Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

There is the 'if' factor and if correct, that is quite a number. I have read that as many as 50% of Windows users get problems with updates. Could be true I suppose but I don't know of anyone personally that has had any. If there are others like me who don't know of anyone in their circle that has had problems, then multiply that ..well, there always will be statistics and the Internet press I suppose.

There is a wariness of Windows updates but I always like to install them straightaway to see if I experience the problems being written about. As a typical user (I think), I never come across them.

I have found this with Microsoft products over the years. I've often thought that those writing about Windows operating system releases must be using a different Windows to me because I've always found them to be pretty good. Hardly any problems with updates ..apart from Windows Millennium. That never worked well for me.

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

I used to install all Windows Updates ASAP on multiple PCs, documenting the process throughout, but after several "issues", major and minor, I now defer most updates until I've checked user responses on the internet then defer them again if the responses are negative - and I no longer bother with laborious documentation but manage with notes ..... life's too short .....

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

Yes indeed. If it wasn't raining, I'd be at the allotment or out riding my bike or doing things around the garden instead of writing about computers.

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

To be honest, that's the real reason why I have always avoided Crapple computers.

I suppose I'm just a tight-fisted Yorkshireman.

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

There are many, like me, who only have 2 or 3 PCs.

Statistically, we are not in the same boat as some, like the big Pharma Company whose DP Manager I spoke to this week.

They have a lot of PCs, running into thousands. It's highly important that they have a policy to minimise outages.

They have DP Managers with DP staff and there is a role there to plan everything, in their Computing world, to make sure all their staff, including a lot currently working from home, have a PC which does not suffer due to any updates/upgrades.

They will, like yourself, update a few, to see how it goes. If all is well they'll stage the rest.

Most don't allow the staff to update anything, preferring to do it safely centrally, we don't have that option.

They (the DP dept) will be all over MS if things go wrong.

That's why I suggest a delay, for the rest of us.

Sorry if this is boring, but it is a discussion topic.

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

I think what you say makes a great deal of sense.
I know that Windows Updates can, on occasion, mess up your system.
I'm afraid I'm not knowledgeable to understand all the details of how Windows works, but I would have thought that the experts at Microsoft must have some idea of what changes are likely to create problems for users and, consequently, should avoid them unless absolutely essential.

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

The discussion can go round in circles quite a bit. That's not a criticism because there are always new readers who won't have seen previous discussions.

One of the reasons I believe Microsoft updates might cause problems (although they haven't for me) is that it is impossible for MS to know how people are going to use a computer.

An update can't take into account what programs are installed, how much people might try to modify the system, perhaps alter it in order to prevent updates etc. How clean is the system from possibly uninstalled programs. What combinations of security programs people are using. Might that even prevent an update from going as it should? Probably other factors I haven't thought of ..and Microsoft haven't either.

It just won't be possible for MS to cater for all those variables because they don't actually control what people can do with their computers. As a result, an update problem might only come to light when an update is released into the wild (available to everyone).

While this is only a theory of mine, it is something I believe could be a factor when it comes to people finding problems with updates.

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

Mart,

Okay, I agree with much of what you are saying.

What might well be a big factor, in failing updates, is when the user has not met the basic system requirements for W10 - which went to new levels at the time of the May 2020 Update!

This can be seen here:-

https://www.windowslatest.com/2020/0...-requirements/

My final comment, a Coder once said to me "I could create the perfect software package, if only the buggers would tell me everything about what they will use the machine for!"

I can't argue with that.

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

I worked in the printing and publishing industry where in the early days, around the mid- to late-1980s, only Macs could run the software we used. Eventually that software was developed for Windows but from what I saw Macs were still better than the Windows PCs. Usually there were problems with the Windows PCs regularly ‘crashing’ and when production is stopped in that way it’s a loss of profits so unacceptable. Macs were very stable in that respect so companies preferred to use them.

I did at one time buy a cheap HP Pavilion laptop, a 'special deal'. The cost of that, with software already installed, was cheaper than buying the software for the Mac to open files I was receiving from clients. It was running Vista and within 18 months the hard drive was obviously so full of updates, which made it very slow and almost impossible to start up, so I found other ways round opening those files.

Some links below that may be found interesting. My Apple Macs, a 27” iMac and a MacBook Pro, both purchased in 2012 when I was self-employed, are able to run Windows and I guess that would mean similar problems with updates some others have. No idea really and I have no reason to use the dual platform facility so never have.


Here’s the ‘proper’ way to run Windows on a Mac:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201468


This website give a lot of information and also answers the question of running Windows on Macs:

https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/m...vs-pc-3493363/


I found this website but wouldn’t like to try what is explained on there, despite being on Macs for years I have never attempted anything like this:

https://towardsdatascience.com/how-t...c-bf7cbc05888e

Re: Can I Refuse to Update My Windows PC/Laptop?

That's like the Windows/Linux dual-booting set-up that can be installed on a PC.

I have found it better to have a computer dedicated to each platform so that they can run side by side if wanted. I have a switch that can switch each computer to use the same monitor. That's quicker than closing down one system and booting into the other.

Can a Mac's monitor be shared with another computer? An input that can be switched? If so, it may be found better to have a small size Windows computer and share the monitor.