Installing Win7 - Use recommended settings or Install important updates only?

[Muse]

Which should I choose? Which do you choose and why?

I'm installing Win7 Ultimate 64 bit on my wirelessly connected laptop (Lenovo T61).

 

[corkyg]

I have 4 Win 7 Ultimate systems - a T60, a T510 and two desktops. I always use recommended, which in most cases equals important. Optionals are a choice. I choose that path because it works for me - I don't have time to second guess Microsoft. Have never had a problem doing that.

 

[ViRGE]

I have 4 Win 7 Ultimate systems - a T60, a T510 and two desktops. I always use recommended, which in most cases equals important. Optionals are a choice. I choose that path because it works for me - I don't have time to second guess Microsoft. Have never had a problem doing that.

Agreed. I also stick with recommended.

 

[nemesismk2]

I also use recommended as well

 

[Muse]

I also use recommended as well

That's what I did this time (yesterday). Will likely stick with it. A downside, I suppose, is that it (I think) downloads updates and installs them automatically and when this happens you're apt to see popups urging you to restart the machine. If you are in the middle of something (I usually am), this is annoying. I have to click "Restart Later" every 10 minutes or so. It's almost as easy to respond to the bubble that says "Updates available" and go from there. Well, nothing's perfect.

 

[corkyg]

Never see that problem. If the machine is on 24/7, it is set to do that at about 3:00 AM or so. I'm not around. If I turn on a machine that has been off, I check for updates right away and a restart is not a problem. IOW, I have two basic scenarios. One where I stay in control. And the other, automatic when I am fast asleep.

BTW - Windows Updates usually happen the second Tuesday of each month.

 

[Muse]

Never see that problem. If the machine is on 24/7, it is set to do that at about 3:00 AM or so. I'm not around. If I turn on a machine that has been off, I check for updates right away and a restart is not a problem. IOW, I have two basic scenarios. One where I stay in control. And the other, automatic when I am fast asleep.

BTW - Windows Updates usually happen the second Tuesday of each month.

I had no idea. Thanks.

My machines are generally in suspend when I'm not right there attending them, one or the other, with one exception: my server machine, which is 24/7. That machine's running XP Pro. Problem is, if it reboots automatically it wants a PW, so the server is down until I administer that. I suppose I should get it to boot without the password, I think TweakUI can be used to set that up, I just haven't gotten around to it. Right now, the machine is set up the ask me to install updates, then I set there and put in the password.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Our browser/ActiveX/Java VPN solution was broken with one of the recent "recommended" updates, and we found IE9 was breaking certain websites (like Fifth Third and Yahoo). If you're supporting a lot of workstations with limited IT resources, I'd definitely stick with "important only".