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How can I tell if a Windows Update is genuine?

Anonymous
2011-07-29T11:57:33+00:00

Lately I've been having a tonne of Updates for Windows. Usually I notice them because my "sleep" button on the start menu is red, as it says "installs updates and shuts down your PC".

This didn't used to be the case. We've had the PC for some time and have not recently changed the operating system or anything. And suddenly, we are getting loads.

It started (if i remember correctly) after one night where we randomly had 19 updates to windows. The PC slowly creeped through them on the way to shutting down, then it turned off and we went to bed.

Since then we seem to have an endless supply of them. I'll install one every couple of days, then the next time i turn on the PC there it is again! And yes the updates are (im pretty sure) different each time.

We have been subject to one or two virus attacks in the past, wich I believe are sorted now. We took it into "the tech guys" at PC world, who said they had cleaned up the problem (this one was involving "MySecurityShield" - a ROGUE ANTI-MALWARE program), and since then Btnetprotect+  has been ruunning full scans with no issues. [it did once find and remove a Trojan that had been lurking on a portable harddrive after I tried to back up some files while PC was infected]

But im hoping thats the end of our viral attacks. Since then we have been very careful and vigilant. Nevertheless, it's awoken my suspicious side and I'm wondering if these constant updates are really from windows or not...

Here is a list of a few of the Updates installed on the PC for referance:

Update for microsoft Windows (KB971513)    - [Earlier one]

Windows Search 4.0 - [Recent one]

Windows Management Framework Core    - [also recent]

Windows Internet Explorer 9

The most recent Check was Today @ 11:31

Most recent update was Yesterday @ 15:02

Thanks. Really I just want to know why there are so many updates and if they are legit

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-08-22T18:03:41+00:00

    I HAVE 12 UPDATES WHICH I DONT WANT HOW DO I DELETE THEM

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-30T08:06:53+00:00

    Hi,

    You may refer the link which has information on windows updates. Windows Update: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/help/windows-update

    Updates: frequently asked questions: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Updates-frequently-asked-questions

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-01T20:56:23+00:00

    Hi MrIronDream,

    Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Answers Forum. Follow the steps in this document to resolve your issue with the same update offered repeatedly.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-07-30T18:17:58+00:00

    Oh, and I have just uncovered why I keep getting Updates so often.

    Yesterday I made a note of the update it wanted to install.

    Today I looked, sure enough - 1 important Update ready. And guess what? Exactly the same as yesterday.

    My PC has installed the Microsoft Visual C++ update (2005 redistribute) around 15 times!

    I seem to have the error where it keeps downloading an incompatible verison.

    So please tell me now: Do I need to do anything with those 15 old attempts? Did one just overwrite the other or do I have the same update stored 15 times on my PC that could be taking up 15 lots of memory or slowing my PC down?

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  5. Anonymous
    2011-07-30T18:06:18+00:00

    Hi.

    thanks for your response, however I assure you that I did check through all provided help on the website and the link you provided before I posted this, and it certainly did not provide what I was looking for (i.e. some list of updates released or quick check to see recently released updates in order to check if they correspond to the ones I am getting).

    But lately I think I may have changed my question. I'm satisfied for now that the updates I am recieving are genuine, but now I'm wondering:

    Are these updates taking up [much] memory, and are they likely to decrease the performance of my PC if I keep installing them. I know they shouldnt, but my PC is running slower than ever lately and I struggle to see why.

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