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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Redroger on Thursday 13 October 11 12:40 BST (UK)
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A few minutes ago while using Rootschat I was suddenly interupted by my computer shutting down to instal updates from Microsoft, no prior indication was given, so I had no chance to save anything had I been working on other documents. My machine is set to instal updates automatically on shutdown. I find this practice completely unacceptable, and wonder if other users share this opinion?
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Change your settings to prevent it doing automatic updates.
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i find the intrusion by big business and goverment is just getting worse in anything we do these days
perth
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Hi Roger
If this does happen, you usually get a warning and a little bar which indicates how long you have to override the shut down. You must have missed it.
I've overridden my automatic settings now (and update when I want to) but I do remember it being a nuisance.
gnu
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Scouseboy: I intend to do so, but thought I would alert people on this site first, I have it set to do updates at closedown, but somehow this has been overridden.
Perth tiger, Very true, and as they all fight for a diminishing market share like the rats they are, it will only intensify.
Gnu: Thanks very much, I don't think I missed the notification, but might have done.
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Thanks for the information Roger. Updates seem to manage to irritate one way or another!
I was cross this morning, have just got Myspace to play for me again (quite a few people have had problems) and then today when trying to access the site I find my browser is no longer supported (I am using IE7) and get a notice that have to update, or change to another, don't know if IE8 is supported and as I am on XP I can't get IE9.
Anyway I just hate to be forced to do anything so for the moment its goodbye to Myspace!
Selina
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Selina, Why not try Firefox? I think that as Microsoft phase out XP there will be an increasing number of sites that become unusable in IE7.
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Yes Firefox would be my choice but not sure about a few things.
Will it become the default browser and how would I switch between IE and Firefox? Would it have any adverse effects at all?
Selina
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I have both Firefox and I.E. open in separate windows, because Firefox 7.0.1 does not support Ancestry's Advanced Viewer, without any problems.
Stan
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I have Mozilla Firefox and updated it recently, only to find the new version doesn't support Google toolbar and all my bookmarks were on the Google toolbar bookmark link, so I can't access them now. :'( Most of them were related to family history too.
Lizzie
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I've got up-to-date Pale Moon, Firefox, IE, and Chrome (I did have Opera as well, but I took it off because it didn't like some sites!) Switching between them causes no problems on my XP machine.
I have Automatic Updates turned off - I turn it on at the weekends, when I do a full scan/backup.
'Hat.
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When I got this computer new about two years ago I opted not to get updates from microsoft. I notice no problems in not getting updates over that period of time.
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On Windows 7 I can search for updates, in the box on the start button > then find Windows Updates> then Change settings. It is here you can alter how the updates are managed.
I have browers Chrome for speed, but no good with Facebook nor Ancestry.
I have Firefox for Ancestry to download images.
I wouldn't touch any IE at all, but I still get updates for their latest brower, I am not that much of a tekky, but as far as I know even when using other browers IE is still involved, so it's a good idea to keep updating it.
I downloaded IE 8 some time ago and it really didn't get on well with my computer so I uninstalled it and everything went back to norma. I have now hidden this update and don't see it at all.
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When I got this computer new about two years ago I opted not to get updates from microsoft. I notice no problems in not getting updates over that period of time.
Applying the latest Microsoft Windows updates and keeping your Windows PC up to date is always a good idea and is especially important if you use the Internet. When it comes to security, Windows has not had the best track record. All the more reason why you should install the latest security updates for your computer as soon as possible.
http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/microsoft-windows-updates.html
Stan
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I have Mozilla Firefox and updated it recently, only to find the new version doesn't support Google toolbar and all my bookmarks were on the Google toolbar bookmark link, so I can't access them now. :'( Most of them were related to family history too.
Lizzie
If you go to the far right of the firefox bar you will see a small square with a star in it, this is a request to display your bookmarks, click on it.
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When I got this computer new about two years ago I opted not to get updates from microsoft. I notice no problems in not getting updates over that period of time.
Applying the latest Microsoft Windows updates and keeping your Windows PC up to date is always a good idea and is especially important if you use the Internet. When it comes to security, Windows has not had the best track record. All the more reason why you should install the latest security updates for your computer as soon as possible.
http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/microsoft-windows-updates.html
Stan
Yes Avast and AVG are free security softwares and are reckoned to be superior to McAfee and Norton as they are updated much more often. (Allegedly I should add for legal reasons)
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I have Mozilla Firefox and updated it recently, only to find the new version doesn't support Google toolbar and all my bookmarks were on the Google toolbar bookmark link, so I can't access them now. :'( Most of them were related to family history too.
Lizzie
If you go to the far right of the firefox bar you will see a small square with a star in it, this is a request to display your bookmarks, click on it.
Thank you. When I click on the star and then on the word Bookmarks, it does bring up a list of lots of sites. I had found that list once before when doing a search on the laptop but couldn't find it again. Phew, I thought all my family history sites had been lost. I'm going to copy and paste them into a word document now.
Lizzie
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Thanks for the comments on Firefox.
Will download it when I have a 'confident' half-hour!
Selina
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Another "Quirk" of Firefox is that when you need to print a page frtom the net you need to press left Alt to see the c; File, Edit etc. appear in the top left of your screen. No problem once your'e used to it, just a quirk!ontrols
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You can also reach your Bookmarks from the Firefox tab on the top left.
No need to go copying your bookmarks. All you need to do is make a backup see here http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing%20up%20and%20restoring%20bookmarks
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"Another "Quirk" of Firefox is that when you need to print a page....................."
It's called "Menu Bar"
Depending upon the version of firefox, ensure MenuBar is ticked.
File ( ;D ) , View, Toolbars , MenuBar
or if you can't see that menu
select by rightclick "<" (second box from left)
select "MenuBar"
That's Firefox 8, Don't remember 7, 6, 5, 4
Ray
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The items on the menu bar can be seen by clicking on the orange "Firefox" button, top left corner.
It's your choice, which you find easier :)
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When I got this computer new about two years ago I opted not to get updates from microsoft. I notice no problems in not getting updates over that period of time.
Most people don't notice the floods of spam emanating from their compromised computer until they start getting letters from their ISP.
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Hi
The attached is a piccie of Firefox Version 8 as per Bob's instructions.
As you can see the options in the "orange button" for (my) version 8
are not quite the same as the version Bob is running.
;D
Ray
(I alsways was a bit different)
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I haven't got a Firefox tab at the top of my page ::) This is what my page looks like.
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777 messages in your inbox ?
Oooh, someone's going to be in trouble ! :D
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LizzieW - not sure if I've understood, but you can access the menu bar via
View > Tool Bars
By the way you can back up your Firefox Bookmarks via
Bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Backup
(just done it - thanks for the indirect reminder as it was too long since I last did it)
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When I got this computer new about two years ago I opted not to get updates from microsoft. I notice no problems in not getting updates over that period of time.
Most people don't notice the floods of spam emanating from their compromised computer until they start getting letters from their ISP.
Can you please explain what Microsoft updates do to prevent computers getting "compromised?
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When I got this computer new about two years ago I opted not to get updates from microsoft. I notice no problems in not getting updates over that period of time.
Most people don't notice the floods of spam emanating from their compromised computer until they start getting letters from their ISP.
Can you please explain what Microsoft updates do to prevent computers getting "compromised?
Certainly. The 'critical' updates which Microsoft send out are patches to parts of the Windows programs. There are lots of evil people out there trying to gain access to people's (and company's and government's) PCs in order to gain access to bank account details and other personal stuff. Today's internet browsers are now very complex programs which themselves can execute computer code, and it's possible by executing this code inside a browser to create a 'back door' into a computer.
When Microsoft are notified of these vulnerabilities, they re-write or patch the computer code for some of the programs that make up Windows, and these are the critical updates. If you choose not to install these updates, then your computer remains vulnerable to these hackers' exploits. Please bear in mind that in these days of high-speed broadband, a lot of data can flow in and out of your computer, right under your nose, and you will be completely unaware that it is happening.
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Whatever the update yesterday was, it must have been important, I haven't checked.
I've got this pc set to "tell me there when an update is waiting and I'll choose when to update" , well it waited a few hours then went ahead and updated itself without my acknowledgement. It did give me the little box to delay restart though. Perhaps you missed the box appearing if you were engrossed in what you were doing, somehow managing to hide it under your browser window. Can easily happen if you have several windows open.
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There were 2 critical updates on 11/10/2011 - one was for IE9, and the other one was to solve a vulnerability issue in the .NET framework.
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Have just read the whole thread. Because I am waiting for a skype from far far away and a bit bored.
People who set up their computers to NOT receive (MS) updates are making themselves very vulnerable, but, worse, are jeopardizing all the rest of us. If you have a Windows operating system PC you can easily find (just GIYF) information as to how your, yes YOUR PC, can easily be taken over and used as a spambot. And many other bad things can happen - email accounts compromised, keyloggers installed, loads of other Bad Things. It is the huge numbers of naive windows users which make this operating system so vulnerable.
So, please, update your windows OS and RTFM. (GIYF)
Even my 85 year old Mum knows better than some of the posters on this thread!
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Hi
I think you have misunderstood what many posters have said. It's not that we don't update, it's that we update regularly but when it's convenient for us not to Microsoft. Microsoft do give you this option.
gnu
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Have just read the whole thread. Because I am waiting for a skype from far far away and a bit bored.
People who set up their computers to NOT receive (MS) updates are making themselves very vulnerable, but, worse, are jeopardizing all the rest of us. If you have a Windows operating system PC you can easily find (just GIYF) information as to how your, yes YOUR PC, can easily be taken over and used as a spambot. And many other bad things can happen - email accounts compromised, keyloggers installed, loads of other Bad Things. It is the huge numbers of naive windows users which make this operating system so vulnerable.
So, please, update your windows OS and RTFM. (GIYF)
Even my 85 year old Mum knows better than some of the posters on this thread!
Microsoft make their operating system too complicated. It should not need so many updates.
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Microsoft should research their product properly before releasing it upon it's vunerable customers. :-\
pjbuk007 not all users are techno geeks.
Some of us have trouble switching the things on. We were sold the product as being friendly to all abilities of user!..........Not the case! :o
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I can't say I've ever had Microsoft update my computer and restart without telling me - if it needs a restart, I always get a message asking me if it's OK or would I like to delay the restart. My update settings are standard as far as I can tell.
As to Microsoft testing their products before release, yes they should, but they can't anticipate how future threats outside their control will develop and many updates are a response to new issues.
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Windows needs updates more often than Linux, because it's not only the OS used by the majority, but because Linux users are usually the the most 'tech savvy'. However, when Linux was first released, there were no virus checkers for it, and now there are at least 18. If there were no hackers, Windows would only need about 10% of the updates that we get now. On the 10th October, Microsoft released 3 critical updates and all of them were patches to close the door on hackers who were exploiting weaknesses of some of the Windows components, which would never be seen by law-abiding users.
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The biggest problem here is that computers are complicated !!
That is a fact. Windows and Linux GUIs (Graphic User Interfaces) are simply means to make the complicated easier to use, so that, world-wide, not just experts can use a computer.
The computer itself is just a small part in a system of hardware, software, cables, and other stuff necessary to allow you to use your "computer" to write letters, print them, play games, use graphic programs, etc, etc.
A computer system is a tool to extend your capabilities, but when we then go on the internet, the situation gets worse, because a tool that you are using privately is now hooked up to the whole world. It then becomes vulnerable to attack from anybody and everybody who uses technology for criminal purposes. (A hammer is just a tool, but if a crook uses a hammer to bust your door down, so he can rob you, then you think of a hammer differently) .
Some time ago (I'm not sure when, possibly with the introduction of Vista) thousands of computer users suddenly complained that their computer wasn't working correctly. The reason ?: till then, Microsoft had delivered Windows with all "factory set" safety settings defaulted to OFF. They then changed their policy to say factory setting default is now ON, as they had noticed that too many users were ignoring the advice to reset to a secure setting.
(Own up - how many of you have electronic devices with a factory set pin-number 0000 and don't bother to change it ??)
As others have pointed out, it is important to update your computer software.
And as others have also pointed out, you can decide whether this should happen automatically, or whether you will just receive a pop-up saying that updates are available, and you decide when the update will happen.
Bob