Should I Accept Most Updates Blindly? (Without Checking Each One)

[TomBrooklyn]

Given a large list of Optional Updates by Windows 7 Pro, and having better things to do than carefully check what each one is for, should I just accept them all, minus any I'm pretty sure I don't want?


I currently have 43 Optional Updates listed.

3 are for peripherals I have: A Bus Controller (whatever that is); and something for my Logitech joystick. I guess I could accept those.

Several are for MS .NET Framework 4. They mostly seem to be for some kind of stability enhancements. I guess I'll accept those.

Most are labeled "Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems. They also mostly seem to be stability enhancements or similar. I guess I'll accept all those.


One is for MS Silverlight. I might be using that I guess. So I guess I'll accept it.


One is for Bing. I know I don't want anything to do with Bing. That is the only update I know for sure I don't want.

 

[Britton30]

You talked yourself into answering your own question. Bus controller is what controls USB, PCI, CPU, and some RAM functions.

 

[LMiller7]

Should I Accept Most Updates Blindly?

That is pretty much what most experienced members of this forum do. If you were a network administrator responsible for a large number of computers you would want to do some testing first. But most home users prefer to spend their limited time using the computer.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Well, I'm one forum member who doesn't accept most updates blindly. I have Windows Updates set to notify me when updates are needed, then wait three or four days to see if there are any reports of problems (much easier and far less time consuming than researching each one). I also check to make sure M$ isn't trying to foist something unwanted on me, such as the Bing Toolbar. When IE10 first came out, I waited on that update to see if there were any reports of problems with it, which there were. I only recently updated to IE10, after M$ had had time to fix the worst of the problems and the problem reports had dropped to a trickle. Most of the time, I install all of the important updates without question (after the waiting period and there have been no reports of problems) but do take a closer look at the optional updates (and hide them if I don't need or want them, such as the language packs or the Bing Toolbar, so they won't bother me anymore).

 

[Britton30]

I'm another who doesn't either. The damn Bing toolbar keep reviving itself even when I hide it.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I'm another who doesn't either. The damn Bing toolbar keep reviving itself even when I hide it.

Pesky little bugger, is it not? :sarc:

 

[DavidE]

I don't get updates for Bing Toolbar.
I do get updates for Bing Desktop that I hide...

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I don't get updates for Bing Toolbar.
I do get updates for Bing Desktop that I hide...

That's probably the one. I don't look closely; if I see Bing anything, it's history.

 

[Britton30]

I don't get updates for Bing Toolbar.
I do get updates for Bing Desktop that I hide...

BINGo, I think that's the pesky thing.

 

[DavidE]

What I've noticed with Bing Desktop is I hide an update and later MS puts out a new update that I also don't want, so I have to hide it.
Right now I've got 3 Bing Desktop updates hidden...
I never installed any Bing Desktop.
Just wondering if it's the same update that gets un-hidden, or a new update that needs to be hidden...

View attachment 268526

 

[TomBrooklyn]

I...wait three or four days to see if there are any reports of problems.

Where do you look to find reports of problems?

 

[marsmimar]

I...wait three or four days to see if there are any reports of problems.

Where do you look to find reports of problems?

The folks on this Forum are pretty good at reporting problems, usually in this section (Windows Updates & Activations.)

A couple of thoughts that might save some grief down the road:

(1) Create a current restore point (at a minimum) before installing any updates. Some updates do create restore points, others don't. Personally, I prefer a current system image.

(2) Don't install updates automatically. If an update hoses your computer you won't know which one it was other than it was one of 43. I install them in groups of 5 or 10 and keep track of the KB numbers. After installing each group I'll restart my computer and make sure everything is working as it should. If all is OK I'll install the next group. If something breaks, you'll know which group was responsible. Uninstall the updates in that group and reinstall one at a time, rebooting after each one. they'll either all install OK or you'll know exactly which one is the problem.

Yes, it's more time consuming this way, but it's always worked for me. Others may disagree.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I...wait three or four days to see if there are any reports of problems.

Where do you look to find reports of problems?

Right here on Win7 forums for starters. When I visit here, I go to User CP and New Posts to see what has been posted since my last visit here; it's much easier and faster than browsing each subforum and I'm less likely to miss anything. I also haunt a couple of other forums and any problems tend to get reported pretty quickly there, too.