windows update for XP professional

[bhome83]

I recently had my hard drive crash so im starting over and was wondering how i handle the windows update option. When i go to tools in IE and to windows update and scan for updates it gives me 1 critical update which is the xp service pack 1, and then it gives me driver updates for my ATI display driver and for sound driver. I know im trying to be really carefull here so my hard drive doesn't crash again but should i only install the service pack or should i go ahead and install the ATI and sound drivers? Last time i installed display drivers from the ATI website the computer almost crashed. guess im just asking if windows update installs anything that would corrupt computer or anything like that (like drivers that don't work). guess im just over concerned about what they are saying i should update. thanks for any help.

[bailey]

there is nothing in the updates that I know of that will crash your computer, I do not use auto update, just download and save the files you need, then upgrade them your selfdo sp1 first then the ati ones

[Confused]

I have a ATI Radeon 7200 and ATI TV card. The ATI driver update crashed my TV viewing. But I learned early on to create a restore point, prior to any download and install. Simply went back prior to that update. That is one of the great things about XP. Has bailed my butt out numerous times.
Chas

[reboot]

Instead of using Restore when a driver causes a crash, I just use driver rollback, so everything else stays up to date.
Personally, I wouldn't get ANY driver updates from MS, and I'm even suspicious of SP1, which has caused more problems than it's solved it seems.
If it works, don't fix it. Do you really NEED the updates?

[bhome83]

no probably don't need the updates but it says the sp1 is a critical update so i don't know about that one. probably just get it and see what happens. also, about restore pts. if my computer hangs on startup will i be able to use the restore pt. in safe mode or do i have to be in normal mode to use it? asking this because last time computer crashed winxp didn't have create any restore pts. for me when i checked in safe mode and it always has before so i was thinking that maybe i can't use restore in safe mode? thanks for helping.

[Iman74]

How does the restore point work? Does it require user intervention or it's self executed?

[Confused]

Mine creates one on a daily basis and I create one manually anytime I plan on making changes or installing new software. Others have reported theirs doesn't create one on a daily basis. I don't know what I did that it creates one though.
Chas

[reboot]

Open Start > Programs > Accessories > System tools > System Restore.
Click on: System Restore Settings

[Confused]

That gets you to the restore/create screen. You can also get there with Start, Help and Support, and selecting Undo changes to system with System Restore.

What I was saying is that others report that their XP PC's don't automatically create restore points on a daily basis. Mine does and I don't know what I did during the install process that it creates one automatically. So I have a daily restore point to fall back on if I forget to create one.
Chas