Computer question

[protekme]

I will turn off my computer completely (unplug) because I will be gone for a couple of months.

My question is: will it affect the updates? Is there a risk when I resume?

Thank you for your consideration.

[jrm30655]

I can't think of any real problems. There is a small battery that keeps the clock going. It might run down requiring you to reset the clock. You can go to Microsoft updates when you return and it will catch everything back up.

Leaving it on and hot to just get current updates will put a lot of wear on the HD which could be a problem.

Unplug it and go in peace..........

[protekme]

I can't think of any real problems. There is a small battery that keeps the clock going. It might run down requiring you to reset the clock. You can go to Microsoft updates when you return and it will catch everything back up.

Leaving it on and hot to just get current updates will put a lot of wear on the HD which could be a problem.

Unplug it and go in peace..........

Thank you. I feel a lot better.

[HelperGuy]

No need to get any updates from any company, while you are away. In fact, turn OFF Windows Updates to save a lot of headaches down the road. Trust me on this. Nothing magical, they are just too flakey on too many machines. I have repaired (reinstalled Windows) many, many times from updates gone bad. Leave the whole setup unplugged.

[protekme]

No need to get any updates from any company, while you are away. In fact, turn OFF Windows Updates to save a lot of headaches down the road. Trust me on this. Nothing magical, they are just too flakey on too many machines. I have repaired (reinstalled Windows) many, many times from updates gone bad. Leave the whole setup unplugged.

May be that's why I got infected once after restarting my computer after six weeks being away. The first five minutes, I could not click on anything without getting porno and ads. A new browser had installed itself "ask" which took over. Someone has mentioned that ask was a problem . . . well I had it. It cost me another Windows installation.

So, you recommend not to update Windows when I return??? I thought it was very important to make sure we had all the Windows updates.

Thank you.

[jrm30655]

I've never had any trouble with Microsoft updates.

A couple of years ago, I got tired of losing data with HD failures and virus problems. I bought a HD the same size and type as my computer and an external case for it. On Sunday morning, I use a program caled "Reflect" (free on the web) to clone the computer HD.

When I have a problem, I jerk the disk, slap the clone in and go on. Takes 5 minutes.

Total cost is about $100 and it is the best $100 I've spent in a while.

[protekme]

There always seems to be different views on everything. I am not an expert, far from it, and I cannot do all kinds of things to protect my computer. That's why I have to be extra careful. I don't dare do anything that would cause me more problems. If I cannot trust Windows with their updates, (and we need updates) then there is not much I, personally, can do.

Thank you for you input.

[hkrause]

I had all sorts of problems with updates that required rebuilding my computer on multiple occasions when I had Windows Vista. No such problems with Windows XP, and none since upgrading to Windows 7. Just to be safe after being burned by Vista several times, I only update manually now, and like to have a good backup before doing updates.

Backups are essential anyway, and it would be an excellent idea to make a full backup of your system and maybe a secondary backup of just data before you put the system into storage. That way, when you come back and get everything running and updated again, you'll have the security of a couple good backups just in case anything were to go bad.

Although unlikely, I'd be more concerned with a hardware issue upon restart than with problems caused by Windows updates. Either way, having a backup is great for peace of mind. And store your backup device (external hard drive, etc) in a secure location... just in case the house is burglarized and your computer goes missing, or gets otherwise damaged.

Heather

[protekme]

Good idea hkrause. Thanks

[HelperGuy]

May be that's why I got infected once after restarting my computer after six weeks being away. The first five minutes, I could not click on anything without getting porno and ads. A new browser had installed itself "ask" which took over. Someone has mentioned that ask was a problem . . . well I had it. It cost me another Windows installation.

So, you recommend not to update Windows when I return??? I thought it was very important to make sure we had all the Windows updates.

Thank you.

At between three and seven customers a day, five + days a week, I have seen hundreds of computers that were nullified by Windows updates. Sure, some people never have any problem, but far too many do. And considering most of the updates are security bumps for esoteric threats that will probably never, ever happen, why bother taking a chance? I realize this goes against the grain for some people, but just because they offer them, does not make it "the word".

On the other hand, Ask does not come in via Windows updates, but via either free software or infected websites. It is ubiquitous, and I have not yet found a piece of anti-spyware that will stop it.

As to backing up, I would recommend against doing a clone of your computer except immediately following a brand-new installation of Windows, before any system rot, stray files, bad updates, and other junk gets in there. Cloning a bad system gives you a bad system right back. What needs to be backed up are your Favourites, files, photos, downloads, and email, and of course your Documents (including things like Quicken files and tax returns).