how do I find older windows xp patch ratings

**notgoodatwindows** · 2006-10-04 22:50

Please help, does this website list the older windows xp patches and its reliability ratings? If yes, where do I click. I just bought my very first computer and need the very first window xp patch ratings up until the most recent one. Thanks friends!!!!

**HansV** · 2006-10-04 23:15

In addition to Big Al's reply: if there were problems with older patches, Microsoft will have smoothed out the wrinkles by now, so in general, older patches are safe to install.

In fact, the last time I had a problem with a Windows XP update was in April, 2003. For a while after that, I waited a week or two after updates were released before installing them, but during the last two years, I simply install them when I receive the notification from Windows Update; I haven't had any problems with them.

(There is one exception: I have hidden an update for the video driver for my NVidia graphics card, because recent driver versions are not compatible with a computer game I like)

**bigaldoc** · 2006-10-04 23:31

Well, you don't say where you are with respect to the "level" of Windows XP, so I have to ask you, do you have Service Pack 1 installed or are you running the original XP? To be honest, we don't keep track here, per se, of all the individual patches and updates to Windows, but there are other sites where there is much information about the topic, not the least of which is Woody's AskWoody, the link for which you can find at the bottom of all Lounge pages. At this point, I think it would be wise of you to visit the Windows Update site and see what updates you are missing. At a very minimum, it would seem wise to install ALL critical updates to the OS.

Edited to add: I meant to say SP2, NOT Service Pack 1.

**E_OGRADY** · 2006-10-05 08:54

If you run (download first) Belarc Advisor you will get a list of installed updates, the Microsoft site allows the download of all released updates, compare one with the other and you have a list of what you don't have.

**kaplinb** · 2006-10-05 11:14

Welcome to the Lounge!

Unfortunately, this website does not provide any "reliability ratings" for Microsoft hotfixes (Windows updates), and I don't think any website does.
There is none because for some time Microsoft put the question this way: "If you do trust Microsoft - use automatic Windows updates; if you don't - do not connect your computer to the Internet or any other network or you are at you own risk".

So I would recommend: install SP-2 (Service Pack 2) update, if you don't have it already (to check it press Windows key and Pause/Break key on your keyboard simultaneously - System Properties windows appears - and look is the line "Service Pack 2" exist under "Microsoft Windows XP" line), then connect to Windows Update website (Start | Windows Update or Start | All Programs | Windows Update) and install all Critical, Hardware and, if you wish, Recommended updates - there will be more than 70 of them; you must reboot your computer and reconnect to Windows Update couple of times before you install them all.

Or you are at your own risk...

**DocWatson** · 2006-10-05 12:31

I'm just wondering how old your computer is that youfeel youneed to worry about "older" patches. If you just bought the computer it is up to date with patches, for the most part, right out of the box. If you got it used, then all you should need to do is allow the system to check for updates and if it is miss more than a few, download and install only 2 or 3 at a time so if there is a problem, you won't have to look far and can uninstall th newly added patches one at a time to find the culprit. HTH. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>

**Kiwi Keith** · 2006-10-05 22:42

<hr>Unfortunately, this website does not provide any "reliability ratings" for Microsoft hotfixes (Windows updates), and I don't think any website does.
<hr>

This site does http://www.askwoody.com/viewpatch.php

I think I know what the OP is talking about. If you go to the bottom of the page there is a list of archived patch ratings but the URL is missing its "newsid" number. Compare these archived pages with the archived pages on the "Windows and Office News" page.

I posted a message to the AskWoody site a month or so ago but they haven't fixed it. Can one of the Board's MVP pass the message along to Woody?
Cheers

**HansV** · 2006-10-05 22:56

I've sent an e-mail to Woody.

**Argus** · 2006-10-05 23:13

Hi Keith,
I also found that the links were missing as post were moved to the archive. I posted a message about it I think during the summer, at least more than 8 weeks ago. Since I also had posted another question another time I gave up, and treated the contact page as broken also.

Regards,

**HansV** · 2006-10-13 12:07

I'm sorry, I sent an e-mail, but I haven't received any reaction from Woody. The links are still incorrect. <img src=/S/sorry.gif border=0 alt=sorry width=15 height=15>

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