Understanding Microsoft Updates Is Hard For Me

Hi:

I sure experience a lot of frustration, in general, when trying to decide whether or not to install optional updates offered to me at the Microsoft Updates web site.

The main reason for this is the nonsensical descriptions which this web site usually provides for these updates.

It is my unsolicited opinion that I am justified in my use of the adjective "nonsensical" because I claim that the majority of individuals who utilize that site are neither information technologists or computer scientists.

I would like to know how an average home-user may determine whether or not to install any particular optional update in the absence of an explanation pertaining to necessity.

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For example, the Microsoft Update web site offers me the following:

Update for Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 Service Pack 1 (KB934268) MSXML 6.0 Service Pack 1 (MSXML6.1) has improved reliability, security, conformance with the XML 1.0 and XML Schema 1.0 W3C Recommendations, and compatibility with System.Xml 2.0. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. Details...

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When I click on the "Details..." link, I am taken to this information:

Update for Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 Service Pack 1 (KB934268) Date last published: 4/24/2007 MSXML 6.0 Service Pack 1 (MSXML6.1) has improved reliability, security, conformance with the XML 1.0 and XML Schema 1.0 W3C Recommendations, and compatibility with System.Xml 2.0. Recommended CPU: Not specified. Recommended memory: Not specified. Recommended hard disk space: Not specified. More information: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=87548

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When I go to the web page at the above URL, I see this:

MSXML 6.0 SP1 is intended as an upgrade path for existing MSXML 6.0, MSXML 3 and MSXML 4.

MSXML 6.0 SP1 will update the version of MSXML6.dll to 6.10.1129.0

MSXML 6.0 SP1 could also be installed without any previous versions of MSXML 6.0 on the computer.

MSXML 6.0 SP1 will be installed side by side with MSXML 3 and MSXML 4

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Microsoft's Knowledge-Base web site tells me that there is no article with ID KB934268.

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I know of no way to determine whether or not I will benefit from this update. Microsoft software errors currently waste sufficient amounts of my personal time to preclude me from being able to research issues related to cryptic updates.

Is anybody able to provide me with a method to determine when to install an optional update that is offered without comprehensible explanations?

Cheers,

~ Mark




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Relevant Pages

  • RE: MSXML 4.0 SP2
    ... The short answer is, yes you do, xml is involved in many things beyond the ... entire Service Pack 2 version of MSXML 4.0 plus all the new patches. ... previous 4.0 updates and then perform a manual install of KB927978. ... As for the update I need info as to what occurs when you attempt to download ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Understanding Microsoft Updates Is Hard For Me
    ... I sure experience a lot of frustration, in general, when trying to decide whether or not to install optional updates offered to me at the Microsoft Updates web site. ... Update for Microsoft Core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0 Service Pack 1 ... has improved reliability, security, conformance with the XML 1.0 and XML Schema 1.0 W3C Recommendations, and compatibility with System.Xml 2.0. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • RE: MSXML 4.0 SP2 will not install on Win SBS2K3 Standard
    ... I did have MSXML 6 on there ... You get the following error when trying to install MSXML 4.0 SP2 ... click "Hide All Microsoft Services" and click ... This newsgroup only focuses on SBS technical issues. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: AR-M455N Printer - Scanner Tool Problem
    ... List of Microsoft XML Parser (MSXML) ... patches installed and when I try to install Scanner Tool Software on ... I checked in Add-remove programs and have found that I have MSXML 4.0 ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)
  • Re: Recurring Update Notice
    ... Security updates for Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 Service Pack 2 may repeatedly appear in the update list on Microsoft Update or on Windows Update ... If that does not get it installed properly, then contact MS for no-charge support: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/954430/ ... I have tried to download and install the update just to make it go away, but it won't install - probably because I do not have XML - and within minutes, I get another update notification. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
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