which updates to do and what order to do them in

[Mags_mom]

ok.  I confess. I don't do any system updates other than the ones that my windows system does automatically.  It's not that I don't understand how to download a file or anything like that, it's just that it feels like  there is sooooo much information that I need first.  Should I use the HP Assistant  or "my dashboard" to find updates for my laptop?  How do I know which ones to do?  Is there any special order that I should do them in?  What about BIOS ups=dates?  Should I do those or not?   a few quick tips to help calm my anxiety about this would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@Mags_mom 

Yeah -- I understand your concerns -- but you're combining three very different types of updates into one.

First, the HP updates.  These are delivered through HP Support Assistant and most often are updates to HP drivers -- which you need to do.  They also include updates to HP utilities -- which can choose not to install.

Second, the BIOS updates.  These also come from HP and are usually only pushed out when there is a serious security issue that needs to be addressed.  Too many folks in the PC community see BIOS updates as "miracle cures" for anything that fails and they are anything but that.  IF HP recommends a BIOS update, it is for a good reason.

Third, the Windows Updates.  These come out every week from Microsoft and once a month, they come out with major patches to Windows issues.  They just came out with the September Patches, so expect to see them being offered to you or being forced on you.  There are also Feature Updates, which are really New Versions of Windows -- and if you see that being offered, my advice is NOT to select it, as it still has issues.

As to the lack of information, do not feel bad as the real situation is that you are not offered any real information in advance!  Microsoft used to allow folks to read the details about specific Windows Updates and then decide which ones they wanted to apply. As you can guess, this caused problems when new updates depended on prior updated that the customer refused -- so MS decided to eliminate this feature from Windows 10. Not only do you not get a choice now, you don't get detail information, either.