What does give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows mean?

• • This topic has 15 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 7 months, 3 weeks ago.
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  • What are other Microsoft products?
  • Are Microsoft updates the same as Windows updates?
  • What is receive updates for other Microsoft products greyed out?
  • Are Microsoft updates necessary?

  April 2, 2022 at 2:19 am #2436025

  I now have this brand new computer. It’s a fast powerful machine with an ultrawide monitor, making me feel 46 again, like when I got my very first MS-DOS 4.01 IBM compatible.

  

  This new rig came with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled. I don’t yet have it looking like Windows 95 (still my favourite looks) but it’s on its way there.

  Windows Update worked fine up to now, but I have a question about that:

  WU offers to “Receive updates for other Microsoft products”. But I don’t have any of Microsoft’s other Cash Cows.

  I do have a few Vista gadgets, LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Chrome and lots of free software.

  The question is: Should I enable the “Receive updates for other Microsoft products” offer or just ignore it?

  Thanks for any advice.

  1 Desktop W11
  1 Laptop W10
  Both tweaked to look, behave and feel like Windows 95

  • Paul T

    AskWoody MVP

    April 2, 2022 at 4:08 am #2436047

    If you are going to trust WU then allowing it to update other stuff seems a no brainer.

    cheers, Paul

  • • April 2, 2022 at 6:30 am #2436065

      If you are going to trust WU then allowing it to update other stuff seems a no brainer.

      What “other stuff”? I haven’t any.

      I’m wondering if WU updates some of Windows’ files that also happen to be used by non-Microsoft software.

      1 Desktop W11
      1 Laptop W10
      Both tweaked to look, behave and feel like Windows 95

    • • Bob99

        AskWoody Plus

        April 2, 2022 at 4:27 pm #2436237

        …I do have…lots of free software. …

        That’s why Susan said in her post below (#2436138) that

        You may have other apps that install things like SQL express that needs to be updated.  You can still control it with WUmgr but yes it’s wise to update other products.

        I added the bolding above.

        For home users, an item from Microsoft that many programs from non-Microsoft entities install that helps them work is Visual C++. I was installed as part of the installation of Western Digital’s “Dashboard” application that I use to monitor my SSD’s health every so often.

        Without that box to “Receive updates for other Microsoft products” checked (or tick-marked), MS programs that are installed by programs from other companies on your computer, such as SQL Express or Visual C++ will never get updated, which will potentially hurt you if a security vulnerability in them is discovered.

        Another scenario just came to mind. If you have one of these programs (Visual C++, or SQL Express, for example) from MS installed as part of another program’s installation, and a monthly MS update for the OS (Windows 8/8.1 to 11) causes problems with the installation of that MS program, you may never receive the fix for it if MS decides to release the fix by updating their other program (Visual C++ or SQL Express, for example) instead of issuing a hotfix for the OS. This scenario could render a fairly helpful or needed program nearly useless (worst case), or just make it a nuisance to use (not so worst case).

        • This reply was modified 7 months, 3 weeks ago by Bob99. Reason: Added second scenario

        1 user thanked author for this post.

• Mele20

  AskWoody Lounger

  April 2, 2022 at 8:07 am #2436078

  I would never allow WU to update anything other than Windows Defender and the OS. I have a Dell XPS 8930 with Windows 10 Pro. I keep WU disabled through Win Aero Tweaker I have used for many years and on earlier OSes like Windows 8 Pro also. I enable WU each day in Win Aero Tweaker and then fetch the latest Windows Defender updates. Usually, I then disable WU again in Win Aero Tweaker. If I want WU to offer me a service pack or something then I leave WU enabled for awhile and I have WU set to notify me and not update until I give permission.

  Before I got my first computer in 1999, I went to free computer classes offered by the county and taught by UHH professors and other knowledgeable users and was taught there to never let WU update drivers for programs, etc because there was a big risk in doing that. I was taught to go the software’s website and get the update or use Dell’s website to scan my computer for any updates and then let me approve/disapprove the update(s). I still do it this way and I have avoided many problems that folks who keep WU enabled all the time, and allow whatever Microsoft might offer to download and install, encounter. A lot of folks use WuMgr to manage WU. Personally, I found it confusing but many swear by it to manage WU.

• • April 2, 2022 at 11:53 am #2436138

    You may have other apps that install things like SQL express that needs to be updated.  You can still control it with WUmgr but yes it’s wise to update other products.

    Susan Bradley Patch Lady

    1 user thanked author for this post.

What are other Microsoft products?

Are Microsoft updates the same as Windows updates?

What is receive updates for other Microsoft products greyed out?

Are Microsoft updates necessary?