Updates are as old as computers themselves. Often there are improvements or additional features that are provided by updates. Security holes are stuffed, incompatibilities and errors are eliminated. In short, without any updates, any PC connected to the Internet would be a fast victim for viruses and espionage tools and otherwise anything but reliable.
Trouble with Windows updates
Most updates are currently running independently. Windows regularly checks the configuration, "times" from time to time to the control center and downloads the necessary updates completely automatically. The installation takes place at the push of a button, usually a restart is also due. After that the computer is ready again to take it with the dangers of the Internet.
Remove updates again
However, updates do not always run so smoothly and error-free. In fact, it often happens with errors in the download or during the subsequent installation - and often with devastating consequences. Perhaps you have already experienced one or the other error after an update: Windows is stuck in the start holes, the smartphone spins, the still best working program strikes or forgets the settings and supposedly current drivers cause crash by crash.
TIP: Update Instant Help
An update can bring not only improvements, but the absolute opposite. We will tell you on the next pages how to protect your system from dangerous updates and what you can do in an emergency to make your computer work again.
Software perfect update
Although Windows updates are comparatively rare, you should regularly back up your system for security reasons. This not only prevents you from updating problems, but also many other problems that could compromise your operating system. Typically, you mount the system backup to an external disk, such as a USB hard drive.
You can do this by choosing "System Control / Backup" and "Restore" and the command "Create System Image" in the left margin column. The disk to which the system image is stored must be NTFS-formatted and have enough capacity to accommodate the full-size system image. If you select a DVD burner as the location, you will need to have more than one disc.
In the next step, create a boot CD or DVD for the absolute emergency using the "Create System Repair Disk" command on the left. This is given if, for example, the operating system does not start any more after a faulty update. After a start via the rescue disk, you can then also play back a previously created system image.
Practice: How to create a recovery DVD
Unlike so many updates of software producers, operating system updates are always carefully checked and relatively unproblematic. However, no system is like the other. Different hardware, different driver versions and countless software variants allow an infinite number of variations, so it can happen that new and possibly much more unpleasant problems are created in official Windows updates instead of removing the existing ones.
However, you can easily remove failed or disruptive Windows updates. To do this, go to "All Programs / Windows Updates" and then "Install Updates" in the lower left corner. You will see a complete list of all Windows updates, and you can select the update that will give you trouble. Typically, this is one of the last installed updates.
Just mark the update to be uninstalled and click "Uninstall" at the top. This removes the "pest", in which case the computer is then restarted. However, the next manual or automatic Windows update is problematic, because of course the newly installed, incorrect update is reinstalled. To prevent this, you must notify Windows Update that a particular update is not to be installed.
To do this, start the update function via "All Programs / Windows Updates" as described above, and click "Check for Updates". Now Windows may find some updates - but definitely the previously uninstalled. Now go to the menu item "Show available updates" in the left column and select the update you had previously removed with the right mouse button
Select the "Hide Update" command in the context menu, which means that the unintentional update will only be displayed in gray and will no longer be actively offered for installation. If you want to undo this step, click the "Show hidden updates" button on the left, and restore the hidden updates. A useful starting point for solving update problems is Microsoft's Fix-it page. Here you can select the problem area and quickly get a solution, which usually works at the touch of a button!
Automatic updates fail
Practice: Safe deletion of files
Avira is one of the most widely used antivirus programs. In May this year, the company released a flawed update of its paid version. Within a short time the update was installed on thousands of computers. However, Avira said this meant that the software stopped not only dangerous malware but also harmless, system-related processes.
Mini-Workshop: With Secunia up-to-date
Affected computers could not be started. How can you start the computer with problems like this? Finally, the update can not be uninstalled if you can not start Windows. The solution to many problems of this type is the safe mode. Start your PC and press F5 during system startup.
In the menu, select "Safe Mode". The Windows start-up takes longer, but Windows starts reliably. After login, you can uninstall the malicious program or configure it to run again and start Windows normally. In the case of Avira, it was necessary to switch off the "Proactiv real-time scanner" in the program settings.
Practice: Software for your PC
When drivers make zips
A driver makes trouble
Remove driver
Mini-Workshop: Backup drivers with Double Driver
Mobile updates without remorse
ITunes is regularly updated with updates. These provide for new functions or eliminate errors. Unfortunately, the automatic update from the program often fails. No matter how often you try it, the update breaks off. The alternative path to the update leads to the Apple website. From there you can download the current iTunes update and register it on the hard drive after registration.
Clicking on this file, and suddenly the installation works! You should also try this tip with other programs that can not be updated via a possibly integrated update. If urgent updates are not carried out and canceled during the installation, this is often due to the security settings of the computer. Then run critical updates as an administrator.
To do this, right-click on the update file downloaded from a secure source and select the "Run as administrator" menu item. You must confirm the selection and in some cases enter the appropriate administrator password. Some updates fail because the program to update is running in the background.
It must be terminated before the update can be installed. To do this, simply press the key combination "Ctrl + Alt + Del" to go to the Task Manager and select the "Processes" tab. Select the entry of the program you want to terminate and click on "End Process". Leave the Taskmanager and try to install the update again.
Practice: Tips & tricks on iTunes
Most programs automatically scan for updates from time to time, which is the security and stability of the program and the entire system. Unfortunately, not all programs have this capability, and Secunia software is the right choice.
After the installation of Secunia, where you accept and confirm all entries as specified, you will be asked if Secunia should be started. Confirm this query.
Secunia will automatically scan your system. All installed programs are analyzed and the versions compared with those on the Secunia online database. This is always updated. Secunia now lists which programs are up-to-date, which require an update and which are no longer supplied with updates.
Finally, click on the programs you want to update and update them at the click of a mouse
Download: Secunia Personal Software Inspector
Every PC user should know the problem. A hardware driver is installed, and nothing is more like it used to be. The system freezes, responds with a Bluescreen, or it does not recognize the new hardware. This or similar was not uncommon in older versions of Windows. With Windows 7 is much much better. Drivers for standard components are integrated and the database is constantly updated in the background and fed with new driver versions, mouse, keyboard or graphics cards always work perfectly and fully automatically.
However, it is different for components that are not part of the basic Windows 7, because they are either completely new or quite old. Especially older hardware is often not recognized correctly by Windows 7 due to lack of existing drivers. If you install from frustration or in a hint of adventures the actually not appropriate driver of an older Windows version, this can even shake the basic Windows 7.
Better, you do not install an older version in the compatibility mode, but first check, if there is not perhaps "right" Windows 7 drivers for the hardware in question. In this case, the path should first lead to the manufacturer's website, as the driver may have provided the driver to download.
Practice: Install new drivers and firmware
If your system has problems after installing a driver, you should return to the previous state. To do this, go to "Device Manager" via "Start / Control Panel" and right-click on the device whose driver you want to remove. Go to the "Driver" tab and click the "Previous driver" menu item. Now the old driver should be restored and the installed driver removed.
Sometimes, however, you will not be sure which driver is actually the culprit and is actually preparing the problems. To identify a faulty driver, Microsoft has developed the driver verification manager. To start the tool, enter the word "verifier" in the input prompt and select the program from the list.
Now select the menu items "Create user defined settings / Activate predefined settings" with checkmarks for "Standard settings" and "Simulating low resources", respectively, by clicking on "Next". The next two pages with various parameters and the driver selection remain unchanged.
The driver information is then loaded. If no unsigned drivers are found, extend the diagnosis to other driver versions. A restart is required. The analysis of found errors can be interpreted by using Microsoft. You can find more information about this under the just-linked text.
Many system problems are caused by drivers that are not correctly removed by devices that are no longer installed on your computer at all. To remove these drivers, go to "System Control / System and Security / System" on the left, "Advanced System Settings", and in the following window, click on "Environment Variables"
Click on "New", enter the name devmgr_show_non present_devices and value 1. Confirm with "OK". In the device manager, select "View" and "Show hidden devices" in the "View" menu. Devices that are no longer present are now displayed. By right-clicking on the device, you can uninstall it and its drivers.
Practice: Floating PCs again
Move risky updates
Error with mobile software
TIP: Help for mobile devices
With DoubleDriver, you can analyze the installed drivers and keep an eye on the actuality and versions. After system start, perform a driver analysis using "Backup / Scan Current System"
You will now see a list of all installed hardware components as well as the respective driver versions. Click the Backup Now button to back up all drivers. The backup is stored in the location of your choice.
Renew this driver backup regularly. If your computer in the future after installing a faulty driver make an anger, play back your backup with the secured drivers simply back. After this, your computer will work as before.
Actually, updates should correct errors - but sometimes they do the opposite and cause errors where there were not before. This is the case with the Medion Lifetab P9516 and P9514 tablets. Crashing applications and regular freezing after installing an update were still the more harmless effects. With some users, the tablet could not be started any more after the update, with others the device switched off again and again.
A reset and even the last salvation, the Werkreset, remained unsuccessful. A softreset over an ideally existing reset button should still be the first problem-solving attempt, a factory reset (manual in the device manual or on the manufacturer's homepage) the already quite drastic second. In this case, all programs have to be reinstalled and the settings have to be reset.
The example of Lifetab shows that even official updates are sometimes flawed. If the device can not be started any more and even the work resets nothing more, then good advice is expensive. In fact, the user then has no other option but to hope for a response from the manufacturer and install a repaired update, if that is still possible at all. If this is not the case, the device must be entered for repair.
How can disasters of this kind be avoided? Systemupdates are not automatically installed in the normal case, but require the express consent of the user. Of course, it is tempting to install updates immediately upon receipt. Nevertheless, you should move the installation for a few days. This period is sufficient to inform you about product problems after the update. If there are no errors there, you can install the update.
If possible, updates of mobile applications should not take place via the mobile network, but rather via the faster WLAN without volume limitation at home. If the programupdate fails, visit the program provider's website. There may be a solution to the problem. Even Windows Phone is not protected against faulty updates.
If an update fails, connect your Windows Phone to your computer via USB and try to update again. Use the original cable, otherwise other problems may occur. If an error code is displayed again, Microsoft has set up a wizard on the Ambassadors page to guide you through the problem-solving step by step.
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