I encounter this common issue when taking over support responsibilities for my employer’s customers. Some VMs experience repeated blue-screen errors as known as Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD), and after a quick check, I usually find that they have not been updated for a long time and never reboot for first time installation.
Most unprofessional, i need to rollback, luckily that server is not database and just for application reading.
When setting up a new Windows or Linux virtual machine (VM), most people jump straight into installing software, configuring services, or deploying applications. However, there’s one very common mistake that often gets overlooked:
❗ Not updating the VM before using it.
Whether you’re using Proxmox, VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, or any other hypervisor, updating the system should always be the first step after installation.
Why Updating First Is Important
- Security Patches
Fresh installations usually come with outdated packages or missing security patches. Leaving these unpatched can expose your VM to vulnerabilities.
- System Stability
Updates include important bug fixes that improve the OS stability and performance.
- Better Hardware & Driver Support
Hypervisors often rely on updated kernel modules, guest tools, and drivers. Updating ensures better compatibility.
- Avoiding Package Conflicts
Installing software before updating can lead to package version conflicts, especially on Linux systems.
Examples
🔹 Windows VM
After installation:
Run Windows Update
Update drivers / VMware Tools / QEMU Guest Agent (depending on hypervisor)
Reboot if required
🔹 Linux VM (Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, CentOS, etc.)
Run updates immediately:
Debian/Ubuntu:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
RHEL/CentOS/Rocky:
sudo dnf update -y
You may check your OS command with community or official website