Microsoft March Security Only Roll-up- REALLY?

[TwoTankAmin]

I have Win 7 64 bit. Once the monthly roll-up system started I have done the Security Only roll-up every month after a few day wait after it has been released. I checked for updates tonight and this is the Microsoft page on this month's update: March 13, 2018—KB4088878 (Security-only update) https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4088878/windows-7-update-kb4088878

There is no way any of the instructions there are things I can deal with or understand, so I will not do this update. I have a few choice words for Microsoft, but you will just have to use your imagination. But if you stick to four letter words, you will likely figure them out fast.

[Moonchild]

Hm.. Lots of very serious issues listed, with resolution "Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release."

Hey Microsoft... how about "It's not ready yet and will publish it when it's actually done so it doesn't break your Windows like a rock would"? Just an idea.

[TwoTankAmin]

The problem is that this update was meant to fix prior bad updates related to the recent malware attacks Spectre and the other one). These prior updates were ineffective or broke stuff or made new holes. When I need to mess with the registry or copy paste things to preserve them. Things which a may ass well be written in Chinese for all i can understand them, this is a problem. This is also yet one more reason why I will never use Windows 10. it would have forced this sort of update onto my box and likely n=knocked me offline with no way to fix things.

If you want to read AskWoody re this patch on the Computerworld site, which he politely refers to as a "cluster-cluck," go here https://www.computerworld.com/article/3216425/microsoft-windows/microsoft-patch-alert-windows-7-takes-the-brunt-of-march-patching-problems.html and scroll down to Windows 7: To patch or not to patch

I would just like to say, "Cluck you, Microsoft!"

[Night Wing]

I run linux Mint as my daily driver and I starting using linux when Windows 8 was released back in October of 2012. I've got four computers (2 desktop towers, 2 laptops). Every computer has two hard drives except one of my desktop towers has three hard drives in it.

When Microsoft came out with their "so called quality updates" for Windows 10, I knew that was going to be a headache since Microsoft now relies on it's "Insiders" to test out these updates. As far as I'm concerned, I view the "insiders" as nothing more than Windows fanboys. Which means quality control is basically "gone" when it comes to Patch Tuesday or any other KB updates.

With that mind, when Microsoft first started to implement their "security, quality and monthly rollup" crap updates into Windows 7, I took a defensive position since I've experienced first hand the problems the KB updates have created for me in the past (corrupted updater, computer wouldn't shut down properly, computer wouldn't boot at startup, bsod's, etc). Now comes the part where I'm probably going to take some flak from what I'm about to say, but nobody's comments on this forum or any other site's forums will change my mind.

When the "not so good security and monthly rollups" were started for Windows 7, in September of 2016 I went into Windows Updates and checked "Never check for updates" on three of my four Windows 7 hard drives. These hard drives have up to date programs like Avast AV, Comodo Firewall, Adobe Flash, Java, Pale Moon, SeaMonkey, Firefox 52 ESR versions, Teamviewer, Winrar, etc on them. I don't click on links in emails and I don't surf porno sites, gaming sites or music sites. I don't share files either. The result? I have never gotten a virus, never had any type of malware, never had ransomware, etc.

But Microsoft just keeps harping on how insecure Windows 7 is and the tech writers parrot the same line. So I decided to test out just how secure Windows 7 really is on my fourth windows hard drive. I loaded and installed a custom setup of 64 bit Windows 7 Ultimate on this hard drive in October of 2016. After activating Windows 7 Ultimate, I went to the Windows Updates and checked "Never check for updates". The only update I did install was manually installing KB4056897 which I had to get from the Microsoft Software Catalog and you people can Google this update to see what it is for. This is the only KB update on this hard drive of Windows 7 and Windows 7 came out in the year 2009. One lone update. No other KB updates.

I then loaded all of my programs I use (Avast AV, Comodo Firewall, Adobe Flash, Java, Pale Moon, SeaMonkey, Firefox 52 ESR versions, Teamviewer, Winrar, etc) and manually configured each of them to my liking. I use this hard drive one day a week and surf all over the internet on anything which my mind can think up to check out. The result, since I've been doing this from October of 2016 to now which is almost April of 2018, no problems encountered.

In my opinion, the most dangerous thing on the internet are Microsoft's own KB updates. With my four computers, these computers which have a windows hard drive loaded with Windows 7, all of these four Windows 7 hard drives will never see Windows 10 on any of them. As for the tech writers parroting what Microsoft is spewing, in my opinion, I think they're getting something under the table from Microsoft to write these articles.

[RJARRRPCGP]

so it doesn't break your Windows like a rock would

Like that one, LOL.

[Thehandyman1957]

I have to agree with the update issues with W7. When I first moved from XP to W7 I thought I would try to get all the critical updates for it so that it would be up to date. But those updates borked my machine several times and the last time I loaded them they stopped my machine from shutting down.

In the end I gave up and just wiped and started from scratch and left it as it was. Have not had a problem since.

The funny thing is, when using XP I never updated that system for over 8 years and never had a issue.
Deep down inside I have a gnawing suspicion that there are some very nefarious things hidden in M$ updates
but since I can't really prove it, it doesn't mean anything. But if their actions say anything about them it's
that we should never really trust them. Just saying.

[Fedor2]

Up for you too. Since that quality updates introduced i disable automatic update on every windows machine, and install security only update manually, but i did not install any 2018 update because of the spectre hum and of that it will halve performance. Once i shall may be do internet explorer and .NET only updates.

[Isengrim]

Windows Update broke itself on my machine a while back. Since I'm down to using it maybe a few times a month and almost exclusively for gaming, I'm not really in a hurry to "fix" it.

[Moonraker]

This is the sort of thread which makes me thankful i dumped windows after windows 7 which in my opinion is the best windows version ever,

[RJARRRPCGP]

That's why my latest Windows 7 SP1 x64 updates are from 2017! Even Simplix is encountering a show stopper!

[PalleP]

I think most Win7 users today have totally skipped any kind of updates. Many Win10 users would probably also skip the updates if they had the choice.
I turned updates completely off in connection with the roll-up madness and the GetWinX scandal.
In the beginning I used a lot of time installing selected updates manually, but that came to an end when M$ started putting their malware in the security updates.
Today I have the attitude that a non-updated pc may be infected, while an updated pc will be infected (with M$ malware) and will be an endless headache of malfunction and blue screens.
The extremely low quality of the patches that M$ deliver today may very well be because their clever programmers have left in shame. Think how embarrassing it must be to tell anyone that you work for M$
M$ has not only destroyed Windows. Look at the office pack today, what an utterly piece of shit. At my work we use Navision from M$, I really hope we get it replaced by a decent piece of software before the cost of this shitty program ruins the company.
I have actually no problem with not updating Win7. I used Win XP until I couldn't get an updated browser for it anymore. That was the only problem I had, Win XP is in my oppinion the best operating system ever made, and then it must die in the holy name of evolution of the internet.
Well, M$ has cheated us in another way. What will happen if they decide to screw up the Win7 licensing system? We are then left with a non-operative operating system. They may very well do that, they are totally unscrupulous here in the end of their existence.
So, what to do in the future? One could hope that ReactOS will be reality, or that the inconceivable will happen so the Linux developers join forces and make a usable operating system that is able to run Windows applications.
Another possibility is that a new player comes on the field. A new player that sees the money that can be earned from companies that fight with crabby M$ software every day and will pay almost anything to get totally rid of M$.
M$ screwed up Windows because the wanted to dominate the phone/touchscreen market. They didn't have the talents, and lost both the new market and the old one. They really believed that desktops would disappear because they made an operating system that was designed for small lowres monochrome touchscreens. Desktops with mouse, keyboard and a large hires monitor will not disappear because it is the optimal configuration for office and homework.

[Isengrim]

Another possibility is that a new player comes on the field. A new player that sees the money that can be earned from companies that fight with crabby M$ software every day and will pay almost anything to get totally rid of M$.

The most likely company that comes to mind is Google. Even if someone did make this new OS, they'd have to provide a clean way to migrate so that users can either continue using Windows software or easily use new software with their existing files. The consumer market and and especially the business world has become so reliant on Windows that only ReactOS has the best chance at replacing it - and even that chance is small.

[Thehandyman1957]

But what good is ReactOS if they are NT5 based and not supported anymore?
That still leaves us in the same position as XP at this point.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the idea and I think they are trying hard. But too much
water has passed under the bridge to make it a feasible operating system anymore.

I mean, heck. My new computer (not really new new) doesn't even have drivers available for XP.
So the idea of using ReactOS is out of the question. And video drivers in Linux are so lacking in any
ability to adjust my monitor colors, gamma and digital vibrance that it makes it simply unbearable.

And last but not least is the ability to use the latest PM on it. Simply not going to happen main stream.

Sadly, W7 is the last stop on my train ride. It took me forever to finally make the move and after
11 rounds in the ring, I have finally got it looking, working and acting like XP did. So I'm ok with it
and will continue to use it till the train runs out of steam. At that point, it's time to find something else
to do with my time. Heck, does anybody remember what life was like before computers? I remember I had
hobbies, and some awesome fish tanks. Heck, I even worked on my cars and rebuilt a pool table.

My point, life will go on with or without it.