How long can I go without new updates on a Vista Home Premium 64 bit computer?

Updates froze in August. Can't get any new ones since then. Computer still working fine but how long can that last. The fix seemed a bit confusing to me so I let it go.

There is no definitive answer to your question. The only updates currently received by Vista are security updates. You will not have any problems until you have a security problem, virus or malware. You may also have your password or other pertinent information stolen. I suggest that you invest a few dollars and update to Windows 10. The problem will most likely come from a virus and/ or stolen information rather than a problem with the OS. Good Luck

You might try running the system update readiness tool. This one is for Vista 64 bit-

Download System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista for x64-based systems (KB947821) [October 2014] from Official Microsoft Download Center

Thanks for the help but the readiness tool did not correct the problem. Just searches endlessly.

Lexicat said:

Updates froze in August. Can't get any new ones since then. Computer still working fine but how long can that last. The fix seemed a bit confusing to me so I let it go.

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If you use a good anti-virus you can go for a very long time.
I have had Windows Updates turned off for months now and don't have any problems, everything works and no security problems

I have Vista installed on two different hard drives on this system. On this hard drive, it seems to update correctly. On the other hard drive, I found that I have the same problem as you do and the readiness tool doesn't find anything nor does running the Windows Installer 4.5. I didn't let those run forever.

The list I provided above are the last updates made to this hard drive since July. In all likelihood, I will download and install those updates manually on the other hard drive, if I can't get the updater to work properly.

ilikefree said:

If you use a good anti-virus you can go for a very long time.
I have had Windows Updates turned off for months now and don't have any problems, everything works and no security problems

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My Vista PC is fully updated at the moment, but I sometimes wonder why I still bother. There is nothing "wrong" with our systems that an update for Windows Update Agent couldn't fix, but Microsoft obviously has other priorities. If Microsoft doesn't care whether or not we ever get these security updates, then why should we believe they care whether or not the Vista versions are any good? I haven't failed to notice that millions of people around the world are still running Windows XP (several times more than are still running Vista), but still no reports of the widespread bot attacks etc. predicted by doomsayers. Vista is definitely more secure than XP. Most security software still supports Vista, with several exceptions (https://www.vistax64.com/system-sec...-longer-supported-some-security-software.html). The most serious threat I see to Vista's continued existence is vanishing support from major browsers. Chrome ended support for Vista and XP eight months ago (although many are still using Chrome 49, which I don't recommend); support for IE 9 will end on April 11 (not that it's a very good browser anyway); and even Firefox is apparently planning to end support for Vista and XP (https://www.vistax64.com/vista-news/304724-firefox-53-will-drop-support-windows-xp-vista.html), although an ESR may be available until 2018. Virtually all minor browsers are variants of either Chromium or Firefox, and thus might not be able to offer any lasting refuge. Software such as Sandboxie might perhaps be a solution, but I haven't felt any need to resort to that just yet.

wither 3 said:

On this hard drive, it seems to update correctly...The list I provided above are the last updates made to this hard drive...

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I am rather curious why your screenshot does not include Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB3198234)? That would be the security update for Windows kernel-mode drivers that typically has to be manually installed before Windows Update is able to deliver the other Vista updates for November 2016. (I don't know how far behind Lexicat is with Windows updates, or I might offer some advice.)

Edit: After closer inspection, none of those are November updates; and don't ask me why you received the September cumulative update for IE 9 on November 27.

Lexicat said:

I haven't had any updates since August 2016.

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Yes, you mentioned August in post #1. Did you reinstall Vista SP2 in August? (I notice that your very first forum post was in a thread started by someone who had recently reinstalled Vista SP2.) If not, then you just need to manually install Vista x64 versions of KB3185911, KB3191203 and KB3198234 in that order.

I did not reinstall SP2. So I just need the 3 updates? Do you get them at Microsoft? Seems like I tried that once and couldn't get anywhere. I'll try again. Thanks for your help.
Dave

Lexicat said:

I did not reinstall SP2. So I just need the 3 updates? Do you get them at Microsoft? Seems like I tried that once and couldn't get anywhere. I'll try again.

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Download (Save) the x64 versions from these Microsoft Update Catalog links - do not attempt to Open/Run within the browser:

Microsoft Update Catalog
Microsoft Update Catalog
Microsoft Update Catalog

If you haven't already done so, set Windows Update to Never check for updates and restart the PC. (If you just stop the service, you will have to stop it again after each restart.) Some people claim that it is necessary to disconnect from the internet, but that certainly hasn't been necessary for me. First run KB3185911 (it seems to be important to run these in chronological order) by double-clicking, restart the PC when requested; then run KB3191203 and restart; and finally run KB3198234 and restart. Then you can either click Check for updates or change the setting to something other than Never (which I can't really recommend anymore). Checking for updates might still take hours, but I believe you will now be able to obtain Windows updates for the last few months. Please try to do this before Tuesday December 13, when Microsoft will release still more updates (and yes, you will probably have to manually install at least one more in order get them.) If this sounds too difficult, I certainly wouldn't blame you if you just forget about trying to get the final months of security updates for Vista.

Vistaar said:

Download (Save) the x64 versions from these Microsoft Update Catalog links - do not attempt to Open/Run within the browser:

Microsoft Update Catalog
Microsoft Update Catalog
Microsoft Update Catalog

If you haven't already done so, set Windows Update to Never check for updates and restart the PC. (If you just stop the service, you will have to stop it again after each restart.) Some people claim that it is necessary to disconnect from the internet, but that certainly hasn't been necessary for me. First run KB3185911 (it seems to be important to run these in chronological order) by double-clicking, restart the PC when requested; then run KB3191203 and restart; and finally run KB3198234 and restart. Then you can either click Check for updates or change the setting to something other than Never (which I can't really recommend anymore). Checking for updates might still take hours, but I believe you will now be able to obtain Windows updates for the last few months. Please try to do this before Tuesday December 13, when Microsoft will release still more updates (and yes, you will probably have to manually install at least one more in order get them.) If this sounds too difficult, I certainly wouldn't blame you if you just forget about trying to get the final months of security updates for Vista.

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Hey, it actually worked. You're right though, I will need to upgrade in a few months anyway. At least I learned how to get updates manually. Not sure why previous attempt failed. Thanks much for your time. I will add to your reputation. One question: 1 optional update is for a quality rollup for framework. Is this needed?

Lexicat said:

Hey, it actually worked...One question: 1 optional update is for a quality rollup for framework. Is this needed?

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If it was needed, Microsoft wouldn't call it Optional. I rarely install Optional updates, and especially not these newfangled "rollups" for .NET Framework. If you're curious: Users should avoid Microsoft's newly released preview Windows patches | InfoWorld

Vistaar said:

If it was needed, Microsoft wouldn't call it Optional. I rarely install Optional updates, and especially not these newfangled "rollups" for .NET Framework. If you're curious: Users should avoid Microsoft's newly released preview Windows patches | InfoWorld

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Thanks for the tip.

Vistaar said:

I am rather curious why your screenshot does not include Security Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB3198234)? That would be the security update for Windows kernel-mode drivers that typically has to be manually installed before Windows Update is able to deliver the other Vista updates for November 2016. (I don't know how far behind Lexicat is with Windows updates, or I might offer some advice.)



Edit: After closer inspection, none of those are November updates; and don't ask me why you received the September cumulative update for IE 9 on November 27.

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The reason why those updates that I posted are shown as November 27 is that, up until early November, I had specified that Windows not automatically install updates. However, My wife was having a problem with updates in Win 7 with that same setting and I changed the settings on both systems to automatically update. The best I can tell, it took a few weeks after that for Windows to catch up.

In regards to the KB3198234 update, when I try to run it after selecting it in the Master Catalog, all it does is run a check for updates.

ilikefree said:

Just the services listed in your snip you posted except the 2 Avast entries

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Got that done. Ready for next step.

Not to sidetrack you but, did you ever install SP2?

wither 3 said:

Not to sidetrack you but, did you ever install SP2?

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Yes I had that installed