Windows XP Pro-auto updates or not

[PtBetsie]

I have come across posts in these forums and others where following updates, something or other failed to work. Should I let XP run auto updates and hope for the best? XP is not my favorite and I tend to retreat to my 98SE pc. Far less complicated for older pc users.

[Budfred]

Obtain and install updates... Definitely...

Use Auto-update... up to you... If you are careful to check regularly for updates and to install them, you could be left very vulnerable when the next hole in Windows is exploited by some malware writer... Even MS got hit by a worm that exploited a hole that they patched with an update, but which their own employees had not updated...

[PrntRhd]

I have XP-SP2 and prefer to have MS download the updates and install only when I am ready. This way I can identify the updates, wait for feedback on whether there is a problem with them and install them if no problems are reported. Early adopters are always the first casualties you see.
Members here also know I update pretty quickly in any case.
:rolleyes:

[ErnieK]

My preference is to have MS notify me but not download when there are updates.

(2nd choice of the three) I then check the KB numbers and manually download into a folder with the name of the month on it, this way I can keep them for storing onto disk. (This allows me to install all updates at a later date without the need for internet access when/if a clean install is required for my or someone elses' computer)

I then wait for a couple of days to see if there are any adverse reports and if not I go ahead and download auotmatically

IMHO this gives me the best of both worlds

[PtBetsie]

Not auto updating sounds safer. Pardon my ignorance with XP, but when it tells me there is an update available, can I choose to download into a separate folder at that point? This pc will be leaving for the grandkids house soon and I would like it set up before then. Hopefully they will follow my instructions. If I go to the MS site, do I go to the download (updates?) or some sort of review first?

[classicsoftware]

Setting it up fron non tech users. I would turn automatic updates off and then call them and tell them to run Windows update when the coast is clear

[Paul Komski]

I try to avoid letting MS do anything automatically.

[ErnieK]

Not auto updating sounds safer. Pardon my ignorance with XP, but when it tells me there is an update available, can I choose to download into a separate folder at that point? This pc will be leaving for the grandkids house soon and I would like it set up before then. Hopefully they will follow my instructions. If I go to the MS site, do I go to the download (updates?) or some sort of review first?

PT
Depending on the age and sensibillity of your grandkids. If they are youngsters I would reccomend leaving on auto updates, if they are the sensible type the:

By doing it the way I work you can. When updates are availabe there is a small shield flashes next to the clock and tells you that there are updates. Take a note of the KB numbers and then get them direct from MS. Perciveere with the reminder for a couple of days (only annoys at boot up) to see if any adverse reports come in.

OR
another solution is for you to turn off the auto update feature on thier machine, and for you to download as I do, write them to CD-RW disk and once a month go to thier house and install the updates yourself.