Patch My PC - Not bad, not bad at all.


Recommended Posts

And what if you have an application that doesn't have an auto-updater function in it or the updating is broken in the application itself?

The lack of a "package management" is one of the many things that originally turned me away from Windows and people still resist it? Do not understand.

Any software that I use a lot self updates or warns me of updates, less important software gets updated if and when I need to use it or if I have some extra time to care, yes package management a la Linux would be great, but it's not that big a deal in the long run

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How does this compare to "FileHippo.com Update Checker"?

From what I've just seen from watching a youtube video of filehippo, is it will check all your programs and then take you to the filehippo website with a list of all the applications it found updates for. It then looks like you have to manually download each application. WIth Patch My PC it scans your computer and also gives you a list of the out of date applications.

But the difference is, when you click run it automatically with no user interaction goes down the list and updates every application in that list. Meaning a tech could run this on a PC on his work bench. Patch my PC would then say the computer has say, 7 out of date application. The tech would click go and walk away, or work on other machines. When he returns the computer is up todate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, I'd trust this as much as I trust the auto driver update programs, not at all. It's windows update or manual/programs own updater. Only way to go.

What is untrustworthy about driver update program's is that drivers rarely need to be updated, unless there is a specific problem with the hardware, to suggest that all your PC problems can be solved by updating drivers sounds like bull**** and I would not trust software that make these false claims.

The promise for this software is more practical because not much software is automatically updated, and Java is a royal pain to get users to update because it is a manual process they don't understand.

Flash now has auto update in 11.2 so doing one last manual update of flash is worth it at least.

So with PatchMyPC, Ninite, Secunia and FileHippo do these automatically update software (like Java in particular) or just give a centralised interface to update everything at once.

Also Malwarebytes PRO could do with some improvement to their update process. Definition updates automatically update fine, but as soon as a Program update comes, definition update stop working completely until the user installs the Program update. Not good when many technicians install it to keep illterate users protected, and impossible for a user to update it if running in conjunction with a Limited user Account.

Also I have tried AllMyApps.com but it requires registration (too tedious to roll out to users) and I don't think it even updates that automatically.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How does this compare to "FileHippo.com Update Checker"?

Yep, that's ^ what I use to quickly find updates for common apps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How does this compare to "FileHippo.com Update Checker"?

A short video I made demonstrating the differences

I know on the filehippo website you can tell it to only show nonbeta versions, but this was just to show you what happens when it finds an updated app in general.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Patch My PC 2.1.1.1 | Definitions - 5.8.2012 | Started At 8:19:47 AM

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64

COMMON UPDATE PROCESS

Downloading CCleaner 3 MB

CCleaner downloaded successfully

Installing CCleaner

CCleaner installed successfully

OPTIONAL SOFTWARE PROGRESS

Downloading uTorrent 1 MB

uTorrent downloaded successfully

Installing uTorrent

Install Complete

PATCH MY PC UPDATE COMPLETE AT 8:19:52 AM

seems good to me since i like to be updated...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i prefer to update things myself and only after reading the changelogs. as i have found a lot lately an update can break a lot of thing sometimes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using FileHippo's Checker, but I'll give this a try. (checking only, I despise auto-installs, I need to see change logs and stuff like that before an update). Great find.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been using FileHippo's Checker, but I'll give this a try. (checking only, I despise auto-installs, I need to see change logs and stuff like that before an update). Great find.

Well if you aren't going to use it to auto update your applications, then I would continue to use filehippo's checker. It probably has a bigger list of application. The Only reason I use patchmypc is for the auto install.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The /auto switch - This switch will allow the current logged user to see the Patch My PC GUI. The update process will started automatically. If browsers are open Patch My PC will notify user in the log textbox browsers need to be closed before updates can continue.

The /s switch - This switch will run Patch My PC in hidden in the background. If browsers are open it will recheck every ten seconds until browsers are closed then continue with the install.

The /update switch - This switch will run Windows updates automatically after third party updates. This can be used with the /auto or /s switch.

The /applyallcommon switch - This switch will install all the programs in the common list that aren't installed unless the program is marked as skipped.

Examples:

PatchMyPC.exe /s (Will run any needed common updates automatically with no graphical interface).

PatchMyPC.exe /auto (Will run any needed common updates automatically with a graphical interface).

PatchMyPC.exe /update (Will automatically run windows updates with graphical interface).

PatchMyPC.exe /s /update (Will run any needed common updates and then run Windows updates automatically with no graphical interface).

PatchMyPC.exe /auto /update(Will run any needed common updates and then run Windows updates automatically with a graphical interface).

http://patchmypc.net/forum/index.php?topic=16.0

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What is untrustworthy about driver update program's is that drivers rarely need to be updated, unless there is a specific problem with the hardware, to suggest that all your PC problems can be solved by updating drivers sounds like bull**** and I would not trust software that make these false claims.

+1

Drivers are kinda like BIOS updates - dont fix it if it aint broke.

I think most of those driver update apps cause more problems than they solve.

Can be real dangerous like those "registry repair" apps

I use filehippo all the time, I use the update checker occasionally, but uninstall the utility as soon as I run it (I dont like clutter)

filehippo is a great website - always fast and has a ton of stuff - usually has releases before the manufacturer posts them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks interesting.

I used to use Ninite to install/update programs on fresh reinstalled bench pc's & worked well but came across a problem that the programs would not auto update (they may have fixed it now).

I need to check this one, see if the software updated is then reliant upon patchmypc for further updates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks interesting.

I used to use Ninite to install/update programs on fresh reinstalled bench pc's & worked well but came across a problem that the programs would not auto update (they may have fixed it now).

I need to check this one, see if the software updated is then reliant upon patchmypc for further updates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

+1

Drivers are kinda like BIOS updates - dont fix it if it aint broke.

I think most of those driver update apps cause more problems than they solve.

Can be real dangerous like those "registry repair" apps

I use filehippo all the time, I use the update checker occasionally, but uninstall the utility as soon as I run it (I dont like clutter)

filehippo is a great website - always fast and has a ton of stuff - usually has releases before the manufacturer posts them.

the main problem, besides not knowing what broken updates these apps download for your drivers and/or apps, is that, while it's a nice clean app now. you can bet your ass that 6 months down the line when it's got a few more users and a bit of a repuation. This app will be riddle with a toolbar or that horrible Uni-blue registry cleaner/booster, or one of it's cousins, that not only do nothign to improve your computer, but almost always ends up breaking them. and you can bet this will be included in one of the automatic updates around that time as well...

it always happens. these apps are like a delivery method for these crappy things. and the users come in to the workshop saying "no I didn't download that".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember using something like this years ago called Bigfix. This will come in handy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.