Which MS Updates? (XP SP2)

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I really hate to ask what might be a frequent question, but my hard drive ate itself the other day and I’ve been reconstructing the contents ever since. I’ve reloaded the operating system and installed SP2. The updater software suggests 44, or so, critical updates. Are there really that many? Do I want to install them all? Is there a list of what I really need and which ones to avoid, if any?

Also, I’ve just installed a fresh version of Outlook (with POP3) and I’m already getting network password prompts. The official Knowledgebase fix (editing the registry) hasn’t worked. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions about curing this?

As ever, I am grateful for your help.

Thank you.

Neal

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You might take a look at AskWoody – there’s a link at the bottom of every Lounge page. Woody evaluates new updates as they come out.

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Are there really that many?

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[/indent]The short answer is, “Yes!” — and the number will continue grow until they are rolled up into Service Pack 3. Then the number of updates will increase from zero…

John

PS The number of updates since the start of XP and WIndows Server 2003 for the software on my server and XP Pro PCs is rather more than 1000, as indicated by WSUS and stored in several Gigabytes of disk! Thank your lucky stars you just have the one PC!

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Release date for Service Pack 3 was pushed back to mid-2007…

After installing Recommended updates the amount of Critical updates will increase and for regular clean installation you will end up with 60 updates or so. Other updates (several hundreds) are needed when you encounter a specific problem only, and they are suppose to be installed exclusively in such circumstances – don’t worry.

Do I want to install them all?

These updates are patches for the holes in your security protection. The bottom line is: if you are planning never to connect neither to the Internet nor to the network, you do not need any updates.

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