Guest Philip Papeman Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Hi Folks, I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in batches, say 10 updates at a time? Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks. Phil PS If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise.
Guest PowerUser Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! All at once will be fine. "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. > Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in > batches, say 10 updates at a time? > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > Phil > > PS > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. >
Guest Uncle Grumpy Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote: >A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical >updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. Should >I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in batches, say 10 >updates at a time? > >Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. Got Broadband? If yes, GO FOR IT!
Guest Pat Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Synchronicity... I just posted almost the exact same question (but for different reasons) But even I know not to install all at once. A hiccup in your internet connection, best case, you gotta do it all over again. Worst case, you've got lots of leftover files left over. I plan on doing them 10 critical updates at a time. I just don't know if there is a recommended Best Practices as to what to do first. If no one has any better ideas, I'm going to start with the oldest and work towards the newest. Pat "PowerUser" wrote... > All at once will be fine. > > "Philip Papeman" wrote... > > Hi Folks, > > > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. > > Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in > > batches, say 10 updates at a time? > > > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > > > Thanks. > > Phil > > > > PS > > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. > > > >
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. > Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in > batches, say 10 updates at a time? > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > Phil > > PS > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. Sounds about the right amount. I do them all at once - set it up, wait for the few agreements, and proceed. Go for dinner, watch a movie, do something fun or productive, or both. Note that a few items, like IE7 and I think newer Windows Medial Players, will require windows validation. This isn't a bad thing, but the install will stop till you agree. You may wish to separate those two items to a second pass. HTH -pk
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Philip Papeman wrote: > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. Should > I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in batches, say 10 > updates at a time? > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > Phil > > PS > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. > > I would do a few at a time, myself, just in case one or more of the patches conflicts with something else on the computer. Then it would be easier to determine which one caused the problem and remove it. Due to the nearly infinite number of possible combinations of hardware, device drivers, and applications on any given PC, it's impossible to guarantee that all patches will be 100% harmless. In a very small number of cases, patches and hotfixes can cause conflicts or other problems. So, as with all changes to an OS, caution is advised. In the overwhelming majority of cases, all "Critical" updates should be installed. These address serious issues that can affect a large number of computers. There will be only rare occasions when a Critical update will not apply. Of special importance are those that address security vulnerabilities. If people had installed the available critical updates in July of 2003, the Blaster and Welchia worms would not have spread throughout the Internet the following month. In the unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the troublesome hotfix. For the "Recommended" updates, simply study the information provided to see if these updates apply in your specific situation. If they don't apply, or you're not experiencing the problem(s) addressed, you needn't install them. For instance, I have no use for WinXP's MovieMaker, so I ignore any updates to it. Again, in the unlikely event that problems do develop, you can always use the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet or a System Restore Point to uninstall the troublesome hotfix. In general, though, I've found it best *not* to download the "Driver" updates from Windows Update, unless they're for a hardware device originally manufactured by Microsoft. Device drivers provided by each component's manufacturer's web site are likely to perform better and offer more features than will the watered-down, "generic" drivers that those manufacturers provide to Microsoft for distribution via Windows Update. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
Guest JS Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! I'd make a backup of your Windows partition first, just to be safe. This way if something goes wrong you can always go back to what you have now. Backup Solutions True Image: (has a 15 day free trial) http://www.acronis.com/ Ghost: http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost12 It's a matter of preference, both are image backup utilities and work well. The backup (image file) needs to be created on a second drive (internal or external). Check each product to see if it's supports your storage media and interface (USB, Etc.) JS "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. > Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in > batches, say 10 updates at a time? > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > Phil > > PS > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. >
Guest V Green Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. Should > I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in batches, say 10 > updates at a time? Hell, no. Several of them were VERY BADLY coded, released without proper testing, and resulted in BSOD's and/or other system misbehavior on machines with certain software/hardware configs. The original misbehaving release MAY or MAY NOT have been fixed subsequently. Take down the KB numbers that reference the updates and Google them. Check to make sure you don't have any of the stuff that will cause them to screw up. And beware - some of these do NOT fit the definition of a "critical" update. Media Player 11 is one of these - WMP 11 is billed as a "critical" update (I think) but it is a major POS - a clear "downgrade" from WMP 10. > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > Phil > > PS > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. > >
Guest Harry Ohrn Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! I go here download what I want and install later http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/index.html Scroll down to the Windows XP Essentials section. You can also download from here http://www.softwarepatch.com/security/winxpsp2-security.html While many of the purists won't like these links the fact is that the files are all genuine MS hotfixes. I have six systems all running that I patched from these sites. I really dislike the Windows Autoupdate Site and it's tendency to deliver "fixes" I neither want or need - like IE 7 for example. -- Harry Ohrn MS MVP [shell\User] http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. > Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in > batches, say 10 updates at a time? > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > Phil > > PS > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. >
Guest Leythos Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! In article <ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl>, plpapeman@removecomcast.net says... > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. Should > I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in batches, say 10 > updates at a time? > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. If you properly get Microsoft Update working, the updates will download to the machine overnight and then you can install them the next day. If you're in a hurry, just do all of them. I've never had a problem doing all of them at the same time - just don't do the hardware updates until you have a system backup to recover from. -- Leythos - Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum. - Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist" spam999free@rrohio.com (remove 999 for proper email address)
Guest PowerUser Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! All is not lost with a hiccup in the connection. Whatever is downloaded is saved. It will not be downloaded again, simply installed when you visit WU the next time. I generally patch all my clean OS installs completely and all at once. However I will add that waiting a longer time - like in your case, 2 years before the updates are installed - could cause problems with an update. "Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:%23hBfLhi0HHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Synchronicity... I just posted almost the exact same question (but for > different > reasons) > > But even I know not to install all at once. A hiccup in your internet > connection, best > case, you gotta do it all over again. Worst case, you've got lots of > leftover files left > over. > > I plan on doing them 10 critical updates at a time. I just don't know if > there is a > recommended Best Practices as to what to do first. If no one has any > better ideas, I'm > going to start with the oldest and work towards the newest. > > Pat > > > > "PowerUser" wrote... >> All at once will be fine. >> >> "Philip Papeman" wrote... >> > Hi Folks, >> > >> > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro >> > SP2 >> > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it >> > appears >> > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. >> > >> > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical >> > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. >> > Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in >> > batches, say 10 updates at a time? >> > >> > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. >> > >> > Thanks. >> > Phil >> > >> > PS >> > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. >> > >> >> > >
Guest dobey Posted July 29, 2007 Posted July 29, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message news:%23c7e1ii0HHA.5152@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message > news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> Hi Folks, >> >> I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 >> and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears >> that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. >> >> A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical >> updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. >> Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in >> batches, say 10 updates at a time? >> >> Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. >> >> Thanks. >> Phil >> >> PS >> If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. > > Sounds about the right amount. I do them all at once - set it up, wait > for the few agreements, and proceed. Go for dinner, watch a movie, do > something fun or productive, or both. > > Note that a few items, like IE7 and I think newer Windows Medial Players, > will require windows validation. This isn't a bad thing, but the install > will stop till you agree. You may wish to separate those two items > to a second pass. > > HTH > -pk > You make it sound like he can't use the PC while the updates are installing. To the OP. Usually Windows Update will tell you is an update needs to be installed by itself, so all at once should be fine.
Guest Pat Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Would it be too much to ask if there is a cumulative update of the moment that could just be downloaded?
Guest Uncle Grumpy Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! "Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote: >Would it be too much to ask if there is a cumulative update of the moment that could >just be downloaded? Ask away... but it won't change anything. You're wasting your and our time. Download it and be done with this.
Guest dobey Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! "Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:O4svGGk0HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Would it be too much to ask if there is a cumulative update of the moment > that could > just be downloaded? > > Service pack 3 I expect. Would it make any difference though? I expect it would be not much smaller, and not much easier to install. Windows update doesn't require much interaction, and you still need to download the data anyway. One large file, or twenty small ones.
Guest GHalleck Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! dobey wrote: > "Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:O4svGGk0HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > >>Would it be too much to ask if there is a cumulative update of the moment >>that could >>just be downloaded? >> >> > > > Service pack 3 I expect. > > Would it make any difference though? > I expect it would be not much smaller, and not much easier to install. > Windows update doesn't require much interaction, and you still need to > download the data anyway. One large file, or twenty small ones. > > The one good thing about SP3 would probably be that it can be obtained on a cdrom...unless Microsoft has bought a communications company and insists on pushing everything through high-speed internet connections.
Guest Curt Christianson Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Hi dobey, Of course one *can* use the computer while at Windows Update, but "best practices" suggest otherwise. I personally *never* do anything to possibly disrupt the update process. Not only do I *not* use the computer, I make sure that no screensavers are activated, power schemes set so that nothing goes "to sleep" while I'm updating. These are just little items that help to make the update process a little less risky. It goes along the same lines as when you are working with CD/DVD's. It is always suggested to do nothing else on the machine while burning and ripping CD's to lessen the chance of creating a coaster. -- HTH, Curt Windows Support Center http://www.aumha.org Practically Nerded,... http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm "dobey" <a@v.nox> wrote in message news:uIu9$yj0HHA.4004@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... | | "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message | news:%23c7e1ii0HHA.5152@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... | > "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message | > news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... | >> Hi Folks, | >> | >> I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 | >> and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears | >> that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. | >> | >> A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical | >> updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. | >> Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in | >> batches, say 10 updates at a time? | >> | >> Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. | >> | >> Thanks. | >> Phil | >> | >> PS | >> If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. | > | > Sounds about the right amount. I do them all at once - set it up, wait | > for the few agreements, and proceed. Go for dinner, watch a movie, do | > something fun or productive, or both. | > | > Note that a few items, like IE7 and I think newer Windows Medial Players, | > will require windows validation. This isn't a bad thing, but the install | > will stop till you agree. You may wish to separate those two items | > to a second pass. | > | > HTH | > -pk | > | | You make it sound like he can't use the PC while the updates are installing. | | To the OP. | Usually Windows Update will tell you is an update needs to be installed by | itself, so all at once should be fine. | |
Guest Pat Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Best Practice for using Windows Update: 1. Boot the computer from powerdown. 2. Log into an Administrator account. 3. Shut down all unnecessary background processes (Acrobat Distiller, Picasso, etc). When I run WU, the only programs I have running (other than normal Windows background processes) is my firewall, Spybot, and Sysinternal's Process Explorer. 4. Run Windows Update. (do not run anything else, do not check your email or surf the web) 5. Leave the computer alone until all updates have been processed. 6. When completed, reboot into your normal user account. Pat "Curt Christianson" wrote... > Hi dobey, > > Of course one *can* use the computer while at Windows Update, but "best > practices" suggest otherwise. I personally *never* do anything to possibly > disrupt the update process. Not only do I *not* use the computer, I make > sure that no screensavers are activated, power schemes set so that nothing > goes "to sleep" while I'm updating. These are just little items that help > to make the update process a little less risky. It goes along the same > lines as when you are working with CD/DVD's. It is always suggested to do > nothing else on the machine while burning and ripping CD's to lessen the > chance of creating a coaster. > > -- > HTH, > Curt > > Windows Support Center > http://www.aumha.org > Practically Nerded,... > http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm > > "dobey" <a@v.nox> wrote in message > news:uIu9$yj0HHA.4004@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > | > | "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message > | news:%23c7e1ii0HHA.5152@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > | > "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message > | > news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > | >> Hi Folks, > | >> > | >> I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro > SP2 > | >> and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it > appears > | >> that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > | >> > | >> A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > | >> updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. > | >> Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in > | >> batches, say 10 updates at a time? > | >> > | >> Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > | >> > | >> Thanks. > | >> Phil > | >> > | >> PS > | >> If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. > | > > | > Sounds about the right amount. I do them all at once - set it up, wait > | > for the few agreements, and proceed. Go for dinner, watch a movie, do > | > something fun or productive, or both. > | > > | > Note that a few items, like IE7 and I think newer Windows Medial > Players, > | > will require windows validation. This isn't a bad thing, but the > install > | > will stop till you agree. You may wish to separate those two items > | > to a second pass. > | > > | > HTH > | > -pk > | > > | > | You make it sound like he can't use the PC while the updates are > installing. > | > | To the OP. > | Usually Windows Update will tell you is an update needs to be installed by > | itself, so all at once should be fine. > | > | > >
Guest Pat Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! "dobey" wrote... > > "Pat" wrote... > > Would it be too much to ask if there is a cumulative update of the moment > > that could > > just be downloaded? > > > > > > Service pack 3 I expect. > > Would it make any difference though? > I expect it would be not much smaller, and not much easier to install. > Windows update doesn't require much interaction, and you still need to > download the data anyway. One large file, or twenty small ones. Hmmm... I ran WU on my XP computer & got over 70 requested updates. I manually downloaded about 10 of the most recent XP updates from here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/browse.aspx?DisplayLang=en&nr=20&productId=4C937A02-BAE0-4317-A1A9-0C56CD979D05&sortCriteria=date Now, WU shows I only need about 20 XP updates.
Guest Curt Christianson Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Good one there Pat. And thank you. -- HTH, Curt Windows Support Center http://www.aumha.org Practically Nerded,... http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm "Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:%23EIJUKs0HHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... | Best Practice for using Windows Update: | | 1. Boot the computer from powerdown. | 2. Log into an Administrator account. | 3. Shut down all unnecessary background processes (Acrobat Distiller, Picasso, etc). | When I run WU, the only programs I have running (other than normal Windows background | processes) is my firewall, Spybot, and Sysinternal's Process Explorer. | 4. Run Windows Update. (do not run anything else, do not check your email or surf the | web) | 5. Leave the computer alone until all updates have been processed. | 6. When completed, reboot into your normal user account. | | Pat | | | | "Curt Christianson" wrote... | > Hi dobey, | > | > Of course one *can* use the computer while at Windows Update, but "best | > practices" suggest otherwise. I personally *never* do anything to possibly | > disrupt the update process. Not only do I *not* use the computer, I make | > sure that no screensavers are activated, power schemes set so that nothing | > goes "to sleep" while I'm updating. These are just little items that help | > to make the update process a little less risky. It goes along the same | > lines as when you are working with CD/DVD's. It is always suggested to do | > nothing else on the machine while burning and ripping CD's to lessen the | > chance of creating a coaster. | > | > -- | > HTH, | > Curt | > | > Windows Support Center | > http://www.aumha.org | > Practically Nerded,... | > http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm | > | > "dobey" <a@v.nox> wrote in message | > news:uIu9$yj0HHA.4004@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... | > | | > | "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message | > | news:%23c7e1ii0HHA.5152@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... | > | > "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message | > | > news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... | > | >> Hi Folks, | > | >> | > | >> I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro | > SP2 | > | >> and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it | > appears | > | >> that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. | > | >> | > | >> A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical | > | >> updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. | > | >> Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in | > | >> batches, say 10 updates at a time? | > | >> | > | >> Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. | > | >> | > | >> Thanks. | > | >> Phil | > | >> | > | >> PS | > | >> If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. | > | > | > | > Sounds about the right amount. I do them all at once - set it up, wait | > | > for the few agreements, and proceed. Go for dinner, watch a movie, do | > | > something fun or productive, or both. | > | > | > | > Note that a few items, like IE7 and I think newer Windows Medial | > Players, | > | > will require windows validation. This isn't a bad thing, but the | > install | > | > will stop till you agree. You may wish to separate those two items | > | > to a second pass. | > | > | > | > HTH | > | > -pk | > | > | > | | > | You make it sound like he can't use the PC while the updates are | > installing. | > | | > | To the OP. | > | Usually Windows Update will tell you is an update needs to be installed by | > | itself, so all at once should be fine. | > | | > | | > | > | |
Guest Jupiter Jones [MVP] Posted July 30, 2007 Posted July 30, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Yes, the computer can be used while updating. But the suggestion is about minimizing risk. Updates change a variety of files and the less the computer is doing the less likely some type of related problem will occur. -- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org "dobey" <a@v.nox> wrote in message news:uIu9$yj0HHA.4004@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > You make it sound like he can't use the PC while the updates are > installing. > > To the OP. > Usually Windows Update will tell you is an update needs to be > installed by itself, so all at once should be fine.
Guest Plato Posted July 31, 2007 Posted July 31, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Philip Papeman wrote: > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears Best bet is to wipe the hard drive and intstall the version of the OS you want to use totally fresh. -- http://www.bootdisk.com/
Guest PowerUser Posted July 31, 2007 Posted July 31, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! Actually if you look more closely at the updating algorithm (revamped greatly post SP2) you'll find that most of the system changes are made after the restart. The first stage involves downloading and copying updates to system directories, rather than replacement of files, that is typically done after a system reboot. That's how MS is confident enough to say that you can continue using the computer while updating. "Curt Christianson" <curtchristnsn@NOSPAM.Yahoo.com> wrote in message news:%231xE$cq0HHA.4184@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > Hi dobey, > > Of course one *can* use the computer while at Windows Update, but "best > practices" suggest otherwise. I personally *never* do anything to > possibly > disrupt the update process. Not only do I *not* use the computer, I make > sure that no screensavers are activated, power schemes set so that nothing > goes "to sleep" while I'm updating. These are just little items that help > to make the update process a little less risky. It goes along the same > lines as when you are working with CD/DVD's. It is always suggested to do > nothing else on the machine while burning and ripping CD's to lessen the > chance of creating a coaster. > > -- > HTH, > Curt > > Windows Support Center > http://www.aumha.org > Practically Nerded,... > http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm > > "dobey" <a@v.nox> wrote in message > news:uIu9$yj0HHA.4004@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > | > | "Patrick Keenan" <test@dev.null> wrote in message > | news:%23c7e1ii0HHA.5152@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > | > "Philip Papeman" <plpapeman@removecomcast.net> wrote in message > | > news:ueZ8fZi0HHA.5772@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > | >> Hi Folks, > | >> > | >> I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro > SP2 > | >> and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it > appears > | >> that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > | >> > | >> A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 > critical > | >> updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. > | >> Should I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in > | >> batches, say 10 updates at a time? > | >> > | >> Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > | >> > | >> Thanks. > | >> Phil > | >> > | >> PS > | >> If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please > advise. > | > > | > Sounds about the right amount. I do them all at once - set it up, > wait > | > for the few agreements, and proceed. Go for dinner, watch a movie, do > | > something fun or productive, or both. > | > > | > Note that a few items, like IE7 and I think newer Windows Medial > Players, > | > will require windows validation. This isn't a bad thing, but the > install > | > will stop till you agree. You may wish to separate those two > items > | > to a second pass. > | > > | > HTH > | > -pk > | > > | > | You make it sound like he can't use the PC while the updates are > installing. > | > | To the OP. > | Usually Windows Update will tell you is an update needs to be installed > by > | itself, so all at once should be fine. > | > | > >
Guest PowerUser Posted July 31, 2007 Posted July 31, 2007 Re: 81 Critical Updates! There's this thing called Ryan's VM that can be used to create an updated disc (XP SP2+updates) that has post SP2 updates integrated into it. I now use that disc to start my clean/ upgrade installs. Works perfectly fine here but don't whine since it's not coming from the MS site. "Pat" <pat929@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:O4svGGk0HHA.748@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Would it be too much to ask if there is a cumulative update of the moment > that could > just be downloaded? > >
Guest BinaryConverted Posted August 17, 2007 Posted August 17, 2007 RE: 81 Critical Updates! That really depends on whether you have Dial-Up or Broadband. On a dial-up connection, download the small ones first. Then install the larger updates in batches. The person you 'inherited' the computer from probably didn't install all Windows Updates. -- A story of success always has a beginning. "Philip Papeman" wrote: > Hi Folks, > > I've "inherited" a 2-year-old Dell Dimension 9100 with Windows XP Pro SP2 > and Office 2003. Although Norton Internet Security is current, it appears > that neither Windows XP nor MS Office have ever been updated. > > A visit to the Microsoft Update site reveals that I require 81 critical > updates (175.4 MB , 1 hour 9 minutes) to get this system up to snuff. Should > I download ALL of these at once or should I install them in batches, say 10 > updates at a time? > > Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. > > Thanks. > Phil > > PS > If there is a more appropriate group for this question, please advise. > > >
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