Another reason to not use Windows auto updates

[Peru]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/ ... ath_update

[George Tyndall]

My C drive failed yesterday.

Neither of the two "validated" mirror images that I had made recently with Acronis on USB3.0 external HDDs functioned: "Restore failed"

However, the second internal HDD on which I had created a backup -- not a cloned -- mirror image about a year does function.

Here's the problem: Windows informs me that I need 128 updates.

I have the latest version of NIS installed.

Question: Given that everything seems to be working well, is there a compelling reason to take a chance with those 128 Windows updates?

Thank you.

[Peru]

You don't have to, but I would look through them and install the security updates. The offending update listed above has been removed by MS.
Make sure you still have a good image, though, first.

I've been using Easus Todo Backup (free version) lately. I haven't had a crash recently, so I've had no need to try a recovery. It does allow you to make either a Linux or Windows PE recovery disc.

[George Tyndall]

I've been using Easus Todo Backup (free version) lately. I haven't had a crash recently, so I've had no need to try a recovery. It does allow you to make either a Linux or Windows PE recovery disc.

Is your OS Win 7 Home Premium 64?

[Peru]

W7 Pro 64 bit.

[Bob]

If it were me, I would install the 128 updates and then run Windows Update again to see if any additional ones show up. There were some pretty nasty security holes patched during that time and you don't want to miss any. I wouldn't separate out the non-security related patches either. In addition, I would make sure I had the latest Adobe Reader and Java If you use that -- those are also frequent malware targets and won't be updated through Windows Update. Then make a current backup.

[Steve Grisetti]

Thanks for saying that, Bob. I've always felt that that benefit of operating system updates far outweighs any liabilities.

[George Tyndall]

If it were me, I would install the 128 updates and then run Windows Update again to see if any additional ones show up. There were some pretty nasty security holes patched during that time and you don't want to miss any. I wouldn't separate out the non-security related patches either.

Done! and took much less time than I expected, including the 3 that I needed to download after the initial 120.

In addition, I would make sure I had the latest Adobe Reader and Java If you use that -- those are also frequent malware targets and won't be updated through Windows Update.

Done!

Then make a current backup.

Failed! The Folder in which I placed the .tib file is empty. Acronis is not working well with external HDDs. Tonight, will try to backup to the corrupted internal HDD, as Acronis does seem to work well with HDDs that are internal, not sure why the difference.