Winxp updates?

[FrankRamiro]

Hi guys i just made recovery of my vaio old laptop with win xp then installed from a CD sp2 now i have the automatic updates on and every time there is an download and after install from Microsoft it keeps telling me to restart the laptop for the updates to take effect,
kinda strange because before on other recoveries it never told me that.

 

[MustISO]

First you should install XP SP3. Then you'll still have a ton of updates to do and you'll have to reboot quite a few times. That's the way it is.

 

[blankslate]

You should find a disc with sp3 it should work with your key.

Otherwise you can download the standalone sp3 installer from microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24

If you forsee reinstalling more than once before security updates cease next year.

 

[corkyg]

Anytime the updates make a Registry change or entry, a reboot is necessary in order for it to be effective. You can delay that if you like - but then the changes do not take effect until you reboot. This ,has always been the case with any MS OS update. If the update makes no Registry change, an update may not be requested.

 

[Gintaras]

Hi guys i just made recovery of my vaio old laptop with win xp then installed from a CD sp2 now i have the automatic updates on and every time there is an download and after install from Microsoft it keeps telling me to restart the laptop for the updates to take effect,
kinda strange because before on other recoveries it never told me that.

Q: why do you need updates? some soft you have, not working without updates?

I have disabled auto updates on ALL OS's I've used, since Win98, incl. recent - Win8.

I had to update Win Vista on older desktop because could not read SDXC card - that's all....

My laptop with Win8 doesn't have any problems since when I've bought it - should I update anything?

If your car doesn't have any problems, do you go to mechanic and ask: "anything is wrong with my car?"

Security? What do you have on your computer? Are you afraid that someone will steal some mp3's you have on HDD? or porn? what kind of creep would look for those on your PC instead of internet?

 

[mechBgon]

Security? What do you have on your computer? Are you afraid that someone will steal some mp3's you have on HDD? or porn? what kind of creep would look for those on your PC instead of internet?

Sounds like you're out of touch with modern cybercrime. I'll just point you towards an educational infographic: http://krebsonsecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/YouAreATarget.png

Endless possibilities.

Going back to the original topic... FrankRamiro, good for you that you're trying to get the computer secured for now, but here are a couple heads-ups for you:

1. WinXP security updates will end in about 10 months. Plan for an OS migration.

2. A computer that old probably has a CPU that doesn't support Data Execution Prevention in the CPU hardware, which is a crucial pillar in the security of a modern OS. So... plan for a hardware migration too.

 

[Nothinman]

Q: why do you need updates? some soft you have, not working without updates?

I have disabled auto updates on ALL OS's I've used, since Win98, incl. recent - Win8.

I had to update Win Vista on older desktop because could not read SDXC card - that's all....

My laptop with Win8 doesn't have any problems since when I've bought it - should I update anything?

If your car doesn't have any problems, do you go to mechanic and ask: "anything is wrong with my car?"

Security? What do you have on your computer? Are you afraid that someone will steal some mp3's you have on HDD? or porn? what kind of creep would look for those on your PC instead of internet?

Please stop, that's got to be some of the most idiotic advice I've ever heard.

 

[smakme7757]

Q: why do you need updates? some soft you have, not working without updates?

I have disabled auto updates on ALL OS's I've used, since Win98, incl. recent - Win8.

I had to update Win Vista on older desktop because could not read SDXC card - that's all....

My laptop with Win8 doesn't have any problems since when I've bought it - should I update anything?

If your car doesn't have any problems, do you go to mechanic and ask: "anything is wrong with my car?"

Security? What do you have on your computer? Are you afraid that someone will steal some mp3's you have on HDD? or porn? what kind of creep would look for those on your PC instead of internet?

The problem isn't that updates makes things work, it's that updates makes the OS more secure (and can fix bugs of course).

Worms and all sorts of crazy stuff are lurking on the net actively exploiting these known security holes. I actually thought you were joking to be honest....

 

[Gintaras]

The problem isn't that updates makes things work, it's that updates makes the OS more secure (and can fix bugs of course).

Worms and all sorts of crazy stuff are lurking on the net actively exploiting these known security holes. I actually thought you were joking to be honest....

I remember times, when I needed to reinstall OS - Win98 "times", because "updates" did screw up other apps...
Since then, I don't mess up with "updates"...


Magic word - SECURITY....
I think, even banks, or even Pentagon does care about security of their networks, but time to time, you can read in the news that some bank or even Pentagon network security have been compromised...
But what about a casual user?
What kind of sensitive info do you have on your PC?

Who can break to some user PC if all he has - mp3's or porn?
Some loner who has nothing else to do?

To get Virii - 2 ways - either you go to some bad sites(porn) or via e-mail - sent links or attachments...
Prolly, 0.01% that you can get your security compromised while visiting some very well known sites - news, etc....

And...as in our times as of today..."updates" might improve monitoring of what you do on the net...by either MS or Google or anyone else...

Today many people are obsessed about other people, what other people do..say... - who care, you can even notice on posts of some people even on anandtech forums....
Also, don't forget, that many people have more or less degree of paranoia....

 

[splat_ed]

I remember times, when I needed to reinstall OS - Win98 "times", because "updates" did screw up other apps...
Since then, I don't mess up with "updates"...


Magic word - SECURITY....
I think, even banks, or even Pentagon does care about security of their networks, but time to time, you can read in the news that some bank or even Pentagon network security have been compromised...
But what about a casual user?
What kind of sensitive info do you have on your PC?

Who can break to some user PC if all he has - mp3's or porn?
Some loner who has nothing else to do?

To get Virii - 2 ways - either you go to some bad sites(porn) or via e-mail - sent links or attachments...
Prolly, 0.01% that you can get your security compromised while visiting some very well known sites - news, etc....

And...as in our times as of today..."updates" might improve monitoring of what you do on the net...by either MS or Google or anyone else...

Today many people are obsessed about other people, what other people do..say... - who care, you can even notice on posts of some people even on anandtech forums....
Also, don't forget, that many people have more or less degree of paranoia....

This is so wrong that I almost can't believe it...

Sensitive information on your PC... How about documents relating to your job, home etc? Bank statements, emails? All of these can be used for identity fraud.
Or how about your online shopping/ banking? If someone gets hold of these details, expect to lose serious money.

Now, I won't say that it will happen (that's being TOO paranoid) but why make it easy? Quite often anyone trying for this info is looking for the low-hanging fruit. There are automated tools that look for unpatched vulnerabilities. Keep your basic security up to date and reduce those chances.

 

[mechBgon]

IBut what about a casual user?
What kind of sensitive info do you have on your PC?

Tons. Where should I start? My Windows key and Office key come to mind. Let those get away into the wild, and I might be calling Microsoft every day to reactivate my licenses. What fun.

PayPal account? I think most of us here have one, or something equivalent. Let that info get out, and the attacker can drain your bank account and send the money to some country I can't even spell the name of.

Use your credit card to make online purchases? A keystroke logger can send your identity to the bad guys so THEY can buy stuff with it. Even if all you lose is the time it takes to get the false charges reversed and a new card issued, what's your time worth? Hmmm.

Got a Steam account, or a MMORPG account? Let those digital assets get stolen, and you may not get them back. But hey, you only put a year or two into your character... might as well start over. That druid thing was getting old anyway

If all you have is MP3s, movies and personal stuff, how would you feel about it all getting encrypted and held for ransom? Oh yeah, we've all got nothing better to do than re-rip 20,000 MP3s

If you refer to the infographic I posted before, you'll note that a hacked PC can also do damage to other people. It can send Spam, perform DDoS attacks, spread worms and many other evils.

Keeping one's computer secure (and that means updating it) is necessary to keep the risk of all those scenarios to a minimum. Hopefully you're a little better informed now.