CodeRewind Technology Blog

If you are a user of Windows Vista, as millions of PC owners are, you have the newest and most advanced version of Windows available. Over five years of development went into this software, which translates into millions of hours of effort by software professionals.

So, with all of this, why should you install any updates? Shouldn’t it work right out of the box?

These updates are needed for several reasons.

First, while Windows Vista delivered many improvements to it’s graphical user interface, networking, and program performance, it had some compatibility issues in it’s earliest releases. This is a new operating system that must work flawlessly with thousands of existing applications and hardware, manufactured by companies from around the world.
Your update will address many of the issues that have been identified since the product’s release.

Second reason is security. Vista is as good or better at secure operation than any of it’s predecessors. However, the security landscape is constantly changing. Hackers, spammers, and malware artists are constantly probing Vista and other operating systems for ways to take over. Your Vista update will address potential and confirmed threats to the security of your computer and your network.

So the answer to the question ‘Should I Use Windows Vista Update?’ is yes. Keeping your OS up to date, whether it’s Vista or any other, is crucial to operating in the on line environment of the twenty first century.

There has been more than one warning about new Vista updates on the nets since the introduction of Vista in 2007. Some are well founded, while others are based more on supposition.

Updates and patches are not unique to Windows or Vista. All modern operating systems must be updated regularly to keep them fully operational.
Updates and patches perform many functions. Some correct problems discovered in the operating system in real world usage. Others install or enhance features that were supposed to be part of the original release but were disabled, omitted, or installed in a limited implementation due to rollout pressures.

Problems with updates are not new either. Security updates to XP were well known for shutting down network and printer connections in multi user environments. Fortunately, these problems were fixed by a few adjustments to the firewall and network settings.

Other update issues are more serious. Often updates can come from different teams within the development and support group. While this method helps get updates out in a timely fashion, occasionally one teams update can undo one of the fixes of another.

When considering whether to perform a Vista update, you should read the message boards for possible conflicts with your application base. Some updates are required for your software to run properly, while others may shut down a working application completely.

Even though there is a risk, it is usually best to keep up with the Vista update schedule. Otherwise, you may find yourself so far behind the curve that you will need help to catch up.

The news that Microsoft releases two Vista updates was received in the PC world with little surprise. Patches, updates and revisions are common in the Windows world. What makes these recent updates different is the scope and range of their effect. Many in the industry believe that they a sign the the first Service Pack for the Windows Vista operating system is not far away.

Microsoft has been issuing regular updates for it’s Windows products for years. Most users receive changes once or twice a week which are incorporated into their installation with little or no effort on their part. These updates and patches are designed to fix problems, enhance features, and improve performance and security.

A service pack, on the other hand, is a compilation of many updates. While not quite a new version of Windows, a service pack marks the point when the current Window’s version reaches a specific level of performance and reliability. Many issues are addressed and many features are added or enhanced by a service pack installation.

Microsoft has not officially declared that Vista Service Pack 1 is even in the works, but most analysts feel it just a matter of time before one comes available. The release of two Vista Updates so close together tells a lot. And since the next version of Windows is not scheduled for release until 2010, at least one service pack for Vista is just short of inevitable.

 You can find both the updates here:

– http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=938194 (Compatibility and Reliability patch)

– http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=938979 (Performance and Reliability patch)

Microsoft Vista, the latest generation of the Windows Operating System family, is a reliable, robust and secure operating system. But, from time to time, it needs to be adjusted to be able to do it’s job properly.

Why?
Well, part of the reason is compatibility. Vista is a new operating system, and while it was extensively tested prior to release, nothing compares to the test that millions of new users put an OS through in it’s first few weeks of operation. During that time, it was discovered that Vista had some compatibility issues with some of the thousands of software packages and hardware options in the PC world. These issues are addressed by creating and installing updates and patches to the Vista Operating System Code.

The second reason is security. Unlike the early days of the PC, Vista does not exist in a vacuum. If your PC is on line, it is subject to attacks by viruses, phishing sites, malware and other intruders bent on taking over your PC for their own purposes. The tactics change from day to day, and the weapons Vista employs to combat them must change as well. Keeping your copy of Vista patched and updated is important to the survival of your PC.

This is generally a simple process, but not without it’s pitfalls.

Windows Vista, like all PC operating systems, requires periodic updates to function properly in the varied and changing computing environment. New software is introduced, new viruses are releases, and unforeseen issues can hamper and even threaten your computer systems. Regular updates keep your operating system on the cutting edge.

Most updates are relatively simple and are done automatically by Windows Vista during the regular, daily update checks. It is recommended that this feature is set at all times.

You can setup the automatic update feature by going to START – All Programs – Change Settings.

From this screen, you can select the kind of updates you want automatically done, and what time you want Vista to perform the updates.  This allows you to schedule the updates for a time when you are not using the PC.

If you have automatic updating off, or you have been off line for a while, you can get the latest updates by going to START – All Programs – Windows Update.

Click on ‘Check for Updates’. This will connect you to the Microsoft site and allow you do download and install all recent updates that are not in your copy of Vista.

This should be done weekly if you do not have Automatic Update set up. If you have not updated in a while, you may have to perform this operation more than once to get all of the updates installed.