Should I use Microsoft to update my win 7.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 781
Likes: 2
From: UK.
Should I use Microsoft to update my win 7.
Hi all just started using a desktop given to me that is about 2 years old and has had little use...it runs win 7,
Its never had any MS updates on line,
I do hear horror stories of computers running very badly after a windows update,
So should I worry or not and just update it.
Nick.
Its never had any MS updates on line,
I do hear horror stories of computers running very badly after a windows update,
So should I worry or not and just update it.
Nick.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
From: Earth
2 years old and has had little use...it runs win 7,
Its never had any MS updates on line,
Its never had any MS updates on line,
If that thing is going ANYWHERE near the internet for ANY amount of time, you absolutley MUST apply ALL outstanding updates.
No ifs, no buts and don't believe all the nonsense you read on the internet about "computers running very badly after a windows update".
(Oh and make sure you have good BACKUPS and good AntiVirus!)
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Amazing how it still works
I trust you are going to dispose of said XP machine in April otherwise your risks are only going to get worse.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Uk
mixture, as the Update topic has been raised, I wonder if you could clarify something for me. I've just installed the important (Win 7) updates but not the optional.
When you say apply ALL outstanding updates do you mean the optional ones as well? How is one to know the benefits of the optional ones? Cheers and thanks for your assistance throughout 2013
When you say apply ALL outstanding updates do you mean the optional ones as well? How is one to know the benefits of the optional ones? Cheers and thanks for your assistance throughout 2013
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Inacave
XP and Happy enough
Same here, and I've done the same with many older MS OS's too. Updates are good things, but many create problems so my approach is to never update anything until many others have- I let them spend the hours and days it takes to find the bugs and the solutions 
My internet connection is unstable and slow so updates happen when I've got the time. And this PC is just my toy, not my virtual heartbeat as it is with many others 
It also depends on your usage. I have absolutely nothing on my machine that could hurt me personally- no banking, no bills, no CC statements or important personal data whatsoever. If you do have this stuff, update quickly or you may be vulnerable to serious problems. If it's just your toy too, your biggest real risk is that the old HD will die and need replacing, and that makes data back-ups more important than getting updates. Get the updates when you can and let the others worry themselves to death
My internet connection is unstable and slow so updates happen when I've got the time. And this PC is just my toy, not my virtual heartbeat as it is with many others It also depends on your usage. I have absolutely nothing on my machine that could hurt me personally- no banking, no bills, no CC statements or important personal data whatsoever. If you do have this stuff, update quickly or you may be vulnerable to serious problems. If it's just your toy too, your biggest real risk is that the old HD will die and need replacing, and that makes data back-ups more important than getting updates. Get the updates when you can and let the others worry themselves to death
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Send Mixture an E-mail with an attachment and see if he agrees it's in top shape
and that makes data back-ups more important than getting updates
BOTH backups and updates are important. No ifs, no buts, no "toy or no toy". If you've got a computer, you've got a responsibility to back it up and update it. Even more important if your computer is connected to the internet. Consider it like a pet... you wouldn't consider either feeding your dog or taking it to the vet.... you do both. If you're incapable of doing both, you shouldn't own a dog or a computer.
If you think updates are unimportant.... I've seen lots of updates that are there to, for example, avoid data corruption due to some bug in the SCSI/ATA drivers. Don't bother patching and... well... your data ain't going to live long once the bug hits you.
mixture, as the Update topic has been raised, I wonder if you could clarify something for me. I've just installed the important (Win 7) updates but not the optional.
The optional updates will cover new feature, minor updates, minor bug fixes. Stuff which is probably worth having, but doesn't have a security or major system stability implication and hence is classified as optional. All optional updates eventually get rolled-up in to a Service Pack, so you'll get them eventually one way or another (since Service Packs tend to be classified as Important).
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,121
Likes: 686
From: Twickenham, home of rugby
The optional updates will cover new feature, minor updates, minor bug fixes. Stuff which is probably worth having, but doesn't have a security or major system stability implication and hence is classified as optional.
I scan ALL updates presented before installing, but I'm looking for strong reasons NOT to install, rather than the other way around.
SD
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 9
From: scotland
Personally I have always found that updating is a lot more dangerous than sitting around clueless.
That might change if I could find a simple and straightforward backup system - but so far I havent been able to find one.
Typical example is Google Earth which appears to have been recently updated to produce a message "This program will not work on your computer". Unfortunately I had not realised that it updated automatically.
That might change if I could find a simple and straightforward backup system - but so far I havent been able to find one.
Typical example is Google Earth which appears to have been recently updated to produce a message "This program will not work on your computer". Unfortunately I had not realised that it updated automatically.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,292
Likes: 56
From: Lincolnshire
I am still waiting for the Year 2000 bug to hit.......
Win 98SE machine still going well, it has the occasional virus scan, defrag and a had a disk image at creation time but that's all.
It is needed to run DOS windowed programs.
I think I will stop working before it does.
Win 98SE machine still going well, it has the occasional virus scan, defrag and a had a disk image at creation time but that's all.
It is needed to run DOS windowed programs.
I think I will stop working before it does.
Controversial, moi?
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 22
From: UK
All these people claiming they never update their systems and have never had a problem is a bit like the people who say that they have smoked all their lives and haven't developed lung cancer.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,292
Likes: 56
From: Lincolnshire
Why do 'The Experts' always claim that an out of date system spells gloom and doom for the owner/user of that system.
Look how much the Y2K bug cost, most of that was for consultants to tell you what could happen, not actually spent to fix any problem of real size.
IT Gnus/Politicians/Bankers....what's the difference?
Look how much the Y2K bug cost, most of that was for consultants to tell you what could happen, not actually spent to fix any problem of real size.
IT Gnus/Politicians/Bankers....what's the difference?
Plastic PPRuNer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 0
From: Rochechouart, France
Sorry ZH875, but you are (ahem) "misinformed"
The main reason there were so few problems is that a lot of people spent a lot of time preparing for it and mitigating it.
"The total cost of the work done in preparation for Y2K is estimated at over US$300 billion ($407 billion in 2014 US dollars).
IDC calculated that the U.S. spent an estimated $134 billion ($182 billion) preparing for Y2K, and another $13 billion ($18 billion) fixing problems in 2000 and 2001.
Worldwide, $308 billion ($418 billion) was estimated to have been spent on Y2K remediation."
(just wait until 2038 turns round!)
The main reason there were so few problems is that a lot of people spent a lot of time preparing for it and mitigating it.
"The total cost of the work done in preparation for Y2K is estimated at over US$300 billion ($407 billion in 2014 US dollars).
IDC calculated that the U.S. spent an estimated $134 billion ($182 billion) preparing for Y2K, and another $13 billion ($18 billion) fixing problems in 2000 and 2001.
Worldwide, $308 billion ($418 billion) was estimated to have been spent on Y2K remediation."
(just wait until 2038 turns round!)
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Look how much the Y2K bug cost, most of that was for consultants to tell you what could happen, not actually spent to fix any problem of real size.
In essence, you are wrong
1. How do you know no problem was fixed ? In the corporate and government world, what happens in IT tends to stay behind those four walls. You'll never know as a member of the general public.
2. As a result of the preventative measures outlined in (1) above, we'll never know how much damage was avoided.
IT Gnus/Politicians/Bankers....what's the difference?
off back to 1914 or whatever date of your choosing and then come back and tell us whether you still hold IT people in such low regard. I'll be more than happy to dispose of your credit cards, your car (because its full of various bits of IT), your television (since its probably a flat panel jobbie) plus all its modern accessories (dvd, blu-ray, games console), your mobile phone & computers (obviously) .... the list goes on, oh and you'll probably loose your job too since its either some sort of ground job involving a computer or you're a pilot in which case I'll swap your fancy modern aircraft for a stick and rudder job.
Last edited by mixture; 4th January 2014 at 17:26.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 970
Likes: 1
From: Timbuktu
ZH875, watch your tongue. The geeks will inherit the earth 
If you run a 64bit Windows OS, vulnerabilities are much less of a concern and so patches are not so urgent IMHO. Keeping your browser up to date is more important as that's a common attack vector.
If you run a 64bit Windows OS, vulnerabilities are much less of a concern and so patches are not so urgent IMHO. Keeping your browser up to date is more important as that's a common attack vector.