Crossposted to IE General newsgroup to avoid duplication of effort.

I'm a neophyte when it comes to Windows Updates.

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ webpage gives you a lot of information.

Are you familiar with Automatic Updates?

Description of the Automatic Updates feature in Windows:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294871

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306525

How to schedule automatic updates in WinXP, Win2K and Win2K03
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=327838

...If I do the Express
Update, does it install only Critical updates; does it also include
High-Priority updates; does it give me the choice of also installing
Optional updates?

Windows Update website's Express install will install all critical and
high-priority updates only. You need to select Custom install to install
any Optional updates.

You can ask Windows Update-related questions in the Windows Update-specific
newsgroup, microsoft.public.windowsupdate.

I am curious: why did MS downgrade the status of the IE7 "update"?

On or around 22 Feb-07, IE7 was reclassified from a High-Priority update to
an Optional update at Windows Update. We've asked why and haven't received
an answer.

I'm curious: what is it specifically about MSN/Hotmail accounts that
encounter trouble?

No trouble, really: Changes in IE7 affect the way OE and OL interact with a
HTTP-based mail server; as such, those accessing an MSN/Hotmail HTTP-based
account in OE or OL need to install KB904942.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

wrote:
On Mar 5, 3:08 pm, "PA Bear" wrote:
This is an OE6-specific newsgroup. Those with IE7-specific questions or
comments are asked to post to and seek support in this newsgroup:
microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general

Many thanks to all who responded.

Good point! An oversight on my part. Let me review all the responses
so far -- they all seem very helpful -- to see if it is worthwhile
reposting in the other NG. I'm sure many of the respondents here also
read the other NG. So there might some grumbling about "crossposting"
at this point.

Up until about week ago, Windows Update was offering IE7 as a
High-Priority, not a Critical, update. It's now offered as an Optional
update.

I'm a neophyte when it comes to Windows Updates. If I do the Express
Update, does it install only Critical updates; does it also include
High-Priority updates; does it give me the choice of also installing
Optional updates?

I was told that I need to use Custom Update in order to separate out
IE7. Am I understanding you correctly that that is no longer the
case?

I am curious: why did MS downgrade the status of the IE7 "update"? I
am wondering if the answer might give me some insight into any
reasonable concerns that I should have.

Required reading IMHO before installing IE7:
[... list follows ...]

Many thanks. I'm sure this will all be very helpful.