When Do You Install Application Updates?

by Jason Faulkner on Mar 22, 2010 | 7 comments

The past week, I ran a couple of tips which pointed out ways to automatically update or notify you of updates to programs on your system. Of course, everyone has their own method of applying updates to programs on their system, so when do you install updates to applications?

Do you install the new version as soon as you know when they are available? when they fix an issue you are having? never?

Personally I have Microsoft Update enabled and let it update anything it finds, but other than that I let things sit until I find something I need which is not working. If so, I grab the update. There are a few programs I keep up to date however: WinPatrol, 7-Zip and GnuCash (latest stable build).

What is your preference?

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like...

Post A Comment Using Facebook

Dorian
Greetings Dave.
Life is fast, competition is fast and, no matter how many resources one has (e.g. Microsoft), one is never / cannot be “perfect” with any software app. It’s always work-in-progress.
Link this reality to needed, reliable productivity required from the app’s one uses, tied to the constant security threats out there and it makes sense to — always — update.
However, manual updating, for me, is the sensible way to go … set the specific app to notify you only, but always update either just before or, ideally, just after a good defrag.
If an update is huge, then, definitely, do it AFTER a good defrag (ideally carried out while in “safe” mode) and then, close down and re-boot, then do another defrag to allow the new (huge) update to settle in nicely. A hassle it can be, yes, but always pays off in the long run … keeps everything “lined up” nicely.
I suppose another way of accepting the reality of needing constant updates is to accept, embrace and celebrate constant change … but, now we’re getting philosophical and I digress.
A sterling day to you Squire …
Rgds,
Dorian
Charlie
I set windows to download automatically and let me manually install the updates. I subscribe to Windows Secrets who test Microsofts update for conflicts. I get their weekly email and then install the updates after they identify not conflicts
john sloane
I update the same as you stated after “I personally ,,,” If it isn’t broken don’t mess…. However Microsoft is always broken and Anti-Virus sw needs constant updating.
Robert
I have Win Update & MS Update turned on to auto download and notify. Most of the programs I depend on notify me of updates on a regular basis. The big names (Quicken, HP, Java) I do asw soon as I can. The virus/malware I do immediately. The less important (iTunes, FileZilla) I wait a bit to make sure the updates/fixes don’t to more harm than good. Some companies, I find, publish the updates without enough testing (not necessarily the forementioned) and brake as much as they fix. It may seem selfish, but I’d rather not find this out firsthand. Since the program is working, I can afford to wait a little bit and listen for any reported problems.
Phil
I allow Microsoft to update anytime, but other software I determine if it is possible it will fix a previous issue and that I have figured out how to upgrade with my previous info, such as Mozilla Thunderbird email and address book data.
Kathleen
Greetings Dave,
Filehippo has a very handy to have update checker. Download the latest version and let it go to work. It will scan your system and find latest updates for most of your apps., etc. Best of all, you can download then and there, no searching.
ANWAR KEMAL
Except for some essential and/or large softwares, its always
advisable to wait before updating and do it manually. After updating I always do a defrag and malware / spyware etc search. There are, of course, some softwares out there which can be really persistent in constantly reminding to update…
I do wonder at some softwares that seem to need updating very frequently and still, I don’t find any significant changes!!!
Anyone else who has noticed that? Any thoughts around it???
Have a good one guys!!! and happy computing!!!