Updating CentOS & XP

CentOS has released the latest point upgrade (now 5.6). So I went ahead
and upgraded my desktop and laptop computers.

Here was the procedure. Turn on the computers, wait for the automatic
"updated packages" notification, follow the update dialog and let pup
(front end for yum) install the packages. Since there was a new kernel I
rebooted both machines. Done, that was it. No issues. Checked Flash and
Firefox, both had been updated to the newest versions.

Since my laptop also dual-boots to XP, I decided to update that also. I've
already updated to SP3, so it was just a matter of normal updating for the
last 2 months (it's been about 2 months since I booted into XP).

Went to Control Panel, clicked "Check for Updates" on the left side of the
Window. Message from Microsoft, I had to use Explorer instead of Firefox
for updating. Ran Explorer (it updated to version 8 last time I ran
updates), but it had a series of dialogs (thought I had already done
this?). Got through that, but thought I had to make Explorer the default
browser so I could use the Control Panel upgrade link -- but there was a
Windows Upgrade option in (I think) Tools. Ran that. The update took a bit
longer then the CentOS update. At any rate the update was finished and I
then rebooted the computer as instructed.

Once back into Windows, I went into Firefox, updated that. Checked Flash,
and updated that. Went to Avast, updated definitions and the program. Told
it *not* to install something called "Webrite" (or a name similar to that)
and then was instructed that it needed to reboot. Rebooted Windows again.

Updated Malwarebytes. Ran it. It found one "malware" incident. I deleted
whatever it was, then was instructed to reboot the computer, so I rebooted
Windows again.

Turned out the malware "issue" was the fact that I had turned off the
notification that tells me that I don't have automatic updates turned on
settings and turned it back off.

Now I'm running a virus scan on the computer. Not sure how long that will
take. All this for standard updates. CentOS, on the other hand, was doing
a "point release" -- kind of like a service pack in the Windows world (I'm
guessing). Not only did CentOS update its OS, it also updated the various
applications, including Firefox and Flash. Since it's Linux it doesn't
need Malwarebytes and Avast.

(Avast just ended with a "no threat detected" message. No reboot needed!)

Which OS do I like better? Linux or Windows? I'll let you guess. (Let's
just say that I spend more time upgrading Windows and its applications
than I do using it.)

RonB
Registered Linux User #498581
CentOS 5.6 or VectorLinux Deluxe 6.0
or Linux Mint 10