Question about Windows Updates

[Ballygrl]

We just got a Laptop from our Aunt, she said whenever she turned it on it did Windows Updates like crazy, so my question is this, we were told by a tech who fixes our computers that doing the Updates aren't necessary, is this true? should I just set it to do Updates manually for security patches?

Thanks

[Ballygrl]

Oh, and can I change her username and password when it 1st logs onto Windows?

[Kyle Ricky]

A lot of it depends on your preference. I been working on computers for almost 20 years and I don't always do updates myself, but when I do them manually and chose what I want because of how often they are done. Some people turn the updates off. It works either way. You will find that it will slow your computer down because of it scanning for it.

It does drive you nuts because there about 100 a day that come out, and when you have it set to apply them automatically it will reboot your pc when you in the middle of doing something.

[Kyle Ricky]

Oh, and can I change her username and password when it 1st logs onto Windows?

You should be able to change her name and password in the user settings. It might not change the computer name though, at which point you will have to do that with a registry hack.

[rich_t]

I do mine manually and usually only for security updates.

[EagleKeeper]

Bally,

1)What version of windows is running on that laptop?

2)Set the machine up to do automatic updates during times that you are not expected to be using it, like 3 in the morning or something.

3)If it is "whenever she turned it on it did Windows Updates like crazy" there is something else going on. Maybe the updates are failing so it has to keep on trying.

4)Kyle..to say that there is 100 new updates a day is nonsense. The only time I've had a pc reboot on me is after doing a manual update and even then I told it to reboot.

5) Changing the machine name is not a registry hack.

[Kyle Ricky]

Bally,

1)What version of windows is running on that laptop?

2)Set the machine up to do automatic updates during times that you are not expected to be using it, like 3 in the morning or something.

3)If it is "whenever she turned it on it did Windows Updates like crazy" there is something else going on. Maybe the updates are failing so it has to keep on trying.

4)Kyle..to say that there is 100 new updates a day is nonsense. The only time I've had a pc reboot on me is after doing a manual update and even then I told it to reboot.

5) Changing the machine name is not a registry hack.

You can change the username. But it will not change the default user directory name. That has to be done in the registry.

Yes, having it updates while you are away from the pc at late hours will work also, that is if they want to do that.

And yes, it will reboot after apply the automatic updates. Which is why I have it set to manually do it. It has happen to me on numerous occasions, as well as others. There are times where you will get a pop up saying that the PC will reboot in such time, like 10 minutes for example; but that doesn't always happen. And even when that does happen, it doesn't give you a choice to cancel the reboot.

Maybe saying that there are 100 updates a day seems a little far fetched, but it sure as hell seems like it, as windows is constantly sending out updates.

Here is how to chang the default user directory in windows. This example gives it for windows 7, but it is basically the same with other versions.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/147545-user-profile-folder-change-user-account-folder-name.html

[EagleKeeper]

You can change the username. But it will not change the default user directory name. That has to be done in the registry.

Yes, having it updates while you are away from the pc at late hours will work also, that is if they want to do that.

And yes, it will reboot after apply the automatic updates. Which is why I have it set to manually do it. It has happen to me on numerous occasions, as well as others. There are times where you will get a pop up saying that the PC will reboot in such time, like 10 minutes for example; but that doesn't always happen. And even when that does happen, it doesn't give you a choice to cancel the reboot.

Maybe saying that there are 100 updates a day seems a little far fetched, but it sure as hell seems like it, as windows is constantly sending out updates.

Here is how to chang the default user directory in windows. This example gives it for windows 7, but it is basically the same with other versions.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/147545-user-profile-folder-change-user-account-folder-name.html

By default user profiles are stored in C:\Users in Vista and I assume Windows 7. If you want to change that then yes, that has to be changed in the registry.

One can create a new user and once logged in it will use the correct profile. I'm not sure what even brought this up, I was under the impression that Bally just wanted a new user name. The only thing I mentioned about going into the registry was changing the machine name.

It might not change the computer name though, at which point you will have to do that with a registry hack.

And again, I've never had a machine spontaneously reboot on me due to windows update, our contract was written in such a fashion that required us to maintain 99.99% availability, I've never had that luxury.

[rich_t]

I've never had a machine spontaneously reboot on me due to windows update

I've had it happen to me.  That's one of the reasons I turned off automatic updates.

[Ballygrl]

I was able to change the username and make it password unprotected.

So you guys think the updates are important?

[Kyle Ricky]

I was able to change the username and make it password unprotected.

So you guys think the updates are important?

Personally? No.

By default user profiles are stored in C:\Users in Vista and I assume Windows 7. If you want to change that then yes, that has to be changed in the registry.

One can create a new user and once logged in it will use the correct profile. I'm not sure what even brought this up, I was under the impression that Bally just wanted a new user name. The only thing I mentioned about going into the registry was changing the machine name.

And again, I've never had a machine spontaneously reboot on me due to windows update, our contract was written in such a fashion that required us to maintain 99.99% availability, I've never had that luxury.

Needing to have a 99.99% availability is a good reason to set the updates to manual, or just turn them off all together.

[Ballygrl]

Oh, and is it that important to change the name in the registry?

[LC EFA]

I used to be really anal about windows updates - never installing them unless I thought they were critical and could see a valid reason for it.

These days I've got my two windows machines set to automatic and have yet to have a problem more serious than having to wait when I shut them down at bed time for an inordinate amount of time.

My other ubunto machine is set to manually update.

[rich_t]

I was able to change the username and make it password unprotected.

So you guys think the updates are important?

Let's put it this way...

I haven't uploaded a single Windows update in over a year and my machine works fine.

I am running Vista.

[Kyle Ricky]

Oh, and is it that important to change the name in the registry?

Not really, it is more something people with OCD, like me, do. If you can stand seeing a different name for your default user directory, you will be fine.

[EagleKeeper]

I was able to change the username and make it password unprotected.
So you guys think the updates are important?

Bally, I vote yes assuming that it's working correctly

author=Kyle Ricky link=topic=74735.msg897751#msg897751 date=1340747212]
Needing to have a 99.99% availability is a good reason to set the updates to manual, or just turn them off all together.

That's what maintence window are designed for.

[Kyle Ricky]

Let's put it this way...

I haven't uploaded a single Windows update in over a year and my machine works fine.

I am running Vista.

So many people hate Vista, but I think it was one of the best Os's that M$ came out with.

As far as completely failures? I think it will be Windows 8. I am a beta tester (well, I should say "WAS") for it, and it is complete trash.

[LC EFA]

So many people hate Vista, but I think it was one of the best Os's that M$ came out with.

As far as completely failures? I think it will be Windows 8. I am a beta tester for it, and it is complete trash.

I never had problems with Vista 64 - but I did max out the memory and only installed top end brand name hardware.

Now if you want to talk about the biggest fail microsoft came out with - WinME wins hands down.

[Kyle Ricky]

I never had problems with Vista 64 - but I did max out the memory and only installed top end brand name hardware.

Now if you want to talk about the biggest fail microsoft came out with - WinME wins hands down.

Up to this point, ME was the worst. But I think Windows 8 will surpass that.

The biggest problem with Vista was that no one wanted to part ways with XP. That includes businesses, consumers, and hardware manufactures.

[Chris_]

Windows 7 SP1 will reboot your computer at least once (and eat up half an hour of your life).

[EagleKeeper]

Windows 7 SP1 will reboot your computer at least once (and eat up half an hour of your life).

Was that a manual update and if it was did it ask you to reboot the machine?

[Kyle Ricky]

Was that a manual update and if it was did it ask you to reboot the machine?

Service Packs have to reboot your PC in order to install the critical files (Thanks to that stupid file protection that M$ implemented. Then that is probably wrong because you can't over write files while they are in use.). So once you run it, whether it be a manual or automatic update, you are in it for the long haul.

[Chris_]

The SP1 update we had pushed out was installed at startup.  You turned your computer on and you had the privilege of waiting half an hour while your computer was updated for you.

We are running SCCM where I work so I can't tell you if it was optional or not.  Once updates are queued, we don't have a choice.

[EagleKeeper]

The SP1 update we had pushed out was installed at startup.  You turned your computer on and you had the privilege of waiting half an hour while your computer was updated for you.

We are running SCCM where I work so I can't tell you if it was optional or not.  Once updates are queued, we don't have a choice.

Yeah that makes sense, that was pushed out at boot time with administrative (domain admin prolly) access. It's the only way something like that can work short of removing the shutdown option and the power button.

[thundley4]

I was able to change the username and make it password unprotected.

So you guys think the updates are important?

Not using Internet Explorer makes surfing the web safer than most updates will.