With XP I check for updates using the built in tool - and download most files manually - using Firefox - and apply them manually.

This saves having to D/L the same file for multiple machines, and also because I don't want every update - e.g. for programs I don't use (like Outlook) or don't want because they add "features" that I think are not desireable. It doesn't happen very often - but every now and then I tell it not to DL and install some updates - and not to show that file again.

Windows 7 seems to have taken MS dominance one step further - it seems (but I'm hoping I'm wrong) that I can only tell the system to update - MS as usual knows best. It's bad enough that Silverlight seems to be mandatory as well (presumably there's a reason for this - I guess I'll see it's benefits at some stage) - but I'm hoping that someone might tell me of an alternative. I mean, corporates presumably can download once only?

Thanks