PC101-Personal Computer 101

Upgrading is not a simple question, patching is.   That is because there are Pros and Cons to upgrading your OS.

Normally you upgrade your OS, in this case MS Windows, not just because there is a new version, but because you have legitamate reasons for doing so.   Such reasons include:  to get important security updates, because all the new programs you want require it, you are having serious problems with your current version, new hardware you want requires it.

However, patching is a normally a good thing to do, to avoid potential problems.   Generally an OS patch is made available because some important problem has been detected and the patch is designed to address the issue.   Recently Windows patches have been mostly focused on security issues as the energy and tenacity of hackers seems to be endless. 

Windows allows you to automate the patching process with their Automatic Updates program.   For most users this is probably the best way to go.   For the more experienced computer user there is the option to view the updates before they are installed and cancel any that are not needed or appropriate (e.g. an Outlook Express patch when you don't use Outlock Express).

TIP:  All Windows Update patches create an uninstall file in the /Windows directory.   So if installing a patch causes you some serious problems you can uninstall it.

Got questions you would like answered?  Yes

keoni@isp.com