New
#11
I agree that it is best to maintain an up-to-date system so installing Critical and Important updates as they appear is essential. I have had very few problems with this approach and I think it is more likely that problems will occur if other software or drivers are out of date. I'm afraid that is the nature of computing - it is a high-maintenance business, especially if you try to control the increasing number of programs that insist on checking for updates whilst at the same time maintaining compatiblity and operability.
I have never used Restore, preferring imaging, but this is essentially the same thing (but better in my view) and have never had any major problems or malware of any sort on my systems whether W7, XP or W98SE.