What are the benefits and the disadvantages of automatic updates from Microsoft?

Question

I have the automatic updates for my computer enabled but I was wondering whether it can do great or will just mess things up for my computer. I am suspecting it to be eating my free memory. So are these updates really good or bad? My computer is Windows XP Professional.

Answer 1

Benefits (What Microsoft say) : It protects your PC from threats and also, if any program want to install cracks for windows programs, it will be automatically removed.

Disadvantage if you have cracked your XP : Your Windows XP will be protected from that crack and u will have to close your XP until you get an original key..

ELSE

DISADVANTAGE:

1  It will slow down your computer a lot.

2  It will occupy a huge amount of disk space

3  It will occupy most of your bandwidth

4  Most of the time, you will see updates being downloaded

5  (MY OPINION) It is of no use

Answer 2

Pros: Getting security patches as soon as the come out helps protect your computer from new exploits

Cons: some updates are not needed and just take up space. They have also been known to cause compatability with some business software, so it's important to know what you're downloading, but most of the time it's fine.

What I do is have windows tell me about the updates by notifying me, then I choose which ones I want. As a rule I get all security patches, and let program updates sit for a week or so until they're tested and if no significant issues arise, I'll manually update all of that every other week or so.

Answer 3

I would turn auto updates off and download Service Pack 3 from Microsoft.

That way you have all of the "important" updates and non of the pretty much useless ones.