If you're still afraid of updates breaking something then you might want to install a virtualization environment such as VMware, and then install the SCT software inside a "virtual" PC. When you get the SCT software working good then you can make a backup of the virtual machine (VM) and continue to use and update your other one. If for some reason something gets hosed it would take a few seconds to fire up your backup VM.
VMware offers a free version and there's other options out there as well depending on if you have a Mac or a PC.
