Windows Update Breaking Things?

0james0

I recently returned my PC to factory settings and it ran like a dream, really felt like it had come straight out of the box.

However after 2 months of running, it is having a few issues again. Apps crashing, and the stability doesn't seem great. Also have a few slow down issues at times. I'm running Vista on a HP desktop with 3GB of RAM, which isn't loads, but straight after restoring to factory settings it was clearly enough.

I'm not sure why, but I just have a feeling that all of the Vista updates seem to do more harm than good. I'm considering restoring to factory settings again and then never updating.

Is that a good idea?

Could Vista updates be the cause of my problems?

gaming_guy

...........

culpepper

How much space is on your harddrives?
My neice had a problem which looked like it was caused by the updater but eventually it became clear that there was insufficient space for the update files to uncompress and run and also very little space left for the defragmenter (she has it set to run regularly)to rearrange files.
Once space had been freed up, everything ran much smoother.
Most of her space issues were due to image files and music.

jayme1

gaming_guy wrote: »

No.

Always install windows updates as they patch vulnerabilities that may allow malware/viruses onto the system.

agreed, updates are very important, last years conficker virus that attacked millions and millions of computers used an exploit that was already patched by microsoft the month before the virus was released. so never updating is not a good idea.

did you restore to a clean OS or did you use the HP restore discs? if you used the HP discs then it is possible that all the 'bloatware' was installed with it (like trial office, trial antivirus, google toolbars, ect) if you do another restore use add/remove programs to remove all of these, and then install some antivirus (like the free microsoft security essentials), then update and install the software you need.

0james0

I did the restore from the partiton and I managed to avoid or at least delete most the crap HP throws on you.

My hard drive is only running about 50% full, but even windows explorer seems to freeze when I open the my computer (I still call it that) to see what space there is. I haven't downloaded anything and I'm up to date with my virus software and scans reveal nothing.

Maybe it's just Vista being a bit rubbish, but there is a huge difference between now and straight after I'd restored. I haven't put many programmes back on the PC since.