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Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
This will be the first week we get to try out the brand spanking new Windows 7 security patches in the new post patching era. Just a reminder to have
[See the full post at: Patch Lady Podcast – reminder backup your Windows 7]
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
I’m sticking with 0patch. If I experience any issues on the one workstation running Windows 7 Pro, I’ll post something here at Ask Woody. So far, so good. If 0patch lets me down, I’m ready to switch the workstation to Linux Mint. Mint is fully tested and works quite well on it. But, since I sell and service Windows PC’s, I feel the need to test something that customers that won’t leave Widows 7 for ten can relatively easily install and benefit from.
GreatAndPowerfulTech
This will be the first week we get to try out the brand spanking new Windows 7 security patches in the new post patching era. Just a reminder to have a GOOD backup before installing these updates. If you haven’t tested restoring your system from whatever backup you have made, make sure you have all the necessary parts to do so. Meaning if your backup software needs a bootable flash drive, have that ready. If you have to hit a F2 or F8 or Escape key to get the system into boot from flash drive, know what combo you need to get into that.
That is a do-it-with-my-eyes-closed routine that every user of Windows should already know. Testing a drive image by restoring it is the only way to be confident that it’s going to work. Having a very recent good drive image has never been out of fashion when making system changes, and Windows Updates are always system changes, from minor to major.
Having a Rescue Disc/USB has always been a number one priority for drive imaging, as well as keeping that Rescue Disc/USB up-to-date. For me, since I have never read about a patch/update that negatively affected every single Windows installation on the planet, that has always left open the possibility that it won’t affect my systems, either.
If, in the long-odds chance that my systems do get affected by a patch/update (which has yet to happen), I’m ~six minutes away from being unaffected by said patch/update, simply by restoring my recent drive image. Having that insurance also gives one assurance that they might be able to simply uninstall the bad patch/update and continue on their merry way, without having to resort to restoring a drive image. But restoring that drive image is right there in your back pocket if it’s needed.
In my view, Drive Imaging should occupy a much more prominent place in AskWoody Forums, rather than being buried in “Forums › AskWoody support › PC hardware › Questions – Maintenance and backups” Why isn’t it in “Forums › AskWoody support › Questions – Maintenance and backups”?
In all the problems I’ve seen posted on not only AskWoody, but also every other Windows Help site with which I’m affiliated, I have yet to come across one that wouldn’t be easily resolved by restoring a recent drive image. Even hardware failures benefit by having a recent drive image to restore once the problem hardware has been winnowed out and replaced.
Do you have Office 2010 installed on your PC? If so, you can check in Programs & Features to see if it’s the 32-bit version (that’s what most people install, regardless of their OS).
Even if you’re not using Outlook, I’d patch it.
Hi Morty. I have the same notifications for February 2020 office updates. All well with your win7 after you installed them? There’s been no mention of them when I search The Lounge. Thanks.
So sweet of you to follow up! Much appreciated.
Yes, I installed the updates and everything was fine.
Then (head hanging low and voice lowered to whisper) I finally caved and “upgraded” (MS’ word, not mine) to Windows 10. Semper Phooey.
Thank heaven, everything seems to be working.
Only one program wouldn’t come along. Printshop 23.1 wouldn’t play in Win 10. So I’m looking for a new way to print greeting cards. Minor casualty, I’d say.
All the best,
Morty
Have you tried reinstalling it in “Compatibility” mode? If you right on the installer, on one of the tabs it will give your the ability to install it in Win7 (or one of the earlier versions) mode.
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