Working with Optional Updates

I am having a difficult time trying to decide whether or not to install
optional updates.

Is Windows Update for XP and/or Vista smart enough to only recommend updates
for components I actually have on my machine? Or must I check to see whether
or not a particular update even applies to my situation? And why are they
"optional" in the first place? How can I make an educated decision about
installing them? Could it "hurt" anything to just go ahead and install all
of the optional updates?

It's a no brainer with foreign language updates; if I don't speak French, I
don't need extra stuff for that language. Much harder for everything else
though.

The following are the 7 optional updates that Windows Updates is presently
offering me:
1. Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 (KB946609)
2. Atheros Communications Inc. - Networking - Atheros AR5007UG Wireless
Network Adapter.
3. CHIC - Other Hardware - USB Browser Mouse
4. Dell Inkjet Drivers - Printers - Dell AIO Printer A940
5. NVIDIA - system - nForce HyperTransport Bridge
6. NVIDIA Corporation driver update for NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller
7. NVIDIA driver update for NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller

Thanks!

#1 is totally optional, I have no opinion whatsoever, and you could spend
hours trying to find out what Silverlight is and if you need/want it. (I
don't at this point.)

#2 through #7: Personally, I do not recommend installing any third-party
updates offered by Windows Update. Get these updates from the either the
manufacturer's website or your computer manufacturer's website.

That being said, it's possible that Windows Update will not offer the Vista
machine SP1 unless and until you install these driver updates as offered by
Windows Update. I'd try updating these drivers per the above first.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


George wrote:
> I am having a difficult time trying to decide whether or not to install
> optional updates.
>
> Is Windows Update for XP and/or Vista smart enough to only recommend
> updates
> for components I actually have on my machine? Or must I check to see
> whether or not a particular update even applies to my situation? And why
> are they "optional" in the first place? How can I make an educated
> decision about installing them? Could it "hurt" anything to just go ahead
> and install all of the optional updates?
>
> It's a no brainer with foreign language updates; if I don't speak French,
> I
> don't need extra stuff for that language. Much harder for everything else
> though.
>
> The following are the 7 optional updates that Windows Updates is presently
> offering me:
> 1. Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 (KB946609)
> 2. Atheros Communications Inc. - Networking - Atheros AR5007UG Wireless
> Network Adapter.
> 3. CHIC - Other Hardware - USB Browser Mouse
> 4. Dell Inkjet Drivers - Printers - Dell AIO Printer A940
> 5. NVIDIA - system - nForce HyperTransport Bridge
> 6. NVIDIA Corporation driver update for NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA
> Controller
> 7. NVIDIA driver update for NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
>
> Thanks!

Hello George,

Taking OPTIONAL drivers from windows update for non Microsoft hardware is
not reccomanded.


If your hardware works fine: just leave it be working fine.

Good luck
- -- ---



Best regards,

- -- --



"George" wrote:

> I am having a difficult time trying to decide whether or not to install
> optional updates.
>
> Is Windows Update for XP and/or Vista smart enough to only recommend updates
> for components I actually have on my machine? Or must I check to see whether
> or not a particular update even applies to my situation? And why are they
> "optional" in the first place? How can I make an educated decision about
> installing them? Could it "hurt" anything to just go ahead and install all
> of the optional updates?
>
> It's a no brainer with foreign language updates; if I don't speak French, I
> don't need extra stuff for that language. Much harder for everything else
> though.
>
> The following are the 7 optional updates that Windows Updates is presently
> offering me:
> 1. Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 (KB946609)
> 2. Atheros Communications Inc. - Networking - Atheros AR5007UG Wireless
> Network Adapter.
> 3. CHIC - Other Hardware - USB Browser Mouse
> 4. Dell Inkjet Drivers - Printers - Dell AIO Printer A940
> 5. NVIDIA - system - nForce HyperTransport Bridge
> 6. NVIDIA Corporation driver update for NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA Controller
> 7. NVIDIA driver update for NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller
>
> Thanks!

George wrote:

> I am having a difficult time trying to decide whether or not to install
> optional updates.

Personally, if this was my own machine, I would install all of them except
perhaps for Silverlight, which I don't have a strong opinion about either way at
present. (If you use the Microsoft web site a lot it may be advantageous, but I
haven't tried it.)

HOWEVER, and this is important, I'd make sure I'd backed up my data first, Just
In Case(tm). I'd also create a restore point. Oh, and I'd only install one
update at a time, waiting at least a few days after each one.

... and on the other hand I see PA Bear has recommended against obtaining
third-party updates via Windows Update. I'd suggest you take that
recommendation seriously, he's got more experience in this area than I have.

> Is Windows Update for XP and/or Vista smart enough to only recommend updates
> for components I actually have on my machine?

Yes.

Harry.