Not sure where to post this, but I thought the responses to this question might be of interest to others.I just bought a new PC with WindowsXP SP2 installed and as you probably thought I keep getting messages about windows updates that are available for download and installation. It looks like most of these concern Microsoft security issues, but there are some other issues that are addressed also. How do members of the flight sim community handle these updates? Do you always "blindly" install these updates or pick and choose or do nothing unless you have a problem? Like everyone else who enjoys this hobby, I like to keep my operating system running smoothly and don't want to introduce issues and problems.Thanks for any suggestions!Airbus

Always keep your operating system current. There are people who foolishly stick with older versions because they're under the impression that updates will loose them a few fps but that's foolish indeed.The bugfixes and security upgrades are vital, and that performance loss is miniscule if it exists at all.The only things I don't install are some optional updates for part of the OS I don't use (like the synchronisation update for PDAs, which I don't need as I don't have a PDA).

Hello,I would suggest you follow the warnings and install those, especially the security fixes.On top off that, I regularly check for other updates , including motherboard, soundcard and of course, videocard on their respective websites.If you have problems, (and I haven't had any with XP updates up to now) you can always uninstall.I also suggest you update regularly (I check daily for updates) your antivirus and also scan at least once a month your hard drive. Same counts for antispyware.Remember, software is always broken, better fix it.regards, Jan

I also always install the Critical Updates as soon as they are available. So far I have never had them break anything.Mike

"Always keep your operating system current. There are people who foolishly stick with older versions because they're under the impression that updates will loose them a few fps but that's foolish indeed.The bugfixes and security upgrades are vital, and that performance loss is miniscule if it exists at all....I agree 100% I installed XP Home nearly 4 years ago and have encountered no serious problems keeping current via Windows Update. The only update I am wary of is the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. It may be okay now, but when it was first released it caused me a few anxious moments when I couldn't get back into Windows. Consequently, since that unnerving experience, rightly or wrongly I prefer instead to rely on 3rd party solutions in this area.From my notes at the time, there was an update which I removed towards the end of May 2004. Apparently it had been shown to have a negative effect on performance: Q811493Also, I believe you should avoid update Q815411. Unfortunately I forget why.Mike

Well, you'll have gotten them right back in the next rollup ;)

Always.Peter Sydney Australia

Re: Q815411From the KB: ...This hotfix provides a workaround in the heap algorithm to better handle a particular atypical and uncommon sequence of heap requests. The atypical request pattern was found in a custom-built program that does not bear much resemblance to the vast majority of other Windows programs in existence. The scope and the size of this hotfix is narrowly defined for this one particular program and the workaround has no benefit for the majority of programs or overall system performance...Essentially, they developed a patch to fix a problem that one particular, non-commercial, program was having. Wiser heads said that was absurd and dropped the mass update.DJ

It'd be foolish not to.