re: safe:
Friday, October 28, 2005 at 10:47 pm
Windows XP Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by Anonymouse
(412 messages posted)
If you mean "safe" as in "will my PC catch any viruses or whatever",
then yes, it is safe. If there is any company in the world that cannot afford
to pass on virus infections, even once, it's Microsoft - for the simple reason that
if they did, millions of users' PCs would catch them. Imagine what would happen
then.
But if you mean "safe" as in "will this update screw up my system", that's a whole
different ballgame. I'm not the only user on this forum to have suffered system crashes
or worse after installing 'critical' updates. One time, I had to reinstall both 2000
and 98 (my PC is dual-boot) - how the 2000 update affected 98, I don't know.
Ever since then, I've been wary about updates, and I don't allow them to install
automatically. Many of them, especially the ones plugging security holes, are really
only needed by those - hopefully few, by now - users who don't have firewall/AV software.
Microsoft has a rather condescending attitude towards Windows users, and assumes
by default that they're too dumb to install security software - which of course describes
no-one here...I hope. :)
I doubt anyone could take control of your PC via Plug & Play or whatever if you have
a firewall, and if you have a router I'd say there's virtually no chance of it, as
crackers can't even see your PC.
You should pick and choose updates - I keep getting notified about one for Outlook,
but I don't install it because I don't use Outlook. Anything to do with IE, DirectX,
malware/virus fixes, .NET Framework or Office should be installed, but anything else
- well, I'd take their 'critical' rating with a pinch of salt. You could look up
the update(s) on the Microsoft site to find out what they're for and decide for yourself
if it's worth it. But create a System Restore Point before you do, just in case.
Hope that helps. If anyone more knowledgeable re Windows than me can dispute
this - Carol, for example - feel free.
On Friday, October 28, 2005 at 9:45 am, tony wrote:
>hi guys and gals..is it safe to download updates using the balloon in the tray?..
- Written in response to:
- safe: (tony: Friday, October 28, 2005 at 9:45 am)
There are presently no replies to this message.
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All messages in this thread [show all]
 | safe: (tony: Fri, Oct 28, 2005, 9:45 am) |
 |  | re: safe: (Dan Sarandrea, MCSE: Fri, Oct 28, 2005, 12:19 pm) |
|  |  | re: safe: (tony: Fri, Oct 28, 2005, 12:50 pm) |
|  | re: safe: (Anonymouse: Fri, Oct 28, 2005, 10:47 pm) |
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