Don't want Windows 10? Watch out as MS have changed the update cancel button.

[blue_bird]

Hmm, I would imagine they'd be different. Have you looked at the MS site to see if it explains what the updates are? I know for each update it will allow the user to click a link that will take the user to another place to read a bulletin. Perhaps one of our resident computer gurus can elaborate on this?

After googling the number, the MS pages that come up, just give me some vague computer related jargon. I don't if I'm doing the search wrong, or if I'm not following the right links.

On the topic of AV, many people rave about Kaspersky. In my personal experience, shops with Kaspersky scan my thumbdrive, and find nothing. I take it home, and NOD32 tells me they have given me a virus.
Here's why I love Eset products:
www.eset.com/kh/home/whyeset/compare/

Someone recommended eset as well. Maybe I should consider using it.

 

[Judge]

I've found if the description is vague, then I won't download it. The ones that are clear are usually the ones that are a specific fix or are a security related file.

Yeah, I rarely download anything marked as "optional". It has to really reflect some kind of real improvement for me to consider. And an updated hardware driver isn't always indicative of "improvement". But the required security updates...absolutely.

 

[blue_bird]

Thanks guys for your help. I'll use the advice given. Since I'm not into technology a lot of these things confuse me.

 

[zurb]

My biggest concern is that the little red light comes on when I push the big round button.

I can help you there. Reach around the back, flip the small black switch near where the power cord goes in. Failing that, disconnect the cord from the wall socket. That little red light won't concern you again ;-)

 

[justin_havu]

The only work-around I've ever had over such dynamics is quite basic. To have removable hard drives.

My Dell Poweredge 2950 II server. It's never online though, just part of my home network.

 

[Judge]

My Dell Poweredge 2950 II server. It's never online though, just part of my home network.

Ahhh. Good to hear.

In the case of two of my legacy system's removable drives, once all upgrades were downloaded in installing the OS I turned off access to my network adapter and cut all outside contact from those hard drives. Otherwise they run lean and mean....without all the software that so easily drags down their performance. It does make quite a difference.

The one drive remaining is technically online to receive routine anti-virus and OS security downloads, but never used to surf the net. Otherwise it just networks only to my inkjet printer given all the classic bitmap and vector graphics apps I can't use on newer operating systems.

Addentum: Anyone running a windows 7 or XP system offline might want to consider enhancing their system resources by accessing a file called "MSCONFIG.EXE". Open the file and it's essentially a menu for a number of internal functions for the OS. Click on its tab marked "Services", and you can uncheck a number of programs running in the background that you may not even need.

http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/windows-xp-services-that-can-be-safely-disabled-99164/