Do very old Microsoft Updates suddenly come down a Wifi Lan? SOLVED using different method!

Annemos

Thank you all very much indeed.  

1     Yes I do have full back-ups on Two separate Buffalo Drives. 

But I get so paranoid, that they might fail too, or not work on the later versions of Windows.

Windows 7 is on the Vaio. The Buffaloes were purchased in the Windows 7 days, I think. 

Both Buffaloes are still working on the Vaio and also on my Windows 10 - HP Laptop, too, which I use for everyday. 

I hope the fact that the Vaio is hardly used will extend its life, but I suppose, that is not a given. 


2    The other reason I am still so attached to my Vaio (apart from the feel and use of it and screen quality) is that I still have a Nikon P7800 Coolpix Compact camera.

That old Nikon photo processing programme only works on Windows 7!  I also love that camera but they have stopped producing them, now. I still take it on my odd Holiday to places like India or Mongolia. It has several functions I enjoy like the eye-viewfinder which is almost non-existent these days at my level. (Great in the Himalayas for spotting Ibex when all is sandy-coloured, for example.)

I believe there is still a Canon model that is midway between a Compact camera and a professional camera, but now very expensive. 

4  Unfortunately, I cannot seem to isolate the Bluetooth operation from the Wi-fi on the Vaio. Both switches have to be on on the Vaio for the Bluetooth to work.

 I was getting a bit annoyed at the start of trying to use the Vaio with Bluetooth, because I had not realised that the Bluetooth Music player will only operate on one Computer at a time. Once I had switched off the HP in the other room, then it started to work on the Vaio. (I had thought I was actually doing something wrong with the Vaio and its Bluetooth, so that sent me down the wrong track for about 90 minutes ! )

That's the problem when we are not experts. A lot of trial and error. 


5  My sister still has an old Vaio which she updated to Windows 10 and uses every day. We are both aware support is stopping for Windows 10. But we have heard that a Windows 12 is due to come out and are loathed to dive into a new Computer towards the end of 2025, if we are going to have to buy one with Windows 11 in and it is obsolete before its time. So we are contemplating paying extra for the year support etc etc. 


Anyway, thank you all. I shall not use the Vaio for the Rock DVD!  

I wonder how many of us are still using all this old tech?! 

Heedtheadvice

^^^ same here and I would add that you should get a backup of your main computer - if not already!

Post back on here with details of both computers and someone will advise how to get a backup of both at a money saving cost!

Responses usually give everyone's favourite way ( pros and cons there) but best to make sure you have at least one backup of data that is important to you ( preferably two by different methods/ locations such as an external hard drive and the cloud). USB memory stick is handy and cheap and easy but not as reliable.

Annemos

Well,  the back-up of everything on my main computer is also on the Buffalo. 

But critical things like what my sister would need if I kick the bucket, are on two separate USB memory sticks. (House deeds, financial affairs, etc.) That data does not take up so much room to store. 

I don't trust that the Cloud will always be there. Could there ever be a big malfunction: we are hooking into a remote system? 

Maybe that is silly on my part? 

I am going to have a review of my current systems as we start to deal with Windows 10 expiring. My HP needs replacing anyway, as it is a bit old and not enough memory. 

PS You can imagine how my heart sank when I saw 95 Microsoft updates downloading on the Vaio and being unable to stop them! But they only took about half an hour, thank goodness! 

Heedtheadvice

Further your initial apology is a good start as it puts the question and your tech knowledge into context to help responders.

For info ( a general simplification!)

The internet is connected to you ( your router) via your Internet Service Provider  by one of several tech methods that is commonly referred to as Broadband or Wide Area Network (WAN).

The router provides a connecton hub -your Local Area Network ( LAN) - to/ from devices such as computers. They are connected by cable ( Ethernet ) or radio signal ( WiFi ).

Thus establishing a connection from laptop via WiFi (e.g. your laptop) or ethernet ( maybe your PC?) will normally give  you connection to the internet.  The connection can be one/two/several/many devices all at the same time to allow you to use the internet amd the internet to connect to you.

It also allows automatic updates of your Windows ( or other) operating  systems that are required for new features, reliability, cloud backups....and security.

Old and non up-to-date systems are more at risk of security breaches especially those old systems no longer supported like Win 7, XP etc. Best now not to connect them via WiFi or ethernet to the router as they have known security issues. It is not highly likely that you will fall foul of malware etc for a short period of connection but if/when it happens it can be a big problem...as  NHS locations and others have found out, so be or get prepared! Often it is just very annoying but it is becoming more common.

Annemos

Excellent, thank you very much Headtheadvice.

It was indeed the downloading of updates that made me realise I had a very basic misunderstanding. 

Thank you for clarifying the way it all works and the correct terms. 

vacheron

p00hsticks said:

Annemos said:

No there is no other browser, as far as I can see. I am starting to think maybe this is a risk. I should keep this old Vaio isolated to protect it. (And all my old photos.) 

As @teaselmay says, the far greater risk to your photos is the Vaio itself having a hardware failure and you not being able to retrieve them, rather than being hacked through the internet. 

Take back up copies onto a USB stick or similar,,,,,

Exactly.

• Chance of being hacked over the internet while your laptop is connected to Wi-Fi and losing all your photos: Very small.

• Chance of the hardware failing in that old laptop if you keep using it indefinitely and losing all your photos:100%! 

If you don't have those photos backed up elsewhere, please do it ASAP!

Vitor

Windows updates can also operate peer-to-peer from other Windows machines on the network, Microsoft stopped all updates (inc. security) to Windows 7 in January 2023 so I do wonder if these Vaio updates are coming from another machine.

Heedtheadvice

....and apologies from me! I missed some recent posts and can now see you have backups.....but updating the old hardware and reviewing your scheme might be of benefit.

400ixl

If you do have to have the wifi switched on to use bluetooth, make sure that the laptop is not connected to the home wifi. Delete the know networks so that is it on but not connected to anything.

400ixl

Vitor said:

Windows updates can also operate peer-to-peer from other Windows machines on the network, Microsoft stopped all updates (inc. security) to Windows 7 in January 2023 so I do wonder if these Vaio updates are coming from another machine.

Very unlikely if there is not another Windows 7 device on the network. It was connected to the internet, so would have been directly downloading them.