updates

[westerneagle]

I bought a used laptop. The seller had the restore disks and returned the computer to factory fresh.
Vista home premium

Now when I run it, windows says there are over 100 updates that need to be applied!!!
(I have installed office 2003 and some of the updates or for it. 10 or so.)


Should I just check them all and stand back and see what happens.
Or do I check a few of the oldest and work my way through them???

Thanks for you input.

[JoeP]

Is any service pack installed?

Joe

[westerneagle]

I don't know for sure. I don't see any 'service packs' listed.
When I go to the 'Welcome screen' it just says 'Vista Home Premium'

Is there a place to check if I have it or not.

The laptop is about 3 years old.

[Hey Jude]

Start > Right click My Computer > Properties > General Tab you'll see your OS version and which SP is installed.

[DaveA]

Go to Control Panel, System and Maintenance, System.
This should tell you all.

[westerneagle]

OK, to make sure I was looking at the right screen, I went to my wifes' computer and found that she has service pack 1.

On the same screen, that is NOT showing on the lap top

So...the answer is that I do NOT have service pack 1

[StuartR]

You should install Service Pack 1, and then install Service Pack 2, then run Windows Update again and see how many updates it offers you this time.

[JoeP]

See A software update is available for the Windows Vista installation software feature for updates you need before SP-1.

Then download SP-1 from Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330) and burn to a CD.

Install SP1.

Download and install Download details: System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista (KB947821) [January 2010].

Download Download details: Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - Five Language Standalone (KB948465) and burn to a CD.

Install SP2.

Use Windows Update to apply fixes since SP2.

Joe

[westerneagle]

Thank you Joe,
I will work through your recommendations and report back.

thank you

Mike

[JoeP]

This thread reads as though you are just getting started with the PC.

BUT, you should always make a backup of anything that is important to you before starting the install of something as big as a service pack.

Joe

[westerneagle]

Thanks for the reminder Joe, everything is 'safe and sound'

In fact my last laptop went kaput but I had all backed up and I have not put anything on this 'new' one yet. So I will get it up to date and then pour it on.

[JoeP]

You're welcome. Good luck with the installs. Let us know the result.

Joe

[westerneagle]

I have an update. . . . . . .(that's not very punney. . . )

I d/l sp1 and sp2 and the update tool.

I thought I would go for the gold and try sp1 right off the bat. . . no go. After an hour it said it did not install.
So I ran the update tool. It installed and then I tried sp1 again. Still no go.

Then I took a look at the list of 98 updates. 10 or so was for office, the majority were 'security' updates for vista. I noticed 10 plain vista updates dating from 2008.
I clicked on all ten. After about 1/2 hour they installed and I rebooted.
I then tried sp1 again. . .success!!!

Tonight I go for sp2!!!

Oh, I now have 78 new updates according to windows update. Minus the 10 that I installed, sp1 removed about 10 others.

Thanks again for the help!

Mike

[JoeP]

At least you are part way.

I'd install the update readiness tool and SP-2 before messing with Windows Update again. You should have many fewer patches after SP-2.

Good luck!!

Joe

[westerneagle]

At least you are part way.

I'd install the update readiness tool and SP-2 before messing with Windows Update again. You should have many fewer patches after SP-2.

Good luck!!

Joe

I ran the update readiness tool before I ran sp-1, are you saying that I would need to run it again.
thanks
Mike

[JoeP]

Can't hurt to try it just in case the SP-1 install replaced some the components in the patch.

Joe

[westerneagle]

Ok,. . . . .

I just installed sp-2 and it went fine. . .

I now have 28 security updates according to windows.
Kinda going back to my first question. . should I click them all and install all at once. . .??

Or do just a couple at a time??

Thanks for you help

Mike

[HansV]

28 at once should be OK. You'll probably have to reboot at least once; check Microsoft Update after each reboot until there are no more updates left.

[westerneagle]

Thanks Hans,
I will give it a try. . . .

[westerneagle]

Well. . . everything went well. . . .

I now only have a bunch of "optional" updates that I will take a look at later.

Thanks again for all you help.

I give a . . no two. . . to all involved!

Mike