Application: Classic Shell

They can get away with out updates from Microsoft, because they are independent from Microsoft. They do all their own updating and it doesn't matter what Microsoft sends out.

It sucks that Windows has so many updates, but it is the only way to get it even remotely secure. LoL

Yes,when I first use my computer after I have done a factory restore, I have to install over 100 updates all over again. And it takes ages. On Windows XP it takes a lot less time to install updates but on Windows 7 it takes a lot longer. Windows 7 is slower than Windows XP. Most of these updates are just up to date installations of Microsoft and Windows software. Just like installing a new version of Firefox or Pidgin,the updates install a newer version of Windows Defender or Silverlight and other software. And I have often wondered if it would be quicker to just go onto the Microsoft website and install the updated version of the software I want. Just like I have to to update Firefox.

But many of these updates are also security updates but I don't know if they do any good or not. I have automatic updating turned off. So I just check for updates when I want to in my own time. And that way I just choose the updates I want and reject the ones I don't want. This stops Windows Update from installing unwanted software on my computer.

On Windows 7 and Windows XP you tick never install updates to turn off automatic updating. And then when you check for updates manually on Windows 7 you tick hide update so you don't get the unwanted update again. And on Windows XP you select custom install to stop automatic updates being turned on and to select only the updates you want to install. Then to hide update tick don't show this update again.

The interesting thing about Windows XP's updating system is that you can choose to install updates by going onto the website through a web browser or from control panel. Although if you don't want to use Internet Explorer to do this you can use another Trident Internet Explorer engine based browser such as Advanced browser or Green browser but not Firefox or Google Chrome. But any Trident engine browser such as Avant browser and other, will let you install updates from the website in Windows XP.

But when I am on Windows XP,I choose to install my updates from control panel as I think it is safer than going onto the web in a web browser. But on Windows Vista and Windows 7,you cannot install updates from the website in a web browser. You can only install them through control panel.Andrea Borman.

It takes longer to install updates on Vista/7, partly because of the size of the updates and partly because of the hardware you are running. Speed of the hard drive, RAM and processor makes a big difference. Like I have said many times, it is the hardware that makes your OS slow. You have to look at what update it is to know what it is for. There are a good amount of .net framework updates. Updating with Windows Update is more along the lines of downloading what you need, not the full install application. It is more likely to change just .dlls and such files. That would be apposed to other softwares like Pidgin. Although FireFox can self update, and it doesn't require downloading the entire install package, just what it needs at the time. Windows Defender doesn't change versions, it may change the build, but not version. Although most of the updates for Defender are just new definitions. No, it will be slower to install from the Microsoft website, because you will have to download a patch that is almost 5 time larger then waht you may need. One of the features that comes in Windows Update is the ability to know what you need and what you don't

Yes, lots of security updates. You have a legal copy of Windows, so you need to get all the updates that are important. It is a bad idea to disable updates. The best thing to set it to is download all updates, but let me choose what to install. That will keep the list up to day, but wont just install with out you looking and saying yes, it is okay. Also, when you do choose to do the updates, it will take less time because the updates are already downloaded.

The XP update only runs through a web browser. At the time there was no other way. There are other browser that will allow you to install updates from, but I wouldn't do it.

The first photo is of the Windows Update website in Pink browser in my Windows XP. The second photo is of Windows Update in control panel in my Windows XP. And the the third photo is of the Windows Update website in my Windows 7 in Advanced browser.

In Windows XP you can install updates in any Internet Explorer engine based browser,like Pink Browser,Advanced browser or Green browser and others.If you don't want to use Internet Explorer. But not in Chrome or Firefox based browsers. And you can also install updates direct from control panel in Windows XP without going onto a web browser.

But in Windows 7 and Windows Vista you cannot install updates at all from a web browser.You can only install them from control panel. And as you can see in the third picture, that shows the Windows Update website in Windows 7 in Advanced browser. When you go to the Windows Update website in Windows 7,you get a message telling you to go to control panel. And it is the same thing in Windows Vista,you cannot install update from a web browser,only from control panel.

So the updates system is slightly different in Windows Vista and Windows 7, from what it is in Windows XP. But when I am on Windows XP, I always install updates from control panel as I think it is safer than through a web browser. Andrea Borman.

That is still installing from a website run on a browser, just the tool bars are different. It may be Explorer or Internet Explorer, and the shortcut has arguments in it that change the way that the tool bars are set up. Also the one in Pink Browser is an older version. Should still work just fine. But it is the pre SP3 site. it was introduced when SP2 hit really hard and SP1 was mandatory.

Technically the Vista and 7 are webpages as well, but they are stored locally, and then do a secure remote query of the server. It also stores queries locally so it looks like it is fast as hell, but if you install say Office, and then click check for updates it will take hella long, and then come back with like 50 extra. It is the best so far.

As for using third party software for installing updates. I guess that is a toss up. It is a good idea to find something that is better and more secure than Internet Exploder. But then again do you know how secure that browser is. Are they set up to protect against man in the meddle attacks. It is a big risk but, most of using a computer is.

On Windows XP you have a choice of installing updates through a web browser or from control panel without going onto a web browser. But you can only install updates in Internet Explorer or in Trident engine which are Internet Explorer engine based browsers,like Pink browser,Advanced browser or more well known Avant browser or Green browser and browsers like that. But it will not work in Gecko engine based browsers,such as Firefox or Webkit engine based ones,such as Google Chrome. So you will not be able to install updates from the Windows Update website in Firefox or Google Chrome.

But it you can in Green browser,Avant browser and other browsers like that because they use Internet Explorers engine and html code. But the disadvantage of Pink browser,Avant browser and other Trident engine browsers is that they use the html code of what ever version of Internet Explorer you have on your computer. So if for example you have IE6, those browsers will use the html code of IE6 and display web pages in that mode.

On Windows 7 I have IE8 and even though I have deleted the IE8 browser by deleting the file on programs on C/drive,Internet Explorer 8 is still on the registry. So Advanced browser and Pink browser use the html code of IE8 and display web pages in IE8 mode.

On Windows XP I have got IE6 which I have not uninstalled, but I just never use it. But I have often wondered if you choose instead to use Avant browser or Green browser and browsers like that. To go onto sites that require Internet Explorer like Windows Update, but you don't want to use Internet Explorer. So you use a browser like Pink browser or Avant browser and such. But by using browsers like Avant browser-Are you really just using Internet Explorer or another version of it anyway without knowing it? I cannot get a straight answer to this question on Google.

But on both Windows XP and Windows 7,you can turn Internet Explorer off. In Windows XP go to add or remove Windows components and untick the box(tick the box to enable it again) and in Windows 7 got to turn Windows features on or off,and untick the box(tick the box to enable it again.)

And in Windows 7 this disables it completely until you turn it on again.

But in Windows XP,it only partly disables the program,so even though you have turned it off,it will pop up again if it is needed.

And on Windows 7 and Windows Vista you cannot install updates at all through a web browser,only in control panel. Andrea Borman.

One error kind'a negates the whole post, Eh?

You can get MS Updates and many other sites using 'Coral I.E. Tab' in Firefox.
This includes all those sites specifically written for I.E.

Firefox is becoming more and more compatible with I.E. sites with every update, but the above mentioned add-on really works good.

I know there are dozens of add-ons for Firefox, but to keep it simple (KISS) I use only I.E.Tab and AdBlock+.

Works for me!

Old Timer

On Windows XP I have got IE6

Why are you still using IE6, using this your putting your machine at risk from malicious content. If your going to use IE please use the latest. The same goes for any browser use the latest as they get updated with security fixes all the time. Your proctice of using IE6 and not using AV is in my opinion fool hardy.

"Fool Hardy"?
You must be a UN Diplomat.
I'm just an Iowa farm boy and I would'a just said "Dumber than a stump". Eh?

I was painfully aware of I.E.'s security holes as far back as I can remember, so I and millions of others used Netscape for years.
Then along came Firefox and I jumped on that like a goose on a June-bug!

If you have Auto Updates turned on, you're going to get I.E. 8 whether you intend to or not. Stuff happens!

Firefox is still updating version 3.6 (up to 3.6.20 now) even though they have released ver's 4, 5, 6, and now 7.
Personally, I like 3.6 the best. It just seems more user friendly.
And with the 'Coral I.E. Tab' add-on, I never need to actually open I.E. to go to any I.E. specific web site, even
MS Updates.


Cheers Mates!
Old Timer

Being a Moderator I have to be diplomatic. I can't attack an op however much I disagree with them. Each their own, glad non of those systems are mine though