My rant on updates (laptops, desktop, bios, monitor)

[harry chickpea]

I remember that years ago I was one of the few who refused automatic updates. I did so for a number of reasons:
1. Having once been an early adopter, I didn't trust them.
2. The stability of my system was a priority.
3. Having limited bandwidth on a satellite feed, every meg counted.
4. A lot of updates were of minimal importance and aimed at other users.
5. I have always viewed allowing ANYONE open access to my system as a security risk.

It seems that the world is now catching up to me and my conservative values.

In the phone forum:
Android updating apps

In this forum, the "no space" BS of a windows update, and the regret over doing a BIOS update.

Last night I got stung again; I had repeatedly denied Firefox an update that was (primarily) to serve quad-core - which I don't have - and the auto-updates to my add-ons happened anyway, so that they would be compatible with that update I never took. Ad-block showed with far more limited functionality, and download helper just plain broke.

IMO, auto-updates are out of control. I was able to revert after some searching, but I am rethinking the old idea of a complete ROM system with added storage for downloads. Each and every day, the ROM would re-assert, wiping any threats, giving stability, presenting an optimized performance, while the storage area could be scanned for problems and then accepted.

Bluntly, what is happening at an increasing pace is that software is trying to optimize for new hardware and bloating, and new hardware straining older software. It is a type of b*tch fight that I want no part of. I am not going to upgrade hardware just because Windows or an app/program has a hard-on for quad core triple scoop mocha pistachio operating hardware.

I want to read relevant news stories, I want to have reproducibility in web pages, I want to not have to continually learn new work-arounds to do basic tasks.

I am at a point that I do not trust ANY program on Win 10 to act consistently for more than a month or two, much less a few years like some of my older programs have. The value to me of such unreliable hardware/software combos is zilch. At some point, if things continue, I will drop off computers completely and take up some occupation that has more stability, even if it is basket weaving. I see no point in wasting my brain trying to keep up and outwit systems designed to try to influence me to buy, change my opinions to idiocy, and irritate me and thwart the simplest of tasks.

"Update" my a** Write your dam programs properly like we all used to and be done with it. Otherwise, I'm happy to help update your sorry butt to the unemployment line and bankruptcy as I join the ranks of those walking away.

[davidt1]

I try to run as many apps as I can from a USB drive, Firefox included. I don't normally do updates and if one was forced upon me somehow and if don't like it, I can delete the whole folder where the app is located and copy over another one from any of the five back-up USB drives I have.

[Zymer]

I gave up the upgrade/update BS many years ago, and I never (and never have) let anything 'auto' update. I made the mistake of updating an old version of FireFox a while ago and have been unhappy with it ever since.

[jaminhealth]

How does one turn off updates on desktop computer. Is it necessary and forced on one.

[davidt1]

Originally Posted by jaminhealth

How does one turn off updates on desktop computer. Is it necessary and forced on one.

I am only familiar with Windows 7.

Start - Control Panel - System and Security - Window Update.

You can change the settings there.

Windows updates have never been necessary for me. I turn it off to avoid updates potentially messing up my settings. I use my laptops as a HTPC. Some of the settings and software don't respond well to changes in the OS.

I rely on cloning to keep things secure. Sometimes I even do two clones for each machine.

[mgforshort]

I use a Windows 7 PC with a 27 inch monitor as a main computer and a 13 inch Chromebook for casual browsing. The Chromebook is much faster and updates take only seconds.
With the high resolution screen of the Chromebook I can read small-font text like here City Data just as well as on the big 27 inch screen.
I can close the Chromebook by folding the top down and open it again and it takes less than 2 seconds to be back where I was before, like typing this.
I don't worry about viruses and spyware. Chromebook is highly recommended as a secondary or a backup device.
Having said that, I can't do many things on it what I can do on the real desktop PC, but I'm not a geek, only a casual user.

[d4g4m]

I use win 7. I stopped updating in Oct 16 when it became a real challenge to get updates to work. Thought it was just me with the problem until I went on sevenforums and discovered that 10's of thousands had the same problem.

[rstevens62]

Originally Posted by davidt1

I am only familiar with Windows 7.

Start - Control Panel - System and Security - Window Update.

You can change the settings there.

Windows updates have never been necessary for me. I turn it off to avoid updates potentially messing up my settings. I use my laptops as a HTPC. Some of the settings and software don't respond well to changes in the OS.

I rely on cloning to keep things secure. Sometimes I even do two clones for each machine.

I tried this on Windows 10, it will let you go for a little while, but eventually all the pop up reminders become bothersome, and then at some point, you wont be able to shut it down without updating. I guess you could just leave the computer on all the time and only disconnect from the internet, that may work long term.

[davidt1]

Originally Posted by rstevens62

I tried this on Windows 10, it will let you go for a little while, but eventually all the pop up reminders become bothersome, and then at some point, you wont be able to shut it down without updating. I guess you could just leave the computer on all the time and only disconnect from the internet, that may work long term.

A quick search yielded some promising work around.

https://mspoweruser.com/turn-off-win...te-windows-10/

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-s...lly-windows-10

Microsoft themselves even show people how to turn off updates in Win 10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...pgrade-options

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by davidt1

A quick search yielded some promising work around.

https://mspoweruser.com/turn-off-win...te-windows-10/

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-s...lly-windows-10

Microsoft themselves even show people how to turn off updates in Win 10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...pgrade-options

I discovered that first page listed a year ago and immediately put an end to forced updates. It works!