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beware of the updates you install

Most in this group are knowledgeable computer users. But an occasional reminder to "Beware!" can't hurt.

Some months back I installed the Microsoft compatibility update that allows Office 2000 programs to read and write XML files (.docs, .xlsx, etc). (It works fine, by the way.)

The problem is that the new formats appeared with Office 2007. Windows Update now thought my Office software was the 2007 version. I started receiving prompts to install security updates for it.

Common sense told me it wouldn't be a good idea to modify Office 2000 programs with Office 2007 updates. So when updates were needed, I cleared the checkboxes for these. Unfortunately...

Yesterday, I accidentally clicked the wrong button, and they were installed. It was particularly annoying that repeated clicks on the "Halt the Update!" button had no effect.

The result was that Word 2000 (and the other Office components, I assume) were buggered. The Preview display was screwed up, and I got error messages when I tried to print.

Fortunately, reversing the updates' installation and restarting the computer fixed the problem. I was out only 15 minutes' inconvenience.

Don't assume factory-recommended updates are appropriate. Look before you leap, and all those other clichés.

"We already know the answers -- we just haven't asked the right questions."

-- Edwin Land

Reply to
William Sommerwerck
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The other cliche , pertinent to electronic repair, if it ain't broke , don't poke

Reply to
N_Cook

I never update, as a rule. This version of Mint is the 3 kernel but over

2 years old. It never updates automatically. knock on wood.
Reply to
dave

On 07 Nov 2013, "William Sommerwerck" wrote in rec.audio.pro:

I think you've let a misconception creep in at this point. The "Office

2007" updates are being presented to you to update the compatibility pack, not your original Office 2000 installation. If Office 2000 is still eligible for updates, you would still receive those, too.

I think this is where things went wrong. It sounds to me like you wound up with half-installed updates.

This isn't to say that updates can't go wrong, but I've accepting updates for the compatibility pack for years, and the Office 2003 setup on all the computers I control still work just fine.

Reply to
Nil

I dropped Windows years ago. Run Linux. No problems.

Reply to
sctvguy1

Does Linux run Word? Ventura? Photoshop? Interface with my AIBO? LEGOs? Canon and Epson scanners?

Over the years, I have had little trouble with Windows. Contrary to what some people might think, it is not scarier than blueberry pancakes.

Reply to
William Sommerwerck

I'm not sure about that. There were 8 or 9 updates, not just one for the compatibility pack.

I don't think so, because it reached the point where "all updates installed" was reported.

Should these show up again, I'll look at their names and confirm that they were just for the compatibility pack.

Reply to
William Sommerwerck

I'm sure if OP had let things do themselves without interference he wouldn't had had the slight 15 minute inconvenience that he he. Hardly a reason to ditch an OS and all the applications he knows and loves ....

geoff

Reply to
geoff

I just checked.

There are 8 updates labeled "Security Update for Microsoft Office 2007 suites", varying in size from 763KB to 7.7MB. There is 692KB "Security Update for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007". Their purpose is described thusly:

"A security vulnerability exists in Microsoft Office 2007 suites that could allow arbitrary code to run when a maliciously modified file is opened. This update resolves that vulnerability.

There is a 1.6MB "Update for Microsoft Office 2007 suites". "This update provides the latest fixes to Microsoft Office 2007 suites." Why would I apply them to Office 2000?

Nowhere is anything said about the compatibility pack.

Reply to
William Sommerwerck

I'm sure if OP had let things do themselves without interference he wouldn't had had the slight 15 minute inconvenience that he he. Hardly a reason to ditch an OS and all the applications he knows and loves ....

See the newer posting in which I claim that the installation appeared to have completed.

Reply to
William Sommerwerck

On 07 Nov 2013, "William Sommerwerck" wrote in rec.audio.pro:

They won't say that. They aren't well-named, but the updates are for both the compatibility pack and Office 2007.

Reply to
Nil

On 07 Nov 2013, "William Sommerwerck" wrote in rec.audio.pro:

You won't be. They will update the Compatibility pack components, not Office 2000 itself.

Reply to
Nil

I run Libre/Open Office which has the same functions as Word, and the same basic interfaces. Also, imports Word documents and reads them. Same for the other parts of the Microsoft Office suite. As for Photoshop, there is GIMP, a clone for Linux that is FREE. It has the same power as Photoshop. As for laser/inkjet printers, no real problems. I have run HP and am presently running Brother laser printers(HL-1440). I also run Canon LiDE

20 and 35 scanners, no problems. Just pick a linux distro from someplace like distrowatch.com, burn it to DVD or CD, and run it live, see if it works for you.
Reply to
sctvguy1

The only people who seem to love Windows, are techs who make money "fixing" problems and re-installing everything when it gets infected.

Reply to
sctvguy1

I can't say that I "love" Windows, but it works.

Reply to
William Sommerwerck

On Thu, 7 Nov 2013 22:28:54 +0000 (UTC) "sctvguy1" wrote in article

GIMP's ok - I've used it quite a bit, but I use Photoshop almost every day and GIMP is by no means a clone.

I have Linux on one machine here and use it for tinkering. If some of the major Windows apps ran on it I'd happily toss Windoze, but they don't.

Lots of Adobe customers have asked for Linux versions. There actually was an early version of Photoshop for Unix, but the Adobe developers concluded that X wasn't an adequate windowing platform and gave up rather than develop their own. Now that the Adobe products are subscription- based you'd have to get Adobe to port not only the applications but the Creative Cloud manager to Linux. They seem not to be interested :-(

Reply to
Jason

"Love"?

Sorry, we don't all sexualize our digits.

Personally, I use what I'm used to using because I want to make music, not learn another OS that might or might not work for what I need.

--
---Jeff
Reply to
Jeff Henig

Canon has very good Linux support. Do you really need Photoshop? GIMP works fine for me and the price can't be beat. Linux productivity apps are as good as they get. You just don't get DirectX, which pisses me off.

Reply to
dave

Windows mocks the user incessantly. It is the Trabant of operating systems.

Reply to
dave

That is disupted by several excellent photogs I know, though they say it's close.

One has said this is fully equivalent:

formatting link

I've been using it buy needs, and skills, are paltry. It is much easier for a non-geek to manage that is GIMP, which I used for several years before finding Photoline.

--
shut up and play your guitar * HankAlrich.Com 
HankandShaidriMusic.Com 
YouTube.Com/WalkinayMusic
Reply to
hank alrich

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