Which Windows updates do you really need?

Max wrote:
> Dear readers,
>
> I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
> website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
> snooping in your PC'!?
> Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?

Get the Microsoft Update critical security updates. Read the
descriptions of the others, and act accordingly: it's not rocket science.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

Max said this on 1/8/2009 12:14 PM:
> Dear readers,
>
> I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
> website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
> snooping in your PC'!?
> Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
>
> Thanks, Max.

I think your 'big brother' concerns are ill founded. But that asside,
I do all critical updates and maybe hardware updates. Its the optional
updates that I question heavily. They are optional for a reason.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

Thanks for the responses.

Yet, it remains difficult for so many updates are marked as 'critical
security update'. Anyway I don't install those updates that relate to
hardware, functions etc. that I don't use & have switched off.

Max.

"Big_Al" wrote:

> Max said this on 1/8/2009 12:14 PM:
> > Dear readers,
> >
> > I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
> > website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> > according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> > updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
> > snooping in your PC'!?
> > Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
> >
> > Thanks, Max.
>
> I think your 'big brother' concerns are ill founded. But that asside,
> I do all critical updates and maybe hardware updates. Its the optional
> updates that I question heavily. They are optional for a reason.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

Critical updates
Software updates, depends
Driver updates, never unless for MS hardware
As for snooping that doesnt happen, unless you call the validation tool
snooping

"Max" wrote in message

> Dear readers,
>
> I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the
> MS
> website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away
> from
> snooping in your PC'!?
> Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
>
> Thanks, Max.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

"Max" wrote in message

> Dear readers,
>
> I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the
> MS
> website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away
> from
> snooping in your PC'!?
> Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
>
> Thanks, Max.
Since the only updates we are likely to see correct security issues, you
need all of them.
Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

Thanks all of you for the response.

Max.

"Jim" wrote:

>
> "Max" wrote in message
>
> > Dear readers,
> >
> > I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the
> > MS
> > website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> > according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> > updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away
> > from
> > snooping in your PC'!?
> > Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
> >
> > Thanks, Max.
> Since the only updates we are likely to see correct security issues, you
> need all of them.
> Jim
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

You need the Critical Updates. The rest are up to you. Read the
descriptions and decide.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Max wrote:
> Dear readers,
>
> I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
> website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
> snooping in your PC'!?
> Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
>
> Thanks, Max.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

Max wrote:
> Dear readers,
>
> I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
> website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
> snooping in your PC'!?


In the overwhelming majority of cases, all "Critical" updates
should be installed. These address serious issues that can affect a
large number of computers. There will be only rare occasions when a
Critical update will not apply. Of special importance are those that
address security vulnerabilities. If people had installed the available
critical updates in July of 2003, the Blaster and Welchia worms would
not have spread throughout the Internet the following month. In the
unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control
Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to
uninstall the troublesome hotfix.

For the "Recommended" updates, simply study the information
provided to see if these updates apply in your specific situation. If
they don't apply, or you're not experiencing the problem(s) addressed,
you needn't install them. For instance, I have no use for WinXP's
MovieMaker, so I ignore any updates to it. Again, in the unlikely event
that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's
Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the
troublesome hotfix.

In general, though, I've found it best *not* to download the
"Driver" updates from Windows Update, unless they're for a hardware
device originally manufactured by Microsoft. Device drivers provided by
each component's manufacturer's web site are likely to perform better
and offer more features than will the watered-down, "generic" drivers
that those manufacturers provide to Microsoft for distribution via
Windows Update.



> Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
>

The Microsoft Knowledge Base articles pertaining to each hotfix/update
already contain that information; you just need to learn what you have
and use on your computer, and no one else can tell you that, as no one
else can see your computer.
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need? 

Thanks you all, especial mr Chambers reply is helpful.

Max.

"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> Max wrote:
> > Dear readers,
> >
> > I am running XP home, SP 2 & 3. Despite the information bulletins on the MS
> > website, it's hard to figure out which Windows updates you really need,
> > according your individual customized/configured computer and..... which
> > updates you should avoid in order to 'keep Big Brother Bill Gates away from
> > snooping in your PC'!?
>
>
> In the overwhelming majority of cases, all "Critical" updates
> should be installed. These address serious issues that can affect a
> large number of computers. There will be only rare occasions when a
> Critical update will not apply. Of special importance are those that
> address security vulnerabilities. If people had installed the available
> critical updates in July of 2003, the Blaster and Welchia worms would
> not have spread throughout the Internet the following month. In the
> unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control
> Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to
> uninstall the troublesome hotfix.
>
> For the "Recommended" updates, simply study the information
> provided to see if these updates apply in your specific situation. If
> they don't apply, or you're not experiencing the problem(s) addressed,
> you needn't install them. For instance, I have no use for WinXP's
> MovieMaker, so I ignore any updates to it. Again, in the unlikely event
> that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's
> Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the
> troublesome hotfix.
>
> In general, though, I've found it best *not* to download the
> "Driver" updates from Windows Update, unless they're for a hardware
> device originally manufactured by Microsoft. Device drivers provided by
> each component's manufacturer's web site are likely to perform better
> and offer more features than will the watered-down, "generic" drivers
> that those manufacturers provide to Microsoft for distribution via
> Windows Update.
>
>
>
> > Does somebody know a way, tool or information website for doing this job?
> >
>
> The Microsoft Knowledge Base articles pertaining to each hotfix/update
> already contain that information; you just need to learn what you have
> and use on your computer, and no one else can tell you that, as no one
> else can see your computer.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> [URL="http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html"]http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html[/URL]
>
> [URL="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375"]http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375[/URL]
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot
>
 >> Stay informed about: Which Windows updates do you really need?