Who Got Caught Disabling Windows Update? - Comments Page 2

I leave security to several programs that specialize in protecting computers against virus and malware attacks. Microsoft updates have been known to slow PC's performance, cripple Media Center functions, and have caused some PC's to crash. My Windows XP never had a problem for over 10 years. My Windows 7 also works just as well as the day I bought it. Use common sense with email and non-commercial sites. Unless one waits and does research about the integrity of every update, updates just seem like unnecessary risks to a computer that is already working perfectly.

I have gone the "Notify me" route also because Windows 7 continually tries to "update" my graphic driver with a version two years older than the manufacturer's driver. That driver is essential to be able to run certain Photoshop plug ins and the generic version does not work for it. I always check the list of new updates as soon as it shows up. I do the updates but filter out things like the graphic driver. If Microsoft would work closer with the manufacturers to just stay up to date and not push out generic drivers for specific hardware I would go back to automatic updates. The same applies to Win 10 I'll do the download but will wait to see how many problems are reported in first weeks.

Bob, me thinks you're drinking too much of the MS koolaid. I argue that too much of the "automatically installed" stuff going on in the background makes users complacent. Computers are no longer toys, but tools, and people who use them should be aware of this maintenance requirement. I compare this to paying attention to the "oil change required" message in your car. Sure, they may still go ahead and install every update, but at least they are aware that something is being done to their computer.

The automatic update setting probably does help in situations where users tend to forget. Granting that much, however, does not obscure the epic-scale problems for both corporate IT and individual users who run into WUP (Windows Update Pandemonium).

Who can forget the timeless moment for HP users who discovered their updates crashed their systems at boot? Or can forget the many problems since then?

For such reasons, corporate IT regards Windows Updates with the same suspicion it applies to any other thing capable of breaking. With updates, they manually download at a time when they can deal with the update proactively, rather than reactively, later. Everything has worked better, that way.

Not everyone has unlimited highspeed connectivity. I for one pay by the MB, and many of the MS updtaes do not apply to me as I dont use Outlook for example. I set my system to tell me when updates are available, then I choose what and when to install. Windows 10 will be a problem for me, for the same reason, and I will probably not upgrade to it if MS does not allow me to decide what and when to do updates.

My pc is busy overnight, while I am busy snoring.. to wake in the morning and find my programs shut down because of an auto restart, after sn "auto install" galls me no end-- so, I prefer the "notify me" route...

Bob, I value all your knowledge & advice but use it by choice - my considered choice. I have used in succession DOS, Win 95, 98, XP (still using), Vista (Yuk) and have always kept update OFF. Have not ever updated, only upgraded from a 1980's Compac, Everex, 2 Sony desktops, an HP desktop & Toshiba laptop. On the laptop now and it works fine - so far - with AVG Internet paid and Malwarebytes Pro. Even with self-installed added cards, trying various free programs along with my paid ones, running scanners, printers, ext. HDD, recording from stereo, burning discs, etc. - machines work fine. No updates. I'm old & old-fashioned and refuse to be spooked.

So far, I have had no problems with windows updates on my Windows 7 computer. I use the automatic updates, but I still have to tell Windows to install the updates.
Bob, what about the optional updates? Do they always need to be installed? I have four of them waiting for me to make a decision about them. I admit that i usually don't install the optional updates.

HP delivers employee PCs with Windows Update turned off. They push out updates automatically. Of course, not realizing this (because they also didn't tell us), I ran it manually. It applied 113 updates, including (IIRC) 26 critical updates. Yep, that automatic push is really keeping HP's machines current!

"Install updates automatically"
How quick we forget...
Never will I do this again.

hi Bob, But Who Wants #Windows10 I DON'T DO YOU When #Windows7 Is King... What's Think: In This Age Of; WE WANT YOUR INFO, Could #Microsoft #Google #Facebook Etc Be Being Forced To Work On Bejalf Of The #NSA #GCHQ #BILDERBURG #G7 Our Fraudulent Governments #Microsoft Are Signing Thwir Own Death Warrant & Starting A New Era In Computing As We All Learn And Unifi #LINUX...

In 2020 Goodbyw #Microsoft It Was Nice While It Lasted Hello #Chromium...

Like many responders I have my machines set to
download and notify but let me choose when to
install. I am little concerned with defective
updates but have on several occasions been in the
middle of a game or creating a document when my
machine freezes, the desktop disappears and then
the computer reboots, wiping out whatever I was
working on. That said I always install critical
and security updates and maybe twice have had a
potential problem in the last several years.

As I travel with an ASUS laptop running on XP (and often in outback Australia with limited time and download speed. Although I work with the 'ask me' option on there about 10 MS downloads that are want to be downloaded but are irrelevant to my XP. If I used the 'automatic' option I would never be able to be sure that the programs were relevant and also defaulting to 'install and close' every time I log on.

Like the others here, I have had negative experiences with Windows Update that have inspired me to go the "Ask me" route. I have not regretted this ever and have never encountered anyone whose experience differs. Microsoft does too many things too awkwardly too often to let them loose in my machine without my close supervision.

I always choose. Windows update frequently wants to install updates for apps or hardware I don't have or use such as Skype or Samsung phones.

I had the opposite problem in losing many hours of work due to an unexpected MS auto-download/re-boot.
Seems a previous one had switched my system back to Auto without telling me...grrr!

Hello Bob! About 4 years ago I bought new desktop Dell machine and forgot to turn off automatic updates. After about half year without a problem, one of the automatic updates gave me a black screen with choices how do I want to start up. None of choices was working except DIAGNOSTIK! But diagnostic was running all day long without stop. After 2-3 days without luck I decided to reinstall windows! It was horrible experience. I did not backup every day only once in 2-3 weeks, so I lost a lot of data! Never will do this again! Only “let me choose”!

I have update turned off because left on it loads updates to Office Live which have repeatedly messed up my machine big time. Only solution to do a System Restore. So I do the "leave me to download and update" an deselect Office Live.

When Microsoft fix it (though I don't know how I will know), I will revert to "Update Automatically"

Although I have a legit copy of Windows, ever since MS sneaked in the patch that checks for pirated copies of Windows I have lost complete faith in MS. I have my machine set to check for updates but let me choose which ones to install. I will not allow MS to turn my machine into a useless boat anchor again.
I also do not install any of MS's drivers for any of my hardware as I know that they are typically not as good as the ones provided by the manufacturer. I diligently keep my drivers up to date on my rig as well as updates therefore I know that it is always patched properly and with all of the latest driver updates.
Yeah, it's not the "recommended" thing to do (according to MS) but in MY case I think it's the right thing to do. I guess I'm just getting a bit cantankerous in my old age. lol

I got reminders to upgrade to 8.1 from 8.0.
I had ignored these, because I did not want 8.1.
One day I got a message that my computer was going to shut down for updates. It was down for about an hour. (Very annoying) When I was able to get on again I had 8.1. A lot of things had changed on my computer. If I had been aware that these changes would be made I could and would have done something to save what I wanted.