because it's running great right now. I don't have to take simple precautions like wearing a seatbelt because I'm a safe driver. (Never mind about the other drivers out there who may not be as consciencious as me or who maybe just left their favorite bar after having one too many.) I never have to check the air pressure in my tires because they don't look flat. In fact, I can probably save some space and weight if I just throw out the spare tire, too. I never have to maintain my car because it will run forever without me doing a single thing to it. And I never have to worry about what the other guys might do.

I think I'm catching on. I can apply this same logic to just about everything in my life. I don't need to do anything to my lawn mower, my central heating and air conditioning, etc because they're working just fine. I can stop taking vitamins, I don't need to look both ways before crossing a street, I don't need a yearly checkup, because as long as everything is working fine right now, nothing bad will ever happen in the future. And why in heaven's name would I want to find out about potential problems and get them taken care of early on? I'd much rather wait until they turn into major problems.

How utterly cool!! Wow. I'm so glad I found this thread.

<sarcasm intentional>

 

[Dwarf]

I have never seen such bad advice as suggested by Double and tman69. I wonder if either of you have installed SP1, or are you both running on the initial release? What about if your antivirus (assuming you have one installed) updates itself and causes a crash because it is a rogue update? And yes, this sort of thing has happened. Do you then stop updating your antivirus because of that?

Due to the sheer complexity of Windows (over 55 million lines of code), there are bound to be bugs, and it is these bugs which the updates address (when they are discovered). Unfortunately, sometimes an update can cause a problem on some systems, but when you think about the permutations of hardware involved it is not surprising. When you do have problems, that's when we come in and will try and help you resolve the issue(s).

 

[z3r010]

IMHO--Double is correct, Golden and whs are 'lemmings' (no offense intended).

my system has NO updates installed and runs 'perfectly' and is 'extremely' secure.

I think we have an early leader in the 2013 Darwin awards :sarc:

 

[Golden]

Rather a lemming than a muppet (offense fully intended)

 

[whs]

What are the Darwin awards. Did I miss something ?

 

[Golden]

What are the Darwin awards. Did I miss something ?

Darwin Awards: Darwin Awards

 

[whs]

Thanks, that's funny.

The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of
the human genome by honoring those who
accidentally remove themselves from it...

 

[Borg 386]

Simply a very unwise thing to practice, considering you have an army of hackers out there looking for ways to exploit your PC. There will always be new holes discovered in existing software & a update is what corrects those openings. Just look at the normal list of patches issued by MS, about 80% of those are to fix flaws that can be exploited.

 

[pincushion]

IMHO--Double is correct, Golden and whs are 'lemmings' (no offense intended).

my system has NO updates installed and runs 'perfectly' and is 'extremely' secure.

I think we have an early leader in the 2013 Darwin awards :sarc:

Book me a place since I think someone might nominate me anyway! I actually disagree with tman69 and dutifully install all OS updates when they appear but I am not so conscientious with drivers and usually only go looking for updates when problems occur - don't appear to have any. My nomination should be for running as admin and turning off UAC and like tman69 it all boils down to what one experiences - no problems, why change?

tman69 you are very naughty and deserve to have your computer taken away until you learn some respect!

:shock: :shock: