Patch Tuesday | March 2017 ?

[Brds7t7]

@Brds7t7 I never hid the rollup and I and others are experiencing the same missing IE update, I have IE11. Windows update catalogue (WUC) doesn't say it IE's included.
View attachment 397266

I also did a WUC search for the IE updates with no results to show.

Seems the only way to find the IE security updates now (if skipping the rollups) is to manually enter the KB number in the update catalog (in this case KB4012204) Microsoft Update Catalog

So, installing the "security-only" updates just became even more extra work.

 

[ethel]

windows updates

Hello Everyone, I was behind in the December 2016, and January 2017 security only updates. I managed
to download and install these 2 with no problems. I decided then to download the March security only update. When I restarted the pc I had the starting windows screen, then just a grey screen and nothing
happened. I had to turn if off at the power button. I then tried to boot in safe mode, the same thing happened. After that I booted the Windows 7 dvd, and it tried to repair, but was unable to. I did not know
what to do, not as good as you people, so I have ended up reinstalling. I was fuming, because I thought
I was now able to install the updates. Have no idea what the problem is with it. The funny thing is windows
checked for updates, and found the whole lot without me doing anything. Now I know I can only go to late
last year with them. I was cursing Microsoft in my head with some rather nice lanquage.

 

[KiNeL]

I refer you to my earlier post #10

Also imaging would have saved you all the grief.

 

[Seffrid]

I refer you to my earlier post #10

Also imaging would have saved you all the grief.

It isn't always the answer. It wasn't Callender's, see page 2. It depends entirely on the problem. Plus the cost of the extra hardware and the hassle of regular backups can be an issue for those with more than a single computer to worry about (I'm talking home users, not business users), compared to the risk of problems occurring that require a backup - especially dependent on the kind of data one holds. You're also entirely in the lap of the gods when it comes to using the backup - will it work? Most of the time yes, but you won't know until you have to use it, unless you risk your system with regular trials at times when there aren't actually any problems.

I have a couple of computers that hold duplicate copies of anything remotely important, which nothing really is, my gaming saves being held either on the Cloud by Steam or server-side in the case of MMOs. I don't consider any greater system of backups to be worthwhile. Moreover, with no partitioning of the system files it would require the whole hard drive to be cloned.

I make a point, however, of never installing any updates or fixes until they have been fully tested by the Great Unwashed (otherwise known as those who have updates set on "automatically install") and reported on by the gurus, and then only on one computer with the other one dealt with a few days later if there are no issues with the first one!

 

[ethel]

windows updates

Hello Everyone, I know most say you should back up your system. I do not bother with this as I have games on dvds, drivers on a dvd and a usb stick. I only wanted to catch up with the updates as I was a bit
concerned leaving it much longer, and I had only heard of 1 person that had disasters with it. I do not have
important documents on this pc. I know now it cannot handle the March update, so it will not be installed again.

 

[ethel]

windows updates

Hello Again, I forgot to mention the update I installed was from Microsoft Catalogue, security update only
kb4012212 for 64 bit operating systems, and I have never had windows update set to automatically download and install updates. It is set to check for updates, and let me choose to download and install them.

 

[antioch]

Hi to all
I have been reading though this thread and I am completely perplexed. I am running WIN7 PRO SP1 on a newly built computer[4 months old]
I have been offered one important update, KB4012215 plus KB890830 [which I did dll/install but cannot see it anywhere on my computer].
If I have read this thread correctly, KB4012215 includes other stuff as well as an I.E. fix [I don't use I.E.] It also includes what should have been issued in Feb, so I believe.
Optional ones - four on offer and I am inclined to hide ALL.
Well at least this time round I was not offered the 100 or so I hid back in October. They all came back in January and I have just found that none are where I put them?
The info from Brink states that, KB4012212, which I have not been offered, is the Security update ONLY? So I am undecided which to go for in the Update Catalogue, as there are 6 items to choose from and download?
Which one or two or more do I dll/install? Probably just the one - 'Security only quality update Win7 x64 systems'. What is the 'Embedded Standard 7 - could somebody please confirm.
Rgds
Antioch

 

[thelma]

Hi all,

I have not updated since July last year and the computer has never run so smooth without ANY problems ........

 

[ethel]

windows updates

Hello Thelma, I am with you. I do not intend to install anymore updates after just re-installing windows 7
after the last one. Everything I running good again, and I wish to keep it that way.

 

[Brds7t7]

Hi to all Which one or two or more do I dll/install? Probably just the one - 'Security only quality update Win7 x64 systems'. What is the 'Embedded Standard 7 - could somebody please confirm.
Rgds
Antioch

Ignore the Windows 7 Embedded updates, those are usually installed on POS systems. They won't apply to home systems.

 

[michael diemer]

Hi all,

I have not updated since July last year and the computer has never run so smooth without ANY problems ........

I'm inclined to agree, but as I'm responsible for my wife's computer, I'm afraid not to install at least the security patches. But I do it first on my computer, to make sure it works. Then, if both are fine, I install them on my music computer, the one I'm most picky about, as I c an't do my music if it tanks. So far, all machines are running well, installing security updates only now for the last several months. I haven'y done March's yet, still looking over other people's experiences.

 

[thelma]

When I go online I always use Sandboxie.

No need for security updates ( I think )

 

[ethel]

windows updates

Thank you Brds7+7 for clarifying for other people to ignore the embedded updates. I have ignored them,
and just installed the Windows 7, 64 bit system updates up to November, 2016, that seems to be as far as I can go now without crap happening.

 

[DavidE]

If this wasn't already posted, this page lists recent update history for Win 7:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...and-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-update-history

For Win 8.1 this is the page:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/24717/windows-8-1-and-windows-server-2012-r2-update-history

These pages are suppose to be regularly updated with recent history.

 

[Brds7t7]

Thank you Brds7+7 for clarifying for other people to ignore the embedded updates. I have ignored them,
and just installed the Windows 7, 64 bit system updates up to November, 2016, that seems to be as far as I can go now without crap happening.

Hi Ethel, no problem

I personally wouldn't skip security updates. I've been installing the security-only updates ever since MS changed its update strategy. I haven't seen any unwanted stuff in those. The downside of those is that it's going to be a PITA when doing clean installs in future. If they made them available via Windows Update, or made the security-only updates cumulative then things would be a lot less work.

I have no interest in installing their "Quality Rollups" though. I've been checking the history of fixes of every month's rollups, and I haven't noticed any fixes that would apply to my systems/usage so I see no need to install them.
These rollups should start becoming cumulative sometime in the next couple of months, as MS did state they'd start integrating all the past updates within 6 months. Haven't seen it happen yet.

Making the updates fully cumulative is a total waste of time in my opinion, unless they fix the slow updates on new installs. We still need to manually apply two updates before the update system will work properly. Unless MS does something about that, then making the updates cumulative seems like a waste of time and effort to me. These cumulative updates are designed to make new installs easier by installing less updates, but users who don't know how to fix it will still have a broken update system.

We'll have to see if MS does something about that issue! :sarc:

 

[antioch]

Ignore the Windows 7 Embedded updates, those are usually installed on POS systems. They won't apply to home systems.

Thanks for confirming that.
I have been keeping an eye on the MS Answer forums and so far just 5 items re KB4012215 and one for KB4012212 [tried install after 4012215 failed]. Things have changed for searching since I last did one some years ago, so I may not have searched in the right places. A couple of years ago there would have been dozens of threads.
KB4012215 has messed-up MS Dynamics CRM2011 & copyright DVDs will not play in WinMedPlayer - so definitely don't want the roll-up.


Antioch

 

[ethel]

windows updates

Hello Brds7t7, I have given up on attempting any updates now. I know now that as soon as I download
and install, security only updates that the "s--t" is going to hit the fan. I have re-installed windows twice
in the last 3 months, and both times were instantly after restarting the pc after an update.

 

[michael diemer]

Hello Brds7t7, I have given up on attempting any updates now. I know now that as soon as I download
and install, security only updates that the "s--t" is going to hit the fan. I have re-installed windows twice
in the last 3 months, and both times were instantly after restarting the pc after an update.

You probably should not install any more updates, Ethel. Everyone's computer is different. If they are messing up yours, you really have little choice, unless someone here can figure out why it's happening. but updating has gotten so complicated that most of us are scrambling just to keep our own machines working. But I would want to have very good malware protection if you're not going to update. At the very least, one of the top freebies, plus Malwarebytes free. Ideally, a paid AV. I just installed Malwarebytes paid version on my wife's computer and she loves it. MWB now is a full-featured AV, not just a way to solve problems after you've already been infected. I don't need it on my machines, as I'm on Linux 90% of the time.

 

[ethel]

windows updates

Hello Michael, Thank you for replying. I am not going to attempt anymore updates. I do not wish to be a
glutton for punishment. I do have paid internet security. It is Trend Micro Internet Security. I have been
given advice from a friend that Kaspersky and others are better, so I will just change that.

 

[marsmimar]

Just a friendly reminder to all that once a computer is running well, a system image could become your best friend. I've lost count how many times Microsoft's "new and improved" update scheme has broken something on one of my 7 or 10 machines. There are several free products available including (but not limited to) Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper, EaseUS Todo Backup, Paragon Backup & Recovery, etc. It takes less than 40 minutes to create a system image and about the same to restore it. YMMV. But it sure beats doing a clean install and trying to deal with all the updates.