Thanks, Raven. I'm sure he's behind on lots of stuff. Early in 2009, I had him change his update settings to notify him of updates, but not automatically download. That was to hold off on sp1 (at a time when I think I read here that folks were having trouble with it - but I didn't follow that topic, so didn't realize sp1 had become a good idea and that sp2 followed). We also set it that way bc. his computer was automatically updating and then rebooting when he was in the middle of doing other things. So this was to allow him to time his own downloads and installations. But he just never thought of it - and I didn't think I needed to keep track for him. I do keep track of his Avast, superantispyware, malwarebyte and spywareblaster. Every now and then when he's done surfing I have him leave out the laptop and go ahead and update and scan. I'll have to keep track of more than that, obviously. I got foxit reader on my ancient laptop in my office and love it. It takes so little room and does what I need quickly. Do you like pdf-xchange viewer more than foxit reader? Or does he need to use firefox to use foxit reader? I installed firefox for him - and set up tabs with the places he likes to go (did that in the summer) - but he hasn't used it. He's a bit resistant to tech changes. He balked when I got Tivo's - although he loves it now. He's a musician - and I got him Protools so he could record the music he wrote. That was over 1 1/2 years ago - and he hasn't learned it yet - he's barely scratched the surface. Last spring he bought an Imac bc. it was better for recording music. And now he's finally setting up his den and equipment. I'm hoping he'll actually learn the software this year. I'll take care of the rest for him so the only learning curve he has is Protools (certainly the most challenging of them all). But I digress. I'll check his other updates and run Secunia - I'm pretty sure I already put that on his computer last year. Thanks. Lynn.

I use linux also my fave distro is Mepis (dual boot with Ubuntu) but with any MS OS comes IE and with IE comes the patches so as long as it is MS OS it will have IE and therefore needs the patches. Does not really matter if we use firefox and thunderbird as I also do since IE is part of the OS. I too love linux.

Amity - I love DIP and now DIS (I am using the newest, and last, version - Digital Image Suite 2006-Anniversary Edition) I started using it way back in the "Picture It" days. I also have Photoshop Elements 5.0 - and find that DIS 2006 can do everything that PSe does - so MUCH easier though! I have one friend that is using DIS2006 Anniversary Edition with VISTA. eBay has a few copies of DIS2006 Anniversary available for a great price. If you are interested - I would get one ASAP - there used to be a ton listed and now just a few! I am attaching a link to a Microsoft patch. Some users experienced problems, and this patch (if needed) fixes that. I don't know if the "Anniversary Edition" needs it. They released DIS2006, then released DIS 2006 Anniversary Edition later - basically the same, but DIS2006 Anniversary appears to be Vista compatible. I have a few links of user forums (mostly dealing with digital scrapbooking) and tutorials for DIP/DIS. If you are interested in them, I can post the links. I went from using DIP/DIS for simple fixes, to doing some REALLY awesome photo editing. Simple to learn, simple to remember :0) Using edge finder tool to copy raspberries, then "Gaussian Blur" on image - then pasted unblurred raspberries back in, extending over the frame. Curling border, used edge finder tool to copy colored flower, made imgage b/w and pasted colored flower back in: Used "filters" to change the same picture as used above: Here is a link that might be useful: Microsoft Patch for DIS2006 - Vista

Many companies do like gregbradley describes and continue to run Windows 7 across their entire company so that the IT staff only have to install and maintain one version of the operating system. Any newly purchased computers are set up with the desired, stable older version. Then when it makes sense for that company and the risks are well known, they may decide to move to a newer version. Many companies decided to completely avoid Windows 8 since the perceived risks outweighed the perceived benefits. Many companies have decided to continue this approach with Windows 10, at least until the risks and benefits are more clearly known. According to an article I read recently Microsoft has just decided, unilaterally, that henceforth any newly purchased computers (with a processor newer than some arbitrary date) will only be sold with Windows 10. For the companies that prefer to upgrade when it makes sense, Microsoft is essentially saying "F--- you" I may be misremembering or mischaracterizing that article, I'll try to find it again and post a link here.