Vista - Having trouble deciding which updates to install

Hello,
About six weeks ago I had an issue with my computer that seems to be related to an update downloaded at that time. I had Automatic Update set to download and install updates automatically and after one such update, the computer instructed me to restart which I did.
All went well until I logged in. The log in screen came up, I logged in and hit enter and the desktop started to load...and froze there. I restarted in safe mode and system restore failed. I called Dell and they walked me through diagnostics until they were fairly sure that it was not a hardware problem. I finally got it to reboot from the Windows disk that came with the computer, but the problem persisted. No error message, no lights, no beeps. Just frozen at the same place at the same time. In addition, each time I had to hold the power button down to reboot, my RAID array would have to 're-verify' the data on both disks which would take about 4 hours before I could even think of doing anything with the box.
Finally Dell had me restore the system from a partition on my hard drive which reset the computer to how it was from the factory... It worked fine till I downloaded the updates again. The last bunch included a Vista security update and a bunch of Office updates. I had to Factory Image reinstall again.
I have now shut off my Auto Update. It tells me that there are updates to download, but I have not done any of them in the last month. The computer works fine now. The only nagging issue is that my Roxio CD Creator wants a certificate reinstalled (?)I left it on for a while, no problems. I gingerly logged off and on again.. the chime on the log off sounds different, but it logs back on ok.. Restart, shut down and power on.. fine. I am almost certain it has to do with one of the updates.
My questions are these. Has anyone had this specific problem and what did you do about it? Does it actually have to do with the updates or am I missing something completely?
The second question is I have all these Vista security updates waiting to be downloaded and I don't want to leave any loopholes in my Vista for hackers to break into so... how do I do this? One at a time and restart? Oldest first?
Any help would be appreciated.. My specs are listed below:
Thanks in advance.

Dell 420XPS running Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit
4GB dual channel DDR2 667MHZ [4x 1024]
500G Data Safe local hard drive
DVD+/-RW 16x max and DVD 16x reader
20" wide flat panel monitor
Single 768MB nVidia GeForce 8800GTX
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer PCI soundcard
TV Tuner and AVIO Accelerator
Internal V.92 PCI Data Fax modem
Speedtouch 330 external USB broadband modem
Norton Internet Security
Adobe Reader 7.0.8
MS Office 2007 Home and Student
Standard mouse keyboard and speakers

Take a look at the updates waiting to be installed and let us know if there are any third party updates ie Graphics Card, Audio, Lan etc or any Drivers waiting to be installed. These updates are often the culprits. If updates says you need a particular driver update then check on Dell's website for the update. If you do find any and we think they are suspects, you can "hide" them from the update by a right click and selecting "Hide"

Generally speaking there are not too many Vista updates that will screw your system, apart from the ones above, but, to be safe, do a Google search on each update to see if there were any problems with it.

Norm

Hi Norm,
Thanks for your reply. I will Google them and try to install them one by one.
I don't think there were any driver updates in the ones that messed up my box. I really think it was the Office Updates.
Here are the updates I have ready to download.
I have 15 updates in total, 11 important and 4 recommended.
1 IE cumulative security update, 1 security update for IE7, 5 Windows security updates, 6 updates for Windows Vista (3 important and 3 recommended), Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and an Update for Windows Junk Email Filter.

I'll let you know how it goes..
Peppurr101

What are the Vista updates?

Norm

Hi Norm,
The Vista Updates are:
KB940510
KB955839
KB957388

KB957321
KB959108
KB959130
The first three are listed as important, the second three are recommended.
Do you want the security update numbers as well?
Thank you

No mate, hang on

You don't need

KB940510 - Checks for Counterfeit Vista install
KB955839 - Is for Windows Server 2008 Is a clock adjustment and has been reported as causing major startup problems ie KB955839 will not install.

As for the others

KB957388 - Compatibility update, Install




Optional, only if you have these problems


KB957321 - Non essential, only if you are having problems. An update rollup is available for the Microsoft Windows Imaging Component (WIC) in Windows Vista or in Windows Server 2008. This update rollup resolves the problems that are documented in the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

KB959108 Some of the data that is collected in the Reliability and Performance section of Computer Management in your system is automatically reported upstream to the MS servers. They use that to determine possible bugs in Vista. The update you refer to allows to stop this type of reporting.

KB959130 Install this update to resolve an issue with the default Web browser setting when you click "Browse the Internet Now" in Network and Sharing Center.

Norm

Thank you Norm,
I have hidden the ones you said were not necessary and will install the others and let you know how I get on.
Have you heard of any problems with the IE7 security updates? I have seen some posts where people have problems connecting to the net after installing the updates.
I have KB958215 and KB960714 listed.
Thank you for your help.
Peppurr101

Both these patches are critical and must be installed ASAP

Take a look here:- Win32 Trojan - Exploiting Browser vulnerabilities

Norm

Ouch.
Gotcha.. will do.
Thanks
Peppurr