installing updates - how to tell good from bad?

ih8stress

How do you know which updates to install?

Windows update has just given me 1 Important and 7 Optional updates to install.

I presume the Important one is just that (KB977863 update for media centre for windows 7 x 64 based systems)

but the others?

Intel Corporation - Display -Intel(R) G45/G43 Express Chipset
Realtek - Network - Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Update for IE 8 Compatibility View List for Windows 7
Update for Rights Management Services Client for Windows 7 for x64
Update for Windows 7 for x64 based Systems (KB976264)
Update for Windows 7 for x64 based Systems (KB978637)

Sorry but just got my new pc yesterday and not sure of things:)

Also, when setting up I selected 'to install important updates only', so why didn't it install this important one?

poppy10_2

The first two are updated drivers, which you should definitely install. The third one helps Internet Explorer to display certain websites properly. The fifth and sixth ones are compatibility updates help programs run properly in Windows 7.

Just install all of them, why do you think there are "bad" updates?

esuhl

ih8stress wrote: »

How do you know which updates to install?

I just read the notes to see what the updates do, then use a search engine if Microsoft don't provide enough information.

flossy_splodge

poppy10 wrote: »

The first two are updated drivers, which you should definitely install. The third one helps Internet Explorer to display certain websites properly. The fifth and sixth ones are compatibility updates help programs run properly in Windows 7.

Just install all of them, why do you think there are "bad" updates?

Err, maybe because there are???
Like the one last year for Vista that caused many people to lose sound.
My DD's laptop still has no sound, the work arounds on the various techie forums we've looked at have not worked for her - but the problem was DEF caused by a BAD update.:eek:

fiddiwebb

flossy_splodge wrote: »

Err, maybe because there are???
Like the one last year for Vista that caused many people to lose sound.
My DD's laptop still has no sound, the work arounds on the various techie forums we've looked at have not worked for her - but the problem was DEF caused by a BAD update.:eek:

Did you try and re-install drivers for sound etc. , I'm surprised that the update would cause a loss of sound.

If you can give more details it should be sortable.

flossy_splodge

Absolutely certain it was the update - well documented including on MS's own site.
After update, got a red cross over the sound icon.
Have tried lots of options including reinstalling drivers but no joy.:eek:
My problem is I only get access to the laptop occasionally as DD does not live at or near home so am always short of time when I do get it!
Any other ideas would be welcome.:o

Aiadi

poppy10 wrote: »

Just install all of them, why do you think there are "bad" updates?

Have you seen on installed the 'Desktop Search' update? if that is not bad then I don't know what is.:mad:

kwikbreaks

Unless you research every single update about a week or so after release you'll never know if it is good, bad, or indifferent. Of course it may well have been absolutely essential but as your policy is to wait and check you won't have installed it so could have fallen foul of the nasty it was written to block in the meantime.

By far the simplest and safest option is to just install all the updates labelled essential and reserve research for the optional ones. Even then you'll spend less time backing out duff updates than you will researching them all before applying them.

I don't recall ever having to rollback any MS update.

flossy_splodge

Aiadi wrote: »

Have you seen on installed the 'Desktop Search' update? if that is not bad then I don't know what is.:mad:

I'm really sorry but I don't know what you're saying here?:(

penrhyn

If I recall desktop search was an XP feature, OP is running Windows 7.

khublaikhan

Just install all of them - they create a restore point before installation - just roll back if you run into problems. Its good to be cautious but you'll be wasting alot of time researching each update. Anything can a cause a system crash - even the essential updates - always a slight risk installing them but worth it imo.