Please, no more updates...
 

I bet I'l installed 10 Java updates so far this year mainly to get rid of the annoying messages. And then there are the others, iTunes, Avast; the list goes on.

Are all these necessary?

No.

Although you're more at risk of being hacked if you don't.

My advice is to get a standalone (non-network, non-Internet) p/c and use that one for all your sensitive information.

Unfortunately any p/c that connects to the web these days is going to annoy you with these updates unless you either uninstall the software requiring it or you dig around in the documentation for whatever software it is to find where the setting is for "check for updates automatically" and disable it. Otherwise you'll have to keep selecting "don't download" every time it asks you. It's monumentally annoying I agree.

The worst are the windows ones that require a frikkin' reboot every time. Sometimes it doesn't even ask - it just hijacks your computer and restarts it for you, whether your work is saved or not! Fortunately you can disable this.

Some updates are security updates, so while not completely necessary, probably advisable.

Other's are just product updates for new or improved functionality. Java for instance, you could probably go a long time without updating java. But then Java also is one of the main languages that is used on the web, which means that it's updates could conceivable be security related.

As far as itunes goes, if you don't have any problems with iTunes, then you don't need to update it. Because of communications that iTunes does with other computers/devices in the area, its updates could also be security related.

I'd definitely recommend installing any and every update for Avast, and most of the Windows updates. Most big virus/worm/trojan outbreaks that occur, occur after Microsoft has issued the fix in some sort of update.

Anything besides those two is probably fairly optional, IMO.

Fortunately, if you're running something like Windows Vista or 7, the frequency that you have to reboot has gone way down from XP. I've got Vista, and I rarely have to reboot for an update. I do find it annoying that every once in a while, the Vista updates won't ask me to reboot, but will just do it.

It feels to me like

Vista update w/o reboot 60%-70%
Vista update that asks me to reboot 25%-35%
Vista update that just reboots whether I want it to or not 5% or less

I assume that Win 7 is as good or better. It was frustrating with previous versions of Windows that almost every update required a reboot.

I REALLY hate that an update to Java or Adobe Acrobat or some other random app may want me to reboot.

I have done this... but it has it annoyances too... when I set up the computer it wants to go on the Internet for latest windows updates... installed office, needs to go online to validate... try to burn some songs onto my MP3 player, automatically tried to go on the Internet to get the album covers etc.

Gheeze... I just wanted a $400 word processor! And to edit some music and digital photographs.

My wife just got a $400 laptop ($400??? ......yep, a Dell) and it has W7. She's delighted. The thing is lightening fast. Mine is bogged donw from previous problems.

I have a tower that has RCA jacks up the gazoo along with 4 USBs, fire wire and 4 card readers. I have not seen this configuration in a replacement for less than serious money (talking Apple serious).

What I need is to rebuild this as an off line media editor and get some cheap ass tower for online. When I get the money, this will be done. And, I hope to criminy I end up w/o some 60 processes running all at once.

You know, as little as I know, I won't be fooling with the registry. I just want a virgin one.

ol milt's back baby!

I entirely sympathize, Milt. I have noticed the same thing for about 3 months. Constant updates. Windows. Adobe. iTunes. Very, very irritating.

Ian

I know I can ignore updates, put them off for a month, uninstall s/w, or just break down and allow the update. But what I can't stand (and yes, I can shut it off) are the freaking windows updates that force a reboot and shut down your open applications. Nothing like getting up in the morning, ready to do the final print or tweak the last 5 min's before leaving for work...and...and...stinking windows loaded another security update....grrrr.

Yes, I know it's necessary...but the timing always sucks.

I use this app on my Mac to keep background visits to my computer to a minimum. Take a look.
Little Snitch - Video

A program called Zone Alarm does the same for Windoz machines:
Free Firewall by ZoneAlarm

Hope this helps,
Sherwood