Microsoft puts us between a rock and a hard place with “Automatic Updates”
The Dilemma
If you use the default Windows auto update settings, Microsoft automatically updates Windows components which you may not want yet – like the latest Internet Explorer browser version. Wise users hold off on such new software versions for a month or two, while Microsoft fixes their inevitable bugs.
This is not to blame Microsoft for having program “bugs” (program errors). Every new version of every non-trivial software product is guaranteed to have bugs. Software is very complex and is written by error-prone human beings like you and me (and usually under stressful deadlines).
But if you don’t auto update, you may not get the latest Windows security patches in time to prevent some nasty infection of your computer’s software. Or you might miss out on some fix for existing software bugs or a cool new Windows of Office feature.
The Fix is In
With the right settings and a bit of caution when installing updates, you can prevent Windows Update problems:
Best Auto Update settings:
In [Start > Control Panel > Automatic Updates] set for “Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them”.
Find "Automatic Updates" in your Control panel...
..then tell Windows not to install updates automatically.
In this way, your updates arrive automatically (you don’t have to wait for them to download, especially if you leave your computer on while you sleep) and you can inspect and approve or disapprove updates before installing them.
Do You Approve?
When Windows shows that little yellow shield down in the system tray to notify you of a newly arrived Windows update, click on it to open the description – but don’t install it yet. Instead, use the lower option in the description to see what they are offering to install. And don’t wait because you’re “too busy” to deal with updates. Often Microsoft is offering to protect you from a new threat to Windows – you want that protection right now!
As far as what you should install, I recommend always installing anything that mentions “security” or “malware” in the description – right away. Sorry, anything else must remain your decision.
Other Updates
I recommend that you go to the Windows Update web site from time to time and see what they have to offer as optional updates. You may find nice new features for your Microsoft Office products or such.
To do so:
[Start > Windows Update {from the list}]. Once you are on Microsoft’s updates web page, use that “Custom” button, then choose from the results shown on the left of their page.
Until next time – smooth updating…
_jim coe
Tags: Microsoft, slipstreaming, Windows update
