Windows 8.1 Common Patches in Samsung's Software Update.

What fixes/updates/features/etc are included in the "Windows 8.1 Common Patches" offered by Samsung's Software Update tool?



I have a Samsung Ultrbook ATIV 9.

 

You might want to ask this question on the Samsung forum. There's a good chance it's already been answered there.

 

What fixes/updates/features/etc are included in the "Windows 8.1 Common Patches" offered by Samsung's Software Update tool?

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I have a Samsung Ultrbook ATIV 9.

 

Done.

See http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...hes-samsungs-software-update.html#post9583029

 

and the answer to your question -- is that if you run windows update regularly, then you don't need a bloatware utility.

 

I don't think a utility, bloatware or otherwise, would be included in something called "Windows 8.1 Common Patches."

My guess, if I had to make one, would be that the patches might have something to do with specific Samsung hardware. There are things that might do better with specific Samsung patches.

Hypothetical examples: Perhaps touchscreens are not so standardized that a single driver from Microsoft handles them all perfectly. The touch pad is unique in that it can handle multi-finger gestures that mimic the same gesture on the touch screen. The screen resolution is 3200x1800 and there are effects of that I wish were handled better (small fonts) although this is probably the applications' fault.

So there is room for improvements, but I too am suspicious of Windows patches that may not come from Microsoft thus my question here.

 

you're right about the type of "patches" that samsung probably provides -- although the examples you describe are drivers, not patches. semantics, right? anyway, many manufacturer-specific drivers now come through windows update, so you're inclination to stick with windows update is what i'd do (unless you need something specific that doesn't). and for patches, i'd avoid samsung's "W8.1 common patches" via their bloatware utility.

 

I'm with you in principle, but I am hoping someone has specifics.

I did have an online chat with a Samsung support tech but he hadn't a clue. He didn't even know there was such a thing and didn't bother to find anything out for me. He just did some hand-waving that the patches were, well, patches and I should install anything and everything Samsung recommends.

 

I don't know the specific patches included in the Win 8.1 Common patches, but both for Win7 and Win8, Samsung SW Update has offered Windows Critical Updates and Windows common patches, both of which I generally recommend installing immediately after a clean install, in order to provide a base level of patches and security updates before connecting to the internet. (For example in the Windows install guide here.)

I assume they also include patches that Samsung consider important (with their specific BIOS and hardware) but which are not necessarily deemed critical by Windows Updates.

Any patches/updates installed with these packages will simply be skipped when Windows Update later looks for critical/recommended updates.

I have not seen more concrete information from Samsung about these packages.

 

I posted my best guess response in the Samsung thread. Probably best to continue the discussion there, since these really are Samsung specific packages, and any further information might be helpful to other Samsung owners.

 

OP - do not post multiple threads on the same topic (cross posting). This practice is disallowed by our forum rules. Threads have been merged. Thank you.

 

this. any security or bug patches will definitely come through windows update. and i think you've already named specific examples, i.e. " the newest drivers, software and updates for your [. . . ] PC." alas, Dannemand and i come to different conclusions. anything managed by the utility that's actually "critical" can probably be installed standalone. i'd get rid of SW Update as being superfluous.

 

SW Update is the only way to get updated drivers and utilities for Samsung computers, since they don't post them on their website (haven't since mid-2012).

Once you have what you need after a clean install, you don't need to keep SW Update installed: It has a resident component that checks for updates daily, and it can add some latencies. But if you uninstall it, you'd have to reinstall to check for updates. I keep it installed on my Sammy, but disables the resident component, so that it stays dormant till I need it.

The nice thing about SW Update is that you can install it on any pc (not just Samsung) and you can look up any Samsung model (including ones not yet released) and download drivers locally for offline installation.

You'll find it mentioned and discussed in most of the threads here in the Samsung forum. A lot of useful advice and discussion from other helpful Samsung owners. Particularly relevant to those who actually own a Samsung computer

 

yup. i've probably configured a samsung or two before. the same is true for a couple manufacturers actually. one ASUS model with a horrendous buttonless touchpad comes to mind. i actually had to reinstall bloat to make it functional.

although i'm not calling you a liar because admittedly i find it hard to believe that any OEM would make their drivers available only through their own utility -- we'd hope samsung makes their drivers available somehow if you can't get to them from your samsung!

this might actually be my first post ever to the samsung subforum. thanks for the warm welcome. i actually posted here involuntarily at first, but i couldn't help but emphasize your point after the thread was moved. :hi2:

 

Thanks all.

I decided to go ahead and install those "patches," whatever they are, mostly because:

1. This is the (only?) way Samsung delivers driver updates.
2. No one has raised any red flags.

The second point is the big one!

P.S. Sorry about the double initial post but the very first reply I got was that I should ask in another forum (this one). I probably should have instead asked a moderator to move the original post.

P.P.S. Am I supposed to somehow mark this thread as "answered" or some such?

 

It's fine, you don't have to mark the thread answered.

Once again, the patch package contains updates that you would most likely otherwise get through Windows Update -- although some may be deemed important by Samsung (on their hardware) but optional in Windows Update.

The patch package does NOT contain any driver updates -- only updates for Windows. In order to get updated Samsung drivers you need to install (or download) them with SW Update. It will also offer various utilities -- including important ones such as Settings (which is really a driver for Fn-keys, power management etc) and several more bloaty ones.

To get SW Update (if you don't have it already) just follow the link mattcheau posted earlier.

And BTW, welcome to NBR

 

I'm coming late to this party but I would expect that the patch package is a pile of Windows Updates that Samsung will apply at the factory to both increase the security of the computer when initially turned on and reduce the time the purchaser of the new computer spends watching Windows update itself. It is unlikely that anyone who is letting windows keep itself up-to-date needs to install that package but SW Update isn't clever enough to know when that's the case.

I recently reinstalled Windows 7 on a notebook and it spent an hour or more downloading and installing 130 updates. Having a separate package containing a load of those updates simplifies that process.

John

 

And I think that's exactly what they're for: After a clean install.

On computers with intact Recovery, the installation packages for all pre-installed drivers and utilities are in the SystemSoftware folder on the Recovery Data partition, where SW Update will look for them first. Installation only takes a few minutes in that case, with only newer drivers having to be downloaded.