New Computer: When to Install Updates

Topic

New Reply

I have been utilizing the AskWoody website for many years and I have been helped countless times with the great advice that Woody provides.  My old computer, which just became unstable, was a Windows 7, and I have been using it since 2012.

My new HP laptop, Windows 10 Home Edition, Windows Version 1909 Build 18363.  I set it up offline and turned on system restore.

Since the April updates had come out 2 days before I set up the computer, and we are on DEFCON 2, I paused the updates for 7 days.

Should I wait for Woody to give the OK on the April Updates before I run Windows Update?

Will all outstanding updates install at that time?

Thanks for your help.

Reply | Quote

Replies

Yes, wait for DEFCON-3 to install the April updates.

There is something you should know. You can use Pause for up to 35 days in 7-day increments by re-clicking on the Pause button. HOWEVER, whenever your Pause period ends, the updates you have paused will download and install automatically without further adieu. So you need to lengthen the Pause period for more than 7 days (extend it for the number of days to expire just before May Patch Tues). You can end the Pause period any time when Woody changes the DEFCON number.

In the meantime, there is a Guide to Win10 Update Settings in AKB2000016 that might help you make your settings choices.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, flyingdutchgirl

Reply | Quote

As it’s a new machine it won’t have many patches so you could make an image backup and then install the patches. Let us know if the patches behave.

cheers, Paul

2 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, flyingdutchgirl

Reply | Quote

[Mr. Austin]

flyingdutchgirl wrote:

Should I wait for Woody to give the OK on the April Updates before I run Windows Update? Will all outstanding updates install at that time?

Hiya. I, too, follow the Ask Woody DefCon Windows patch recommendations.

If it were my machine, and since it has an all-new OS which must have come from a ‘cold storage’ version of Windows which is at least a few months old (thus without the newest security patches) I’d update it. Because the cold storage version of the OS code would want security updates  —  that’s their primary purpose. Right?

And before I’d update with the brand new OS security patches, I’d have as many backups of my data as I cared to, including System Restore and File History. However I do prefer not to depend only on Microsoft for data backups. System Restore would likely work on a new system to get you by. I’ve used it myself.

But in case it didn’t I’d prefer at least one copy of my data in the cloud and another copy on a local drive separate from the system drive. Both of which are separate from Microsoft.

I expect my computer to have 100% up-time when I turn it on. I use it as much as 16 hours daily, seven days a week. In my case I have five separate, secured copies of my data from my desktop which have nothing to do with System Restore. I’ve a daily desktop drive image running in Acronis. Microsoft’s File History runs to a dedicated, separate drive. I’ve two additional, separate backups in the cloud between IDrive and Google Backup and Sync. I see System Restore as a separate copy. I prefer to keep as a first recourse if or when Microsoft Windows barfs.

Human, who sports only naturally-occurring DNA ~ oneironaut ~ broadcaster

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Mr. Austin.

1 user thanked author for this post.

flyingdutchgirl

Reply | Quote