Is Windows Update important?

[Layback Bear]

To all those new people to computing please remember that no operating system is perfect and does need Updates to improve it. Windows 7 Updates are normally for two reasons. One is to improve use-ability and the other is security improvements and sometimes a Update will do both. Microsoft doesn't spend the time and money to create Updates just because they can't find nothing else to do with their time and money. They do it to make their operating system work better and safer. If for what ever reason someone has a problems with Windows Updates we are here to help as well as Microsoft is also there to help. Windows 7 Updates don't make a operating system perfect just better.
Once again to new people to the computing world; keep your Windows 7 Updated along with your security programs such as your anti virus and other security programs.
I check for updates to Windows 7 and my security programs at least once a day and sometimes more often.
This post does not apply if:
1. You own a miracle computer
2. You own a miracle operating system
3. You have computer knowledge well above us poor mortals.

 

[tman69]

all I said was "my system has NO updates installed and runs 'perfectly' and is 'extremely' secure."

I never said that I don't maintain my machines, I never advised anyone to do as I do.

any analogies to vehicle maintainence don't apply.

and I never realized that a simple statement of fact would be so horribly misconstrued....

I feel so bad that I'm going to go out and kill myself...it's horrible to imagine that so many posters could read the same sentence and take away such a different meaning from it...semantics and reading comprehension really are lacking here...

am out!

 

[boohbah]

well i have only just finished installing 15 new updates and my laptop is running faster than before ,i havent checked what the updates were ,but o dont need to , the fact it is running well and i know it has any security threats dealt with is enough for me.

tman, we're having a whip round for flowers....





































































sorry we didnt get much!

 

[Golden]

I feel so bad that I'm going to go out and kill myself....

Don't go throw yourself off a cliff, you know.....like those furry rodents from the Tundra regions...the name eludes me now......

 

[Double]

Wow, I had no idea this thread would explode like it had.. I was just asking a theoretical question and was hoping for a mere 2 or 3 posts

Please note, I never condoned nor suggested anything in my question, so please don't go off the deep end here. I only wanted to inquire you guys about the importance of Update, because I wanted to know if it's an effort worth continuing. I understand that many here rely on it for different reasons, but I also strongly feel the need to sympathize with those who do not.

In the 4 years I've had my system I've always updated to the fullest capacity, although I've never really understood the 'why' of it. If my system isn't put in peril by Windows Update first, I'm not feeling or reaping the benefits--so it's like a catch22, and I can't be the only user who feels this way.

Not long ago my mom wanted my help with an Adobe problem she was experiencing, that was when I noticed a tooltip in the corner; Windows Update was hungry. I told her that she needed to update her system with it, and in return she gave me a very confused look. I honestly couldn't give her a very confident or coherent answer; other than it needed to be done, and that it would keep her system safer. Deep inside I really had no idea what I was saying, other than I continue to brainwash her into thinking this way, when I really don't even have a good enough reason myself. She has been victim to post-Update errors before, which has led me to become very hesitant in my advice.

 

[Dwarf]

Can I first of all apologise for implying that you gave bad advice.

Updating your system is extremely important, especially these days when more and more transactions of various kinds are done online. Updates are sometimes known as patches because they patch holes in the existing code that malware writers exploit for their illegal activities. Unfortunately, sometimes a patch can uncover another hole which then subsequently needs patching by yet another update (or even a complete replacement of the file concerned).

However, no code is ever perfect, and errors do slip through. The code writers and programmers (I'm deliberately not including malware writers here, only the good guys) stare at their coding day in day out and it is extremely difficult for them to spot flaws in their logic. It takes outsiders to find these flaws (or holes/exploits) and when these are exposed (usually by malware writers, although sometimes by legitimate coders such as game and application coders), the original coders get to know about them through feedback and various other channels and can then go back and re-examine their code, finding that the problem lies right under their noses.

How many times have you written an essay in English at school, gone over it again and again and failed to notice simple errors that are glaringly obvious to someone else but which are seemingly oblivious to you? I know I have, and it's the same with software programmers.

 

[Golden]

Excellent summary Dwarf

 

[Dwarf]

Thanks, Colin.

 

[Britton30]

Yes it was Guy, thanks.
Just a note, I did a full install with an SP1 iso today and I still had, I think, 121 updates.
They really need to do an SP2 for w7.

 

[whs]

I am afraid we will not get an SP2. They want to sell their new looser OS.

 

[smarteyeball]

How many times have you written an essay in English at school, gone over it again and again and failed to notice simple errors that are glaringly obvious to someone else but which are seemingly oblivious to you? I know I have, and it's the same with software programmers.

Very good analogy.




*



As for updates; there are quite a few that find that updates aren't necessary since there PC 'works'. Security wise, they may indeed be 'secure'. What they also seem to forget, or don't realise; is that some updates also improve performance.

Then there are those who 'believe they are secure', when in reality they aren't.

It's fine to admit that you don't use updates, but its not fine to advocate that behaviour.


This lemming however updates regularly and recommends the same. At least I know when I jump over the cliff I have a parachute.

 

[Layback Bear]

Windows 7 SP-2 would slow down sales on Windows 8 even more so that is not going to happen.

 

[Wishmaster]

IMHO, the best way to install Windows updates when available is:

1) Reboot the system

2) Do not do anything for a couple minutes. Let everything get up and running as it should be
(A good indicator for how long to wait would be when you see the little flag for Action Center show up. That should be plenty of time)
Then start the update process.

3) After the Update, reboot. Regardless if it tells you to, do it anyway.

I haven't really had any issue with updates personally. If its hanging at shutdown, it may be because of something else interfering.
This is why I always reboot before installing updates and after. You start your updates on a clean startup.

 

[robinb9]

I never put on all the updates at the same time. Even though it talks a little more time, if one goes haywire at least I know which one does it. If you throw them all on at once and one goes bad you will have to go back and uninstall them all and start all over to figure out which one did it

After I install one and it needs a restart. I check CPU usage to make sure it is not running the CPU hot or causing problems. If it is an Internet explorer or office doc it is doing it to I check out the program after the update to make sure all is fine. Then I go to the next one

This gives less headaches in the long run

 

[Kari]

I never put on all the updates at the same time. Even though it talks a little more

Mine is normally quite quiet, not saying much .

if one goes haywire at least I know which one does it. If you throw them all on at once and one goes bad you will have to go back and uninstall them all and start all over to figure out which one did it

Click View Update History on the left side pane in Windows Update window to open this:



It shows you which updates were installed and which failed.

Kari