Do I need to install MS updates on a 2nd hard drive?

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TerriTypes

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I just installed a 2nd hard drive, downloaded Vista Pro OS onto it, then uninstalled all the bloatware, etc., that comes with the OS. Now would like to know if I need to install all of the Microsoft Updates onto this drive as well. The 1st (main) hard drive already has all the necessary updates and it's the drive I use for everyday things. I will be using the 2nd hard drive for memory-hogging programs like my Dragon Naturally Speaking, Photoshop, and Avid Studio Movie Maker as well as for storage of photos and videos.

So I guess my question is, if I've already done all the MS Updates on hard drive #1, do I also need to install them onto hard drive #2 in order for it to function properly?
 
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You don't update hard drives, you update operating systems. If your operating system is booting from your 1st hard drive and you've updated/patched it, and are current on the patches, you're OK. If what you are trying to say is that you have another operating system installed on the 2nd hard drive (Vista), and operate in a dual-boot mode, where you have the choice of two operating systems to boot into when the machine is turned on, with each on a different hard drive, the answer is still "YES". Whichever operating system you boot into should be fully patched, otherwise you are leaving yourself open to malicious software. The only exception would be if you are religious about never, ever using the Internet on an operating system...
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mbreslin1954

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You don't update hard drives, you update operating systems. If your operating system is booting from your 1st hard drive and you've updated/patched it, and are current on the patches, you're OK. If what you are trying to say is that you have another operating system installed on the 2nd hard drive (Vista), and operate in a dual-boot mode, where you have the choice of two operating systems to boot into when the machine is turned on, with each on a different hard drive, the answer is still "YES". Whichever operating system you boot into should be fully patched, otherwise you are leaving yourself open to malicious software. The only exception would be if you are religious about never, ever using the Internet on an operating system, then, perhaps, you could make a case for not patching the operating system. But even then that operating system would be susceptible to threats like poisoned PDF files or MS-Office files.

So for the short answer, always patch operating systems.
 
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notherdude

notherdude

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If I have this correct you have a second bootable drive with Vista on it which you sometimes boot up to run some other programs? If so the updates you install to the first hard drive will do virtually nothing for the second drive - those updates patch security holes and bugs in the operating system files - so yes, install all the updates to both.

Your question is confusing because it sounds a bit like the second drive is just for storage, but since you have Vista on it I can only assume that drive sometimes boots up Vista.

 
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TerriTypes

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Ahhh, I get it. Both drives have the same OS on them. I haven't been asked to update anything on the 2nd drive since I first posted this question, so all is good. Thanks for clearing that up ;)


 
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TerriTypes

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I don't boot up with the 2nd hard drive. It was meant for storage, yes, so it would appear that I need to install the programs I mentioned onto the main hard drive instead, and then the 2nd drive can be strictly storage. Thanks for the reply :)
 
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mbreslin1954

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Then all you need to do is to patch Windows. Don't worry which hard drive it's on, whatever boots up Windows should be patched regularly. You patch the operating system, wherever it is, the drive it's on should not concern you. Windows knows where it booted from and will patch itself. Any other drives that are used for storage are just that, storage, and they're protected by whatever anti-virus software you're using.
 
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