Can updates break Ubuntu or damage my hardware?
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Is there any need for me to be concerned about updates breaking something in Ubuntu or my hardware or are all the updates stable?
updates security
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Is there any need for me to be concerned about updates breaking something in Ubuntu or my hardware or are all the updates stable?
updates security
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
1
This is way to broad and open ended to be answerd well here, there is always an need for concern when updating any software, nothing is perfect. A quick google search finds a mountain of information on this google.com/… please at least take the time to try google before asking
– Mark Kirby
Feb 5 at 17:34
I have been updating Ubuntu for over a decade, with exactly zero problems. So I think they are stable. However, rare problems with updates do occur, so your mileage may vary. Updates are not tested by Ubuntu developers on your exact hardware in your exact configuration with you piloting the rocket, so some minor variations are expected.
– user535733
Feb 5 at 17:39
I really see no reason to worry about Damages being caused.
– EODCraft Staff
Feb 5 at 18:27
I did a ton of Googling for this question before I posted it here and could not find anything conclusive.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 5 at 18:35
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Is there any need for me to be concerned about updates breaking something in Ubuntu or my hardware or are all the updates stable?
updates security
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
Is there any need for me to be concerned about updates breaking something in Ubuntu or my hardware or are all the updates stable?
updates security
updates security
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
asked Feb 5 at 17:28
Astral Axiom
61
61
1
This is way to broad and open ended to be answerd well here, there is always an need for concern when updating any software, nothing is perfect. A quick google search finds a mountain of information on this google.com/… please at least take the time to try google before asking
– Mark Kirby
Feb 5 at 17:34
I have been updating Ubuntu for over a decade, with exactly zero problems. So I think they are stable. However, rare problems with updates do occur, so your mileage may vary. Updates are not tested by Ubuntu developers on your exact hardware in your exact configuration with you piloting the rocket, so some minor variations are expected.
– user535733
Feb 5 at 17:39
I really see no reason to worry about Damages being caused.
– EODCraft Staff
Feb 5 at 18:27
I did a ton of Googling for this question before I posted it here and could not find anything conclusive.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 5 at 18:35
add a comment |Â
1
This is way to broad and open ended to be answerd well here, there is always an need for concern when updating any software, nothing is perfect. A quick google search finds a mountain of information on this google.com/… please at least take the time to try google before asking
– Mark Kirby
Feb 5 at 17:34
I have been updating Ubuntu for over a decade, with exactly zero problems. So I think they are stable. However, rare problems with updates do occur, so your mileage may vary. Updates are not tested by Ubuntu developers on your exact hardware in your exact configuration with you piloting the rocket, so some minor variations are expected.
– user535733
Feb 5 at 17:39
I really see no reason to worry about Damages being caused.
– EODCraft Staff
Feb 5 at 18:27
I did a ton of Googling for this question before I posted it here and could not find anything conclusive.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 5 at 18:35
1
1
This is way to broad and open ended to be answerd well here, there is always an need for concern when updating any software, nothing is perfect. A quick google search finds a mountain of information on this google.com/… please at least take the time to try google before asking
– Mark Kirby
Feb 5 at 17:34
This is way to broad and open ended to be answerd well here, there is always an need for concern when updating any software, nothing is perfect. A quick google search finds a mountain of information on this google.com/… please at least take the time to try google before asking
– Mark Kirby
Feb 5 at 17:34
I have been updating Ubuntu for over a decade, with exactly zero problems. So I think they are stable. However, rare problems with updates do occur, so your mileage may vary. Updates are not tested by Ubuntu developers on your exact hardware in your exact configuration with you piloting the rocket, so some minor variations are expected.
– user535733
Feb 5 at 17:39
I have been updating Ubuntu for over a decade, with exactly zero problems. So I think they are stable. However, rare problems with updates do occur, so your mileage may vary. Updates are not tested by Ubuntu developers on your exact hardware in your exact configuration with you piloting the rocket, so some minor variations are expected.
– user535733
Feb 5 at 17:39
I really see no reason to worry about Damages being caused.
– EODCraft Staff
Feb 5 at 18:27
I really see no reason to worry about Damages being caused.
– EODCraft Staff
Feb 5 at 18:27
I did a ton of Googling for this question before I posted it here and could not find anything conclusive.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 5 at 18:35
I did a ton of Googling for this question before I posted it here and could not find anything conclusive.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 5 at 18:35
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Updates from the Ubuntu archive are tested before being released as updates, and are not generally just new versions of things, but backported fixes. However, sometimes things may break for some subsets of users, not because of malice, but simply because computers are extremely complex, and they are not all the same.
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
I would add to this that the likelihood of any Ubuntu software component, original or update, damaging hardware is vanishingly small. As noted, however, if you have a particularly obscure piece of hardware, an update may cause it to stop working until you can either roll back the update or get a newer update that restores support for that component.
– Zeiss Ikon
Feb 5 at 19:21
While physical damage is extremely unlikely, it has happened with updates in the past, and not just with Ubuntu. See the recent fiasco with Ubuntu 17.10 on some certain laptops with a certain BIOS.
– dobey
Feb 5 at 21:02
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I did figure out how to selectively install updates, but after all the feedback on my question and some digging into the change logs and descriptions have decided to just roll with all the security updates. Seems to be fine:)
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
So, the most recent example of something like this, is the original release of Ubuntu 17.10 which on some computers was able to 'break' the BIOS.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/12/ubuntu-corrupting-lenovo-laptop-bios
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-17.10-BIOS-Corrupter
https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-17-10-bios-bug/
Upon the realization that this was actually occuring, Cannonical pulled the suspect version of 17.10, and re-released it as 17.10.1
-- Short answer --
Yes, it is possible that an update can cause some damage to your OS or to your computer, damaged being defined as rendering the computer unusable. In my experience this is quite rare and certainly not intentional - I am much more likely to have a damaged computer or operating system due to my own fooling about with the OS and the packages that I have loaded, than I am to suffer damage from an update.
-- The moral of the story --
Make Backups - Often.
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
Thank you I really appreciate your feedback:) It is wonderful to be able to ask more experienced people and learn from doing so.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:39
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Updates from the Ubuntu archive are tested before being released as updates, and are not generally just new versions of things, but backported fixes. However, sometimes things may break for some subsets of users, not because of malice, but simply because computers are extremely complex, and they are not all the same.
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
I would add to this that the likelihood of any Ubuntu software component, original or update, damaging hardware is vanishingly small. As noted, however, if you have a particularly obscure piece of hardware, an update may cause it to stop working until you can either roll back the update or get a newer update that restores support for that component.
– Zeiss Ikon
Feb 5 at 19:21
While physical damage is extremely unlikely, it has happened with updates in the past, and not just with Ubuntu. See the recent fiasco with Ubuntu 17.10 on some certain laptops with a certain BIOS.
– dobey
Feb 5 at 21:02
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I did figure out how to selectively install updates, but after all the feedback on my question and some digging into the change logs and descriptions have decided to just roll with all the security updates. Seems to be fine:)
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Updates from the Ubuntu archive are tested before being released as updates, and are not generally just new versions of things, but backported fixes. However, sometimes things may break for some subsets of users, not because of malice, but simply because computers are extremely complex, and they are not all the same.
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
I would add to this that the likelihood of any Ubuntu software component, original or update, damaging hardware is vanishingly small. As noted, however, if you have a particularly obscure piece of hardware, an update may cause it to stop working until you can either roll back the update or get a newer update that restores support for that component.
– Zeiss Ikon
Feb 5 at 19:21
While physical damage is extremely unlikely, it has happened with updates in the past, and not just with Ubuntu. See the recent fiasco with Ubuntu 17.10 on some certain laptops with a certain BIOS.
– dobey
Feb 5 at 21:02
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I did figure out how to selectively install updates, but after all the feedback on my question and some digging into the change logs and descriptions have decided to just roll with all the security updates. Seems to be fine:)
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Updates from the Ubuntu archive are tested before being released as updates, and are not generally just new versions of things, but backported fixes. However, sometimes things may break for some subsets of users, not because of malice, but simply because computers are extremely complex, and they are not all the same.
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
Updates from the Ubuntu archive are tested before being released as updates, and are not generally just new versions of things, but backported fixes. However, sometimes things may break for some subsets of users, not because of malice, but simply because computers are extremely complex, and they are not all the same.
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
answered Feb 5 at 19:16
dobey
32k33585
32k33585
I would add to this that the likelihood of any Ubuntu software component, original or update, damaging hardware is vanishingly small. As noted, however, if you have a particularly obscure piece of hardware, an update may cause it to stop working until you can either roll back the update or get a newer update that restores support for that component.
– Zeiss Ikon
Feb 5 at 19:21
While physical damage is extremely unlikely, it has happened with updates in the past, and not just with Ubuntu. See the recent fiasco with Ubuntu 17.10 on some certain laptops with a certain BIOS.
– dobey
Feb 5 at 21:02
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I did figure out how to selectively install updates, but after all the feedback on my question and some digging into the change logs and descriptions have decided to just roll with all the security updates. Seems to be fine:)
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:37
add a comment |Â
I would add to this that the likelihood of any Ubuntu software component, original or update, damaging hardware is vanishingly small. As noted, however, if you have a particularly obscure piece of hardware, an update may cause it to stop working until you can either roll back the update or get a newer update that restores support for that component.
– Zeiss Ikon
Feb 5 at 19:21
While physical damage is extremely unlikely, it has happened with updates in the past, and not just with Ubuntu. See the recent fiasco with Ubuntu 17.10 on some certain laptops with a certain BIOS.
– dobey
Feb 5 at 21:02
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I did figure out how to selectively install updates, but after all the feedback on my question and some digging into the change logs and descriptions have decided to just roll with all the security updates. Seems to be fine:)
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:37
I would add to this that the likelihood of any Ubuntu software component, original or update, damaging hardware is vanishingly small. As noted, however, if you have a particularly obscure piece of hardware, an update may cause it to stop working until you can either roll back the update or get a newer update that restores support for that component.
– Zeiss Ikon
Feb 5 at 19:21
I would add to this that the likelihood of any Ubuntu software component, original or update, damaging hardware is vanishingly small. As noted, however, if you have a particularly obscure piece of hardware, an update may cause it to stop working until you can either roll back the update or get a newer update that restores support for that component.
– Zeiss Ikon
Feb 5 at 19:21
While physical damage is extremely unlikely, it has happened with updates in the past, and not just with Ubuntu. See the recent fiasco with Ubuntu 17.10 on some certain laptops with a certain BIOS.
– dobey
Feb 5 at 21:02
While physical damage is extremely unlikely, it has happened with updates in the past, and not just with Ubuntu. See the recent fiasco with Ubuntu 17.10 on some certain laptops with a certain BIOS.
– dobey
Feb 5 at 21:02
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I did figure out how to selectively install updates, but after all the feedback on my question and some digging into the change logs and descriptions have decided to just roll with all the security updates. Seems to be fine:)
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:37
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I did figure out how to selectively install updates, but after all the feedback on my question and some digging into the change logs and descriptions have decided to just roll with all the security updates. Seems to be fine:)
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
So, the most recent example of something like this, is the original release of Ubuntu 17.10 which on some computers was able to 'break' the BIOS.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/12/ubuntu-corrupting-lenovo-laptop-bios
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-17.10-BIOS-Corrupter
https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-17-10-bios-bug/
Upon the realization that this was actually occuring, Cannonical pulled the suspect version of 17.10, and re-released it as 17.10.1
-- Short answer --
Yes, it is possible that an update can cause some damage to your OS or to your computer, damaged being defined as rendering the computer unusable. In my experience this is quite rare and certainly not intentional - I am much more likely to have a damaged computer or operating system due to my own fooling about with the OS and the packages that I have loaded, than I am to suffer damage from an update.
-- The moral of the story --
Make Backups - Often.
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
Thank you I really appreciate your feedback:) It is wonderful to be able to ask more experienced people and learn from doing so.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:39
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
So, the most recent example of something like this, is the original release of Ubuntu 17.10 which on some computers was able to 'break' the BIOS.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/12/ubuntu-corrupting-lenovo-laptop-bios
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-17.10-BIOS-Corrupter
https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-17-10-bios-bug/
Upon the realization that this was actually occuring, Cannonical pulled the suspect version of 17.10, and re-released it as 17.10.1
-- Short answer --
Yes, it is possible that an update can cause some damage to your OS or to your computer, damaged being defined as rendering the computer unusable. In my experience this is quite rare and certainly not intentional - I am much more likely to have a damaged computer or operating system due to my own fooling about with the OS and the packages that I have loaded, than I am to suffer damage from an update.
-- The moral of the story --
Make Backups - Often.
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
Thank you I really appreciate your feedback:) It is wonderful to be able to ask more experienced people and learn from doing so.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:39
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
So, the most recent example of something like this, is the original release of Ubuntu 17.10 which on some computers was able to 'break' the BIOS.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/12/ubuntu-corrupting-lenovo-laptop-bios
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-17.10-BIOS-Corrupter
https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-17-10-bios-bug/
Upon the realization that this was actually occuring, Cannonical pulled the suspect version of 17.10, and re-released it as 17.10.1
-- Short answer --
Yes, it is possible that an update can cause some damage to your OS or to your computer, damaged being defined as rendering the computer unusable. In my experience this is quite rare and certainly not intentional - I am much more likely to have a damaged computer or operating system due to my own fooling about with the OS and the packages that I have loaded, than I am to suffer damage from an update.
-- The moral of the story --
Make Backups - Often.
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
So, the most recent example of something like this, is the original release of Ubuntu 17.10 which on some computers was able to 'break' the BIOS.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/12/ubuntu-corrupting-lenovo-laptop-bios
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-17.10-BIOS-Corrupter
https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-17-10-bios-bug/
Upon the realization that this was actually occuring, Cannonical pulled the suspect version of 17.10, and re-released it as 17.10.1
-- Short answer --
Yes, it is possible that an update can cause some damage to your OS or to your computer, damaged being defined as rendering the computer unusable. In my experience this is quite rare and certainly not intentional - I am much more likely to have a damaged computer or operating system due to my own fooling about with the OS and the packages that I have loaded, than I am to suffer damage from an update.
-- The moral of the story --
Make Backups - Often.
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
answered Feb 5 at 19:25
Charles Green
12.6k63456
12.6k63456
Thank you I really appreciate your feedback:) It is wonderful to be able to ask more experienced people and learn from doing so.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:39
add a comment |Â
Thank you I really appreciate your feedback:) It is wonderful to be able to ask more experienced people and learn from doing so.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:39
Thank you I really appreciate your feedback:) It is wonderful to be able to ask more experienced people and learn from doing so.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:39
Thank you I really appreciate your feedback:) It is wonderful to be able to ask more experienced people and learn from doing so.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 6 at 2:39
add a comment |Â
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1
This is way to broad and open ended to be answerd well here, there is always an need for concern when updating any software, nothing is perfect. A quick google search finds a mountain of information on this google.com/… please at least take the time to try google before asking
– Mark Kirby
Feb 5 at 17:34
I have been updating Ubuntu for over a decade, with exactly zero problems. So I think they are stable. However, rare problems with updates do occur, so your mileage may vary. Updates are not tested by Ubuntu developers on your exact hardware in your exact configuration with you piloting the rocket, so some minor variations are expected.
– user535733
Feb 5 at 17:39
I really see no reason to worry about Damages being caused.
– EODCraft Staff
Feb 5 at 18:27
I did a ton of Googling for this question before I posted it here and could not find anything conclusive.
– Astral Axiom
Feb 5 at 18:35