Updates Not always what they seem

**dormin** · 02-06-12 at 05:12 PM

Small rant about updating.

I used to fall into the crowd of people who needed the latest update. Be it OS, program etc. Over the years I have learned to be more cautious.

To many times I have received updates which did more harm then good. In some cases they rendered the computer useless until a fix for the fix was made avail. In other cases my own stupidity in trying to repair the error of the unwanted update forced me to reinstall.

I follow this mantra now. If it works, leave it be. I turn of any update feature in all software with the exception of anti-virus, spy-ware etc.

As was seen recently with jdownloader some who updated ended up coming here and asking whats up with file not found on rapidshare.

If you run software that is critical to you i suggest the following.

1. Turn off automatic updates (within reason, Virus defs etc)
2. If an update is available do some digging, find out if others grabbed it and now are having trouble.
3. If it currently works leave it be.

This as with all things is not a foolproof method. And in no way am I saying you should never update.

Simply use your head, and the great resource called the web, that we have been blessed with. If you do that then you may avoid future problems when you can afford them the least.

Have a nice day.

Adeno · 02-06-12 at 05:16 PM

I agree with this. I always turn off any auto-update feature on every program that I have. In games, auto-updates usually mess up a few things that worked well, but now wouldn't! Auto-updates are also the nightmare of most people who love modding games as these updates sometimes make changes that ruin the mods.

I don't believe that auto-updates are always in the best interest of the users. I only update when totally necessary and after doing research about what the heck the update actually does. If something's working "perfectly" for me, I really don't update it. My firefox is still version 7 and I think there's already version 10 or something lol!

**Method512** · 02-06-12 at 05:17 PM

Yeah, as soon as I install the os I turn off automatic updates.

The reasons is that it will eat me bandwith that I will need and when I need to go to the computer at the last minute, he needs 20 minutes to install all updates.

And all the software I have I download it and use those setups and not from sites, which sometimes is a pain to download.

Heck, I even have an offline setup for Java and Messenger.

**dormin** · 02-06-12 at 06:40 PM

Windows updates are the worst. A good idea for that would be to google how to slipstream windows 7 OS. I know you could do it with XP have not tried it with seven yet.

Of course having updates in some cases is a necessity. But in rare cases it can be a hindrance. I am just trying to make it so its easier to figure out what to update and when. As stated above. I like to read about the effects of an update before I commit. Just in case there are problems.

**HeavyGrimm** · 02-06-12 at 06:52 PM

Every single program I have has automatic updating ON. I've been auto updating ever since the internet starting allowing it, and I have never had a single problem.

**bookdragon** · 02-06-12 at 07:04 PM

I agree some updates seem to be a step backward and create havoc in a perfectly working program!

khaosxiii · 02-06-12 at 07:04 PM

This logic does not pertain to JDownloader

Turning off auto-updates would pretty much render the application useless every other week for most hosts ... this one time it was a problem - darn - maybe we should donate - it's free.

**dormin** · 02-06-12 at 07:14 PM

I was using the jdownloader as an example. I didn't update it. And it worked fine. Others had issues. Jdownloader has many sites to download from. More then I could afford to join even if I was well off money wise. Some may agree that 4 well timed sites would be sufficient, where as more would be a waste of money.

**jay_dog992003** · 02-06-12 at 07:53 PM

I only update when forced or if something is wrong. Why fix something that is not broken?

**draconous** · 02-06-12 at 08:21 PM

The only updates that I've done are with Windows and Antivirus updates. But when I do updates, I just choose which ones that are critical and important, even so at least I can do the updates on my own time and not take up a whole of my time. The only time I had to reformat my system was when I shutdown during a critical update and that killed my system. So in the end, you can still do updates, but just choose which ones that you want rather than just do all of them at once.

kevin360v · 02-06-12 at 09:29 PM

I can't remember the last time I installed a windows update, haven't had any problems.

**dormin** · 02-06-12 at 10:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kevin360v

I can't remember the last time I installed a windows update, haven't had any problems.

As stated earlier there are updates that are essential to your security with windows. Not updating them can leave you wide open. Think of it as leaving the door to your apartment unlocked and in some cases wide open.

No one here is saying do not update. We are simply saying update in a smart manner.

**orgasminator** · 02-07-12 at 05:37 AM

Probably, I'm a minority, I like updates. But I hate autoupdating. I don't like every software consider itself so important, so they will begin to update ASAP whenever they want. That's chaos! That'll take away so much bandwidth and system resources to allow so many programs checking, downloading, and installing updates. Even when there's no update, the active resident components checking for updates can consume considerable amount of resources. So I always set to kind of "inform me about updates" and "let me decide when/whether to install updates" and "never check for updates". I like having the one to decide when/what/how to update. Most of the time I update using "offline" method, that is downloading the update installer or the new version of applications if there's no update file. Then I run the update from my computer. This way, I can store the updates for other computer or other time whenever I need to reinstall the update or the program itself.

The exceptions to this 'policy' are security software. Whenever I have internet access (which I don't always have all the time), I always set to autoupdate. I think you'll need the up-to-date malware definitions ASAP to prevent newest security threats to mess with your system.

For games, since I'm a gamer and I have not a single original game, updates are always by offline. And installing the updates is only after I have the crack (and working) or knowledge that the update has no copy protection. Since this is not always so simple, sometimes I do gambling and clean reinstall when it fails.

For important programs, I always keep the latest (perfectly) working version installer just in case I have to rollback because the newer version mess it up.

Why I love updates? Simple, updates are meant as improvements. I always check (manually) for newer version of programs and games. But I rarely use beta versions. I also don't update BIOS and motherboard drivers unless I have a problem or I need it for something to function properly. Sometimes I check for changelogs sometimes I don't.

02-07-12 at 05:37 AM	#13
orgasminator Master Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: island under the eye of the day Posts: 989	Probably, I'm a minority, I like updates. But I hate autoupdating. I don't like every software consider itself so important, so they will begin to update ASAP whenever they want. That's chaos! That'll take away so much bandwidth and system resources to allow so many programs checking, downloading, and installing updates. Even when there's no update, the active resident components checking for updates can consume considerable amount of resources. So I always set to kind of "inform me about updates" and "let me decide when/whether to install updates" and "never check for updates". I like having the one to decide when/what/how to update. Most of the time I update using "offline" method, that is downloading the update installer or the new version of applications if there's no update file. Then I run the update from my computer. This way, I can store the updates for other computer or other time whenever I need to reinstall the update or the program itself. The exceptions to this 'policy' are security software. Whenever I have internet access (which I don't always have all the time), I always set to autoupdate. I think you'll need the up-to-date malware definitions ASAP to prevent newest security threats to mess with your system. For games, since I'm a gamer and I have not a single original game, updates are always by offline. And installing the updates is only after I have the crack (and working) or knowledge that the update has no copy protection. Since this is not always so simple, sometimes I do gambling and clean reinstall when it fails. For important programs, I always keep the latest (perfectly) working version installer just in case I have to rollback because the newer version mess it up. Why I love updates? Simple, updates are meant as improvements. I always check (manually) for newer version of programs and games. But I rarely use beta versions. I also don't update BIOS and motherboard drivers unless I have a problem or I need it for something to function properly. Sometimes I check for changelogs sometimes I don't. Last edited by orgasminator; 02-07-12 at 05:50 AM. Reason: got no reason

02-06-12 at 05:16 PM	#2
Adeno Master Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 1,138	I agree with this. I always turn off any auto-update feature on every program that I have. In games, auto-updates usually mess up a few things that worked well, but now wouldn't! Auto-updates are also the nightmare of most people who love modding games as these updates sometimes make changes that ruin the mods. I don't believe that auto-updates are always in the best interest of the users. I only update when totally necessary and after doing research about what the heck the update actually does. If something's working "perfectly" for me, I really don't update it. My firefox is still version 7 and I think there's already version 10 or something lol!

02-06-12 at 05:17 PM	#3
Method512 Is there a character limi Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jersey (GMT) Posts: 3,302	Yeah, as soon as I install the os I turn off automatic updates. The reasons is that it will eat me bandwith that I will need and when I need to go to the computer at the last minute, he needs 20 minutes to install all updates. And all the software I have I download it and use those setups and not from sites, which sometimes is a pain to download. Heck, I even have an offline setup for Java and Messenger.

02-06-12 at 06:40 PM	#4
dormin Illuminati Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 3rd Rock Posts: 2,291	Windows updates are the worst. A good idea for that would be to google how to slipstream windows 7 OS. I know you could do it with XP have not tried it with seven yet. Of course having updates in some cases is a necessity. But in rare cases it can be a hindrance. I am just trying to make it so its easier to figure out what to update and when. As stated above. I like to read about the effects of an update before I commit. Just in case there are problems.

02-06-12 at 06:52 PM	#5
HeavyGrimm Hellblazer Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: On a little rock floating in the vast emptiness of the multiverse Posts: 450	Every single program I have has automatic updating ON. I've been auto updating ever since the internet starting allowing it, and I have never had a single problem.

02-06-12 at 07:04 PM	#6
bookdragon She Dragon Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In the bowels of the Earth Posts: 2,678	I agree some updates seem to be a step backward and create havoc in a perfectly working program!

02-06-12 at 07:04 PM	#7
khaosxiii Newcomer Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 73	This logic does not pertain to JDownloader Turning off auto-updates would pretty much render the application useless every other week for most hosts ... this one time it was a problem - darn - maybe we should donate - it's free.

02-06-12 at 07:14 PM	#8
dormin Illuminati Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 3rd Rock Posts: 2,291	I was using the jdownloader as an example. I didn't update it. And it worked fine. Others had issues. Jdownloader has many sites to download from. More then I could afford to join even if I was well off money wise. Some may agree that 4 well timed sites would be sufficient, where as more would be a waste of money.

02-06-12 at 07:53 PM	#9
jay_dog992003 Elite Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,634	I only update when forced or if something is wrong. Why fix something that is not broken?

02-06-12 at 08:21 PM	#10
draconous Newcomer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 90	The only updates that I've done are with Windows and Antivirus updates. But when I do updates, I just choose which ones that are critical and important, even so at least I can do the updates on my own time and not take up a whole of my time. The only time I had to reformat my system was when I shutdown during a critical update and that killed my system. So in the end, you can still do updates, but just choose which ones that you want rather than just do all of them at once.

02-06-12 at 09:29 PM	#11
kevin360v Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 332	I can't remember the last time I installed a windows update, haven't had any problems.

02-06-12 at 10:20 PM	#12
dormin Illuminati Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 3rd Rock Posts: 2,291	Quote: Originally Posted by kevin360v I can't remember the last time I installed a windows update, haven't had any problems. As stated earlier there are updates that are essential to your security with windows. Not updating them can leave you wide open. Think of it as leaving the door to your apartment unlocked and in some cases wide open. No one here is saying do not update. We are simply saying update in a smart manner.