Because of the Windows 10 issue I stopped doing the automatic updates, but now on my new computer I have 12 optional updates that I just don't know what to do with. Reading the additional information does not help me since I don't understand what I'm reading.

If I never do any optional updates, will something get messed up down the line? If I do all the optional updates will something get messed up down the line?

There is only 1 that I'm sure I don't care about as it is about Skype which I don't have or use.

Is there some easy way to figure this out?

The only problem you might have with not installing the "optional" updates is that there might be something a particular game needs. For example a game might use some feature of the latest version of .NET.

Most optional updates aren't necessary except in specific cases -- for example someone who uses Skype might think the Skype update was important.

OK, thank you Jenny100. I'll give this some more thought based on your information.