IMO, auto updates should never be on. I want CONTROL over my PC's, and I do NOT need M$ "hand-holding" and letting THEM decide what I need (which is everything according to them). The majority of patches are not even needed if you use a firewall, or if the affected Service is turned off.
Always go to the patch's details webpage. At the update site where you're presented with the a list of what you "need" according to them, click the "Details" links. In the popup, click the link under "More information". Then at the webpage click on the "Vulnerability Details" link, then for the patch you'll see "Mitigating factors....." (and sometimes "Work arounds"). Under this area is where you'll find out if you really need a patch. For one example, if it's a patch for Messenger and you have that Service disabled, then of course you don't want to install the patch. Or if it tells you that ports [123] or [456] is where a vulnerability is exploited, and you're using a firewall that blocks ports, you don't need to install the patch.* Now for hardware patch updates, I've never even seen more info on these. Right now, for me, I have 2 listed under "Hardware optional" and it rarely if ever goes into any details about these, and there never are any "mitigating factors" for these since they are software or driver updates for hardware. Always get any updates to hardware straight from the manufacturer, and only if you are experiencing any problems. If it is for some security issue related to some hardware's software or drivers, then I'd also check the manufacturer first and see what they have to say about it. Find all the info on it that you can to determine if you really need it. I personally have never seen any of these type updates for my PC's. *Check your ports at http://www.grc.com/default.htm , scroll down and click "Shields Up" then let it scan your ports by clicking "All Service Ports". They should all be green. -Clint God Bless Clint Hamilton, Owner http://www.OrpheusComputing.com http://www.ComputersCustomBuilt.com http://Computer-Hardware-Sales-Consumer-Electronics-Sales.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Grossman" Yes, that update was a disaster, and I can't thank Ben Moore enough for his help. Now, the big question. Clint is right about the potential for serious problems with Microsoft hardware updates, but on the other hand, the patches do close security holes. That leads to the following questions to everybody: Should I turn off automatic updates? Do you allow automatic updates? How can you tell which updates are OK? David Grossman > -----Original Message----- > > I will NEVER install another M$ update for hardware. 3 times > I've done it, and each time met with disastrous results. (An > update for my ATI AIW card, integrated Intel Gigabit NIC, and > SoundMax integrated audio). You'd think these idiots would > CHECK updates before they release them. Now I just stick to > OS > patches and only IF I DEFINITELY need them. > -Clint > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ben Moore" > > You just installed the new patch KB 925902. That file is the > Realtek HD > Sound Effect manager in the control panel. I have the same > problem. If you > uninstall the patch the exe loads and the error message goes > away. The > sound works fine though so I'm just leaving the patch > installed > on mine. It > fixes a pretty serious security flaw. Hopefully Realtek will > update software > soon. I posted about this over on the Asus support forum. > I'll > let you know > if I find out anything. > > Ben Moore > > -----Original Message----- > > I just received a strange message. Does anybody know what it > is? > > My Windows XP with SP2 had just restarted itself after > completing the > installation of one of its mystery updates or routines. I > hate > when that > happens, because I feel that I'm no longer in control of the > system. I > suspect an automatic Windows update that comes in on > Tuesdays, > but I may be > wrong. > > When my computer loaded up, I got a message that states: > RTHDCPL.EXE - > Illegal System DLL Relocation. The system DLL user32.dll was > relocated in > memory. The application will not run properly. > The relocation occurred because the DLL > c:\Windows\system32.HHCTRL.OCX > occupied an address range reserved for Windows system DLLs. > The > vendor > supplying the DLL should be contacted for a new DLL. > > I restarted the computer, and that message came up again. > > Who is the vendor? How do I contact them? What do I do with > the > DLL after I > get it? How do I make it load up into a safe place in memory? > > David Grossman ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
