A few days after installing Ubuntu 10.04, I used Synaptic to reload/download updated packages. It was a long download with many updated packages.

Now I'd like to install the packages necessary for security and system stability. But with so many packages, as a new Ubuntu user I can't identify what's what. Simple accessories, games, OpenOffice updates, etc are obvious; but how do I know the most-critical security+system updates? Is there a single command that will install such critical files? Is this done automatically, or is it an option the user can choose--something like "do automatically," or "ask me first"?

I checked Help, and if this info is there I missed it.

One more Q: when browsing Synaptic, trying to learn it, it's frozen several times. I can close it but when I try to reopen, nothing happens--have to restart Ubuntu. Is this a known Synaptic bug? I was hoping my download might include an updated Synaptic file with a fix for this.

Much thanks for help!

jim_d, as much as I remember, you could use "apt-get update && apt-get upgrade", so that it will automatically install the updates for the packages.
PS: Also, try to stick more with aptitude or apt-get commands from the console, as they are more reliable. At least, I like them more

Thanks dracuss. I know Synaptic is the graphical front-end to apt, so as you suggest, if Synaptic is buggy I should bypass it and use command-line apt.

A graphical UI is (ideally) "self-documenting"--info in the UI helps usability, good for new users because learning a new OS is difficult enough.

I knew coming in to Ubuntu that I'd need to use command-line.

But I'm not clear on my installation choices--should I just install all the updates that are downloaded?

Yes, it is safe and recommended to install all of the available updates. If it is a fresh install, it's normal to have 100s of updates. Once your system is up to date, they will gradually slow down over time.

You might find the Ubuntu Software Center more user-friendly than Synaptic, as it is focused more on end-user applications. (Many of the packages listed in Synaptic are libraries and dependencies that you would never install on their own.)

I personally like the command line for installing/updating but the GUI tools should work equally well.

In my Ubuntu 10.04 installation:

Applications->Ubuntu Software Center->Edit menu->Software Sources->Updates tab:

--Under "Ubuntu updates"
...both "Important security updates" and "Recommended updates are selected

--Under "Automatic updates"
...in "Check for updates:" "Daily" is selected; and "Only notify about available updates" is selected--will download+install these updates when notified; didn't choose the "..without confirmation" options because I'd like to know what's going on.

So with above selections: After download, will I then need an additional command to install?

More:
Checking the Preferences dbox in Synaptic--In the Preferences dbox, General tab, I have Smart Upgrade selected--is there an apt command corresponding to this option?

Speaking of Synaptic bug: When I click OK or Apply in Preferences dbox, get no reply; click the upper-left "x" to close--no response.

Since I downloaded all the packages last nite using Synaptic, I didn't need the apt-get update command; so I entered:

sudo apt-get upgrade

...and got the following:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

...don't know how to interpret this--does this mean the downloaded updates have already been installed/upgraded? Or that I need to do something? This reminds me of why DOS was frustrating so often--unhelpful messages. The output assumes knowledge; it doesn't provide it.

Sorry for all the Qs, but in trying to learn Ubuntu, I've found nearly every step creates more questions. Sometimes terminal output is helpful and informative, but other times...creates more questions!

I do not find the output confusing or unhelpful. There are no updates available; your system is up to date.

Of course, refreshing your package list using "sudo apt-get update" may show that new updates are available since last night. You should always use "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade" together in my opinion.