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In the past, I have typically recommended having automatic updates enabled on Windows machines, for one reason: Protection against recently discovered security threats.
I still believe that to be the best course of action for most Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users.
That being said, a recent string of bad updates have created serious problems on some Windows 10 PCs, prompting me to start recommending that you disable automatic updates on your Windows 10 machine for the time being. [Read more…]
Question from Leonard G.: Rick, I have a question about one of my biggest pet peeves. After all these years, why does a computer still have to be restarted after many Windows updates are installed, but other updates install just fine without requiring a restart?
You’d think by now that Microsoft would have figured out a safe and dependable way to install ALL Windows updates in the background with us never even having to know they were installed. I hate having to stop what I’m doing on my computer just so Windows can shut down and “finish” installing an update!
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Could Windows 10 be the last new version of Windows we will ever install on our PCs and mobile devices?
If some of things being said and hinted at by Microsoft are any indication, the answer could very well be yes.
It’s no secret that Windows 10 will likely be sold on a subscription model, which means that as long as we keep making periodic payments to Microsoft our Windows installations will keep on running on our devices without interruption. [Read more…]
Do you install all Windows Updates as soon as possible after they are released?
I do, because I believe that’s the best way to keep a PC safe from hackers by patching security holes in the operating system before they can be exploited.
That being said, every once in a while a buggy update can actually cause a problem instead of fix one. That seems to be the case with one of the Windows Updates that was released this past Tuesday. [Read more…]
If you have a PC running Windows 8.1, make sure you have all the current Windows Updates installed by May 13 or you’ll no longer receive new updates after that date.
Microsoft has decided that it’s so important to keep Windows up to date that they’re going to make it mandatory if you want to keep your Windows 8.1 installation protected from future security threats as they arise. My advice: Do it, and ASAP.
All you really need to do is make sure your Windows 8.1 installation is set to install updates automatically. Here’s how: [Read more…]