Windows update query

I'm using Windows7 and generally happy with it. However, when doing a windows update there are always lots of stuff listed for download which I don't have installed on my pc, for instance Office updates, C+ updates and always silverlight (whatever that is, I don't want it). Why is it doing this? Can an always ignore be set for certain updates?

A small point but irritating.

Thanks.

If you don't want an update to show again just right click on it and click hide update.

I think silverlight is an attempt to duplicated Adobe's flash.

I thought there was an option to disable all but critical software updates?

That is not normal behaviour; you should only expect to be offered updates to programs that you have installed.

Are you absolutely sure that you don't have any of these things installed? For example, you mention C++ updates; many programs will install the C++ redistributable, as they need it to run. Again, Silverlight is likely installed if you ever browse Microsoft web sites.

I'd check in the list of installed programs to ensure that you really do not have these programs installed. It's not wise (IMO) to ignore updates, which often fix security problems, to installed programs unless there is a real issue with a particular one.

Thanks will sort it accordingly.

I agree let it install the updates.

Having said that, I thought I had removed Silverlight and it was re-installed in an update today. The strange thing about the C++ runtime update was it was apparently installed successfully in the same update, but reappeared on the list of important updates at least three times. I confess as it had the same number and claimed to have been successful, I have now hidden it.

The one that gets me is the .NET Framework, usually huge update.
I assume as just a regular user, I don't need it.
Correct ?

Probably wrong. More and more programs use the .NET framework, so ignoring security problems with it is probably not sensible.

In reply to a post by philippercival:

Having said that, I thought I had removed Silverlight and it was re-installed in an update today.

It does no harm so you might as well leave it be. To be honest I think more problems with Windows are caused by people who think they know best and keep uninstalling things instead of just letting it be. It sort of pains me to say it because the time was when I was very careful about what I kept installed but I stopped worrying several years ago. HDDs are so large these days that it's just not worth the risk or bother to try and spring clean.

The strange thing about the C++ runtime update was it was apparently installed successfully in the same update, but reappeared on the list of important updates at least three times.

There's more than one C++ runtime. MS may still be issuing updates for Visual 2005, Visual Studio 2008 and Visual Studio 2010.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

The one that gets me is the .NET Framework, usually huge update.
I assume as just a regular user, I don't need it.
Correct ?

Not correct. It's an important framework. As I said in my reply to the other poster - leave it be. Having .NET on your computer will not do any harm and the amount of disk space it's taking up is insignificant. I really do think you're creating more potential problems by trying to second guess what Windows wants and needs. The fact that you're having to ask if it matters is further proof of that in my opinion.

Edited by Andrue (Wed 19-Oct-11 08:29:01)

In reply to a post by Scottish_Pete:

If you don't want an update to show again just right click on it and click hide update.

Correct..but probably unwise. That's just sweeping the issue under the carpet. If Windows thinks it needs something then let it have it. It's far too complex an OS even for experts to be sure what is dependant on what. Even if you know you're not using Silverlight you might one day and if you've hidden updates for it you'll be running an unsafe, unstable or incompatible version without realising it.

If you want to tinker and hand tune your OS then install Linux. After many years using Windows and developing software for it (going back to 3.1) my advice is just to leave it alone and let it do what it wants to do. It's rarely wrong and just because you don't need something today doesn't mean you won't want it tomorrow.

In reply to a post by Andrue:

In reply to a post by Scottish_Pete:

If you don't want an update to show again just right click on it and click hide update.

Correct..but probably unwise. That's just sweeping the issue under the carpet. If Windows thinks it needs something then let it have it. It's far too complex an OS even for experts to be sure what is dependant on what. Even if you know you're not using Silverlight you might one day and if you've hidden updates for it you'll be running an unsafe, unstable or incompatible version without realising it.

Totally agree with you... it is unwise not to install the updates.
But the OP asked the question, I just gave them the solution. It is up to them if they want to run there system unstable, unsafe or incompatible, not mine.

In reply to a post by Scottish_Pete:

In reply to a post by Andrue:

In reply to a post by Scottish_Pete:

If you don't want an update to show again just right click on it and click hide update.

Correct..but probably unwise. That's just sweeping the issue under the carpet. If Windows thinks it needs something then let it have it. It's far too complex an OS even for experts to be sure what is dependant on what. Even if you know you're not using Silverlight you might one day and if you've hidden updates for it you'll be running an unsafe, unstable or incompatible version without realising it.

Totally agree with you... it is unwise not to install the updates.
But the OP asked the question, I just gave them the solution. It is up to them if they want to run there system unstable, unsafe or incompatible, not mine.

Yeah, no probs. I actually had to hide one update earlier in the year. It broke MMC on servers which was a bit of a pain because server configuration is almost totally reliant on MMC these days. The only other one I've hidden is IE9 because I use Chrome and can't get on with the font handling in IE9 anyway.

In reply to a post by Andrue:

In reply to a post by Scottish_Pete:

If you don't want an update to show again just right click on it and click hide update.

Correct..but probably unwise. That's just sweeping the issue under the carpet.

Concur - if you don't want silverlight, go to control panel -> programs and features, and uninstall it, so then you'll get no updates for it

More importantly update Flash, and use something like www.secunia.com with the Online Security Scanner (OSI) which scans all products, not just MS.