Windows XP users: install updates?

[ewistrand]

It all depends. For example, all the multicore hotfixes that came out after SP2 are included with SP3. If you haven't installed them by themselves (or kept up with the security fixes) and you're using your machine online, SP3's almost a must.

If your machine isn't online, SP2 and the hotfixes that apply to you should suffice. Nowdays, a minimum of SP2's almost a must, especially if you use external interfaces.

ew

[jlgrimes]

I've just done a clean install of XP. It's from february this year.

I turned automatic updates ON in the set-up process. But now I'm having second thoughts.

What are the pros and cons of automatic updates? Do I really need them, or will they bloat the system unnecessarily, adding MS backdoors, whatever?

If so, can I roll the process back without re-installing the enstire system?

Windows updates are mostly security updates.

For XP my rule is if you are at Service Pack 2 you should be fine.

If you keep your computer connected to the internet (which you shouldn't for a music computer). You should do the automatic updates because they try to keep people from hacking your system (key work is "try").


I find it is less hassle not to install updates unless you know you it will be a performance increase (after a lot of people tested it). You don't want to be the first to try new software because there always is the potential that an update will break something.

Also contact software manufacturer and see what they recommend.

[amcnally336]

Hey man!
Welcome to Windows...you will love all the software out there!!
You WILL need to learn a bit about your machine and how to tune it to keep it happy, but it is well worth the efort!! Goto musicxp.net and follow their advice! also, check out some sites that list windows services (things that run in the background) to learn which ones are safe to disable. Regarding auto update, DISABLE this!! Do the updates yourself manually about once every week or two. Goto Start-My programs-and at the top click on windows update...follow the directions!It is VERY important to keep up with windows updates...be smart and be safe! It is also a VERY good idea to buy a couple tune-up utility programs...this will keep your machine perky, peppy, and fast. I use Ashampoo for general maintenance...easy to use and does the trick. The only other thing you want to do regularly is defragment the hard drive about once a month...keeps data organized: Start-all programs-accessories-system tools-disk defragmenter. Run this at night as it can take hours to complete. Make sure you have NO programs running (turn off anti-virus) when defragmenting!A very good FREE anti-virus is bitdefender.It will only scan things you tell it to scan, rather than constantly running in the background. AVG is also very good,but does run in the background. Let me know i you have questions!! I love my PC!! I use it for music production and am on the net a lot...NEVER had an issue!!!!

[forge]

I would have it turned on but have it set to 'notify me but dont download' or 'download but dont install' then when you are ready install it up to SP3

TBH it is probably just easier to go to the MS site and d/l SP3 if you have some time to spare, although it didnt' take that long I dont think

the service packs are worth having IMO - XP is a vastly different beast than it was at the beginning - FAR more secure and reliable, it even has some different functions and features and the service packs ensure most of that

[spkey]

The simplest thing to do is to switch automatic updates off. Every now and then go to Windows update from your Start Menu. Select Custom updates and select the ones you want. Windows gives a brief explenation of what each update is. If it's a security update then go for it, otherwise say no (unless you want the latest Windows Media Player).

Having one computer for Audio and another one for the Internet is totally rediculous unless you have the money to spend on an "ideal" setup plus you still need the Interent to update your drivers and your audio software!

I think advice such as "go and get another PC for your Internet connection" is not that helpful.

and yeah... +1 for above answer.

[krank]

Everyone, thanks. I really not in tune with Windows yet, so please pardon me for asking a few further questions.

Hey man!
Welcome to Windows...you will love all the software out there!!
You WILL need to learn a bit about your machine and how to tune it to keep it happy, but it is well worth the efort!! Goto musicxp.net and follow their advice! also, check out some sites that list windows services (things that run in the background) to learn which ones are safe to disable. Regarding auto update, DISABLE this!! Do the updates yourself manually about once every week or two. Goto Start-My programs-and at the top click on windows update...follow the directions!It is VERY important to keep up with windows updates...be smart and be safe! It is also a VERY good idea to buy a couple tune-up utility programs...this will keep your machine perky, peppy, and fast. I use Ashampoo for general maintenance...easy to use and does the trick. The only other thing you want to do regularly is defragment the hard drive about once a month...keeps data organized: Start-all programs-accessories-system tools-disk defragmenter. Run this at night as it can take hours to complete. Make sure you have NO programs running (turn off anti-virus) when defragmenting!A very good FREE anti-virus is bitdefender.It will only scan things you tell it to scan, rather than constantly running in the background. AVG is also very good,but does run in the background. Let me know i you have questions!! I love my PC!! I use it for music production and am on the net a lot...NEVER had an issue!!!!

There seems to be diverging opinions whether to run auto update or use Windows update. Are there any definitive cons of using automatic updates? I've already had it doing a bunch of stuff, to the point of prompting me to install SP3 (it may already have). I've also been on the internet a bit (no porn though, haha).

I'm thinking:

I still haven't installed any programs but Live, so I could do a re-install this time with the automatic updates turned off, wouldn't cost me that much time.

OR

Run some kind of program to see if my system is running well, hasn't taken aboard any nasty stuff. What would such a program be?

Again, thanks for your help. Coing from OSX, Windows seems tedious, though I guess you might feel the same the other way around. Actually it's not my first time with Windows, but the bootcamp'd install on my last MacBook was buggy as hell and I didn't really pick up on how tweak it).

[Moody]

When you did the install was SP2 included in your copy of the build?

[krank]

When you did the install was SP2 included in your copy of the build?

Yes, had to in order to use Bootcamp. I might add that I've installed a 'slimline' version of XP with a bunch of stuff already deleted that someone had prepared. I do own an old copy of XP that I could have updated instead, so I really didn't have any moral qualms.

[Moody]

When you did the install was SP2 included in your copy of the build?

Yes, had to in order to use Bootcamp. I might add that I've installed a 'slimline' version of XP with a bunch of stuff already deleted that someone had prepared. I do own an old copy of XP that I could have updated instead, so I really didn't have any moral qualms.

Then I wouldn't worry about scanning it with any other software to see if it is running well. (probably just screw up more things then help it really) There are few pros and cons about using or not using Auto Updates. One is automatic (master of the obvious) and the other requires you to click on an icon once in a while. The choice is yours. I used to take the manual approach to it all because i rarely got online with my music laptop but, I have since converted to auto updates and using one laptop for everything. Life is much easier now.

[krank]

When you did the install was SP2 included in your copy of the build?

Yes, had to in order to use Bootcamp. I might add that I've installed a 'slimline' version of XP with a bunch of stuff already deleted that someone had prepared. I do own an old copy of XP that I could have updated instead, so I really didn't have any moral qualms.

Then I wouldn't worry about scanning it with any other software to see if it is running well. (probably just screw up more things then help it really) There are few pros and cons about using or not using Auto Updates. One is automatic (master of the obvious) and the other requires you to click on an icon once in a while. The choice is yours. I used to take the manuel approach to it all because i rarely got online with my music laptop but, I have since converted to auto updates and using one laptop for everything. Life is much easier now.

Thanks a lot. So my whole rationale for this thread - that some updates are counterproductive and have to be sorted out - isn't really an issue?

[Moody]

Yes, had to in order to use Bootcamp. I might add that I've installed a 'slimline' version of XP with a bunch of stuff already deleted that someone had prepared. I do own an old copy of XP that I could have updated instead, so I really didn't have any moral qualms.

Then I wouldn't worry about scanning it with any other software to see if it is running well. (probably just screw up more things then help it really) There are few pros and cons about using or not using Auto Updates. One is automatic (master of the obvious) and the other requires you to click on an icon once in a while. The choice is yours. I used to take the manuel approach to it all because i rarely got online with my music laptop but, I have since converted to auto updates and using one laptop for everything. Life is much easier now.

Thanks a lot. So my whole rationale for this thread - that some updates are counterproductive and have to be sorted out - isn't really an issue?

Not if you have the time to spare.

[Moody]

Another way to think of it....

If you get hit by a security flaw you decided to dismiss; one may find themselves in a very counter productive environment.

[krank]

Another way to think of it....

If you get hit by a security flaw you decided to dismiss; one may find themselves in a very counter productive environment.

Okay, automatic updates it is. Thanks for your help.

I'd really like to check my system to see if the internet use so far has yielded any bad stuff. What would you suggest?

[Moody]

Another way to think of it....

If you get hit by a security flaw you decided to dismiss; one may find themselves in a very counter productive environment.

Okay, automatic updates it is. Thanks for your help.

I'd really like to check my system to see if the internet use so far has yielded any bad stuff. What would you suggest?

adaware and spybot seem to be the best ones going. Also the free AVG anti-virus is great with a small foot print. I guess , I will give you my full run down of how my system works and you can take what you need from that.

Your install should be gold if you have the slipstreamed version of XP with SP2 already. From there I install my anti-virus with the latest definitions. This is all before I connect to the internet to get any other updates and with SP3 out I would probably choose to insert a step of installing it before my anti-virus. (I have been running SP3 for a while with zero issues.) This should all happen before any connection to the internet or large LAN. At that point I connect to the internet and get all of the updates and configure my Auto Update settings. From here you can decide if you want to install your Office style products and get all the updates for that. Then I go ahead with my AL install and other software (VSTs, etc..) Once everything is how I like it I use Norton Ghost to take a snap shot. (No more bare bones installs =) Now comes the time to have fun.... I use a little shell script to set my computer into 1 of 2 modes. Mode 1 could be called music mode and Mode 2 could be called internet mode. Basically it just disables the network card and antivirus for music making time.

Hope that helps.

[Moody]

Oops, forgot to mention; I take a snapshot with Ghost before I make any other big changes. For example, before I installed SP3.