Windows 7 forum: Poll: I have Windows updates set to:

I dont auto update bcause it will update everything.
I didnt like IE7, so another reason. clicked for 'dont show again'
I have cut back on updates since it seems like every time I go and
get them, win runs a little slower and there seems to be little
irritations in the way some things run.
we have enough problems with every day problems LOL

High percentage of Windows Update require reboot. I control when the update is applied, thereby controlling when the computer reboots - thus minimizing the inconvenience to what I am working on.

Automatic Updates works fine for me. I sometimes have to determine why an update didn't install and then do a manual update the next day or two after I determine why the update didn't take.

I choose not to let Windows do any downloads or updates for several reasons:

-There are some updates I choose not to install, such as Windows and Office Genuine Advantage, which prevents me from choosing automatic updates.

-Windows has a history of automatically installing some updates even though you specify for it to download only but manually install, preventing me from choosing this alternative.

- I do not need to be notified of updates, as I read enough postings from CNET, ZDNet, and other services, to know when there are important out-of-sequence updates coming from Microsoft on other than the usual patch Tuesdays.

-I can make a drive image backup immediately before installing any updates- if they cause a problem, I can restore to the point immediately before, and not trust that System Restore will do the job properly.

-I can hold back on any updates that any reliable online source or newsletters state may be problematic until the problems are restored.

I can see why those who do not follow such resources would choose automation, but as one who does follow them, I prefer to remain in control.

Download, but I install. The reason I do this is because when I'm at work, the boss has a type of block on our wifi that prevents guests (I work at a motel) from streaming videos & stuff, so either it takes forever to install, or will freeze up, & I have to shut down completely & reboot. And, I really hate when I'm in the middle of something & an installation starts, & either kicks me off of what I'm doing, or slows things down so that I have to close out whatever it is, & wait for the download to finish. Drives me crazy! Also, some programs don't do well with my Vista. I had a terrible time downloading SP2. It kept hanging up, but I finally managed to get it installed.

I?m a heavy Internet user. I don?t want my Internet service bandwidth to be used without being notified. That?s why I choose ?check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them?.

People that don't put security updates on their computers are part of the problem on the internet. Security updates are for particular security exploits that are out there...all not installing means is that your computer will, sooner or later, become infected. Fine for you, you apparently don't care, but viruses travel between computers, and unpatched computers are staging sites for denial of service attacks, spam emailing, and launching pads for whatever the particular hacker that owns your computer can figure out to do with it. So if your computer plays a part in tranmitting viruses, trojan, etc. and spam emailing, or denial of service attacks on internet resource sites, we all suffer from that.

Please do some reading about security, and give some thought to it. Most reasonable people eventually realize that security patches are a net good thing. If you don't, you're just helping some hacker(s) get their job of disruption and control done.

-Roger

On more than one occasion I have been in the middle of an assignment that required Internet research only to have my machine bogged down by Windows wanting to download and install updates! (Norton ticks me off for that same reason). Plus, I want to decide what gets updated, for instance I do not use any flavor of IE.

Well, I have this options due to a few bad updates.
The first which made do this was an update which went wrong and crippled the computer....luckily I had back-ups. Despite this I still had to do a re-install.

The second, which has also been seen in various forums, was with the "WGA" Windows Genuine Advantage.
On my computer I have the label which gives the key for my version of Windows Xp Pro. This WGA said that my version was a "Pirate Copy"....I contacted MS for help adn to be honest they did help to resolve the problem after a very long time on the phone. The trouble was that after a few reboots the problem started again. This time I reformated, used my original key. The first update asked if I wanted to download WGA....of course I said "NO" and don't remind me again. That was two years ago and since then no problems!!!

For some reason microsoft automatic updates updates always seem to coincide with me working on my computer or talking to someone on skype, then telling me updates have been installed and i have to restart everything. So for my personal convenience I selected download, but I Choose the time when to install them.

I have it set to download but manually install, to have an in case something goes wrong. Everybody knows that it is necessary to reload windows every 2 years or less because it gets slower and troublesome.
Most PCs are sold with short memory; 2 GB is ok for XP, not less; the poor disk gets crazy. Extrapolating, Windows 7, with more controls on accessing, requires more memory; I Would say 4 GB. I did not ty it yet. Programs run faster with data and programs in different disks. Vista was a plain failure. With all te programming power Microsoft has, it is immoral the way they force people to buy new programs,instead of separating programs in different protected memory areas; the governments should control it ... well, they allow drugs anyway.

We have 5 XP boxes in my household. As the family IT guy, I have all of them set up to download only. Why? Because on 3 separate occasions on different machines for each, Windows update has hosed a machine. As one "for instance" is my HP laptop. WinUpdate shows a bluetooth update for my hardware. (I'd created a full savepoint prior to doing this, thank Murphy.) Said MS update ate my Bluetooth stack and were it not for the savepoint restore, I would have had to nuke the machine.

IS IT REALLY NECESSARY??
FOR PETE'S SAKE, THIS CONSTANT UPDATING DRIVES ME BATTY AND SO MUCH OF IT IS UNNECESSARY AND SOMETIMES CAUSES CONFLICTS AND CRASHES TOO SO IF IT AIN'T BROKEN DON'T FIX IT, ******!

I have my PC (Vista Premium 64 bit) set to notify me of updates only so I can see what is available and plan the download for a more opportune timeframe since I'm stuck with Hughesnet as an internet provider and they penalize you if you exceed their artifical maximum download/upload bytes. I've had pretty good luck with the Windows download/intalls so far