Will changing the default browser on my PC from IE to Chrome affect my ability to receive automatic updates for Windows 7?

No effect. Just open IE from time to time to be sure the updates are loaded. I’m in the same boat.

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room Do you still get automatic updates monthly for the OS other than Internet Explorer?

Windows Update is no longer a web page like in XP

See Windows Update in the control panel..

@jaytkay Thank you1

Not at all. Totally different processes.

IE is integrated into the Win 7 and Win 8 operating systems. You can, if you wish, disable it, but you can’t actually fully remove it even if you hate it. That’s the bad news. The good news is that because IE is integrated into Windows, updates happen just fine without ever opening the cursed browser. Even your IE10 will stay up to date just fine without it ever being opened. If you prefer Chrome or Firefox, go for it.

Yes I do, @Hawaii_Jake.

Unlike previous versions of Windows, your preferred (default) browser will not interfere with automatic windows update.

My default browser has been Firefox (and Mozilla before it) since I last ran Win98, and I have always received my automatic Windows updates. Of course, one nice thing about newer versions of Windows is that you never need to actually open IE to update like you used to.

I run Win7 and have Chrome as my default browser. I disabled automatic updates and just choose from the Windows update reminders the ones that aren’t IE updates. I do get all the reminders.

I do use Maxa Cookie Manager to remove all IE cookies that get onto my system even though I never run IE.