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    Deciding Which Updates to Install

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by rtrdogs, Feb 22, 2008.

  1. rtrdogs

    rtrdogs Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi Everyone,

    Just did a (second) clean install on my HP DV9700T in 48 hours. On the last one I downloaded every Windows update and noticed my disk space dropped and just wasn't happy with bootup time.

    I've gone through the Vista tweaks thread and made adjustments with the latest install but now I'm faced with 51 Windows updates to install.

    This may be a dumb question but the types are important, recommended and optional. I take it I should go ahead and update everything? Since I watched my disk space take a dive last time I wanted to double check before proceeding.

    Thanks!
     
    rtrdogs, Feb 22, 2008
    #1
  2. Polsta

    Polsta Notebook Evangelist

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    install them all man,most are tiny and security and compatibility fixes, they shouldnt slow your boot time down

    i just had a quick look through my update history and there are none id remove or wouldnt of installed, and you cant be talking an amount of space worth worrying about anyway :confused:
     
    Polsta, Feb 22, 2008
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  3. rtrdogs

    rtrdogs Notebook Evangelist

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    I haven't installed the updates yet but all I've done is the clean vista install and put on the essential drivers so far. None of my programs are installed. My drive space has gone from 111 to 89. Obviously I'm not about to run out of drive space but does that seem normal?
     
    rtrdogs, Feb 22, 2008
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  4. maumu

    maumu Notebook Consultant

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    did you have hidden partition somewhere? from oem factory? also the OS takes up almost 7 - 9 GB...
     
    maumu, Feb 22, 2008
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  5. rtrdogs

    rtrdogs Notebook Evangelist

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    No, I deleted the partition and completely reformatted the drive. Hmm...wonder what's happening.
     
    rtrdogs, Feb 22, 2008
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  6. j-dogg

    j-dogg Notebook Evangelist

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    have you thought about shadow copies and restore points? i know shadow copies takes up to 15% of the drive
     
    j-dogg, Feb 22, 2008
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  7. mobyzone

    mobyzone Notebook Consultant

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    mobyzone, Feb 22, 2008
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  8. mobyzone

    mobyzone Notebook Consultant

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    mobyzone, Feb 22, 2008
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  9. rtrdogs

    rtrdogs Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks for the links mobyzone. While I was out, it hit me that system restore was probably taking up some of that but I hadn't even thought it would take up that much.

    Sure enough, I now have 100 GBs of the 111 available. I'm still looking into the shadow copies and deciding what I should do about them. I've never heard of those before since I'm a Vista n00b. Thanks for the help.

    Now off to install my Windows updates as well...
     
    rtrdogs, Feb 22, 2008
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  10. mobyzone

    mobyzone Notebook Consultant

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    no problem rtrdogs,glad i can help :)
     
    mobyzone, Feb 22, 2008
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  11. crash

    crash NBR Assassin

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    By default system restore uses up to 15% of your hard drive for shadow copies. When you install updates from Windows Update, it creates restore points before installing, hence the large decrease in hard drive space.

    See: Where's All My Disk Space Going? (Vista)

    Bottom line, if you don't need the hard drive space, don't worry about it. Vista is putting it to good use.
     
    crash, Feb 22, 2008
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