I have a legal copy of Windows 7 on my Lenovo laptop that I bought in the USA.

I get all of these updates from Windows but I do not allow them to be automatically installed. I never use IE, Bing or Silverlight, all of which updates asks me to install but I never do. Should I install updates for something I never use?

Up 2 u.

I never install the Bing Bar, Silverlight etc etc (they are optional updates) but the Important Updates I always install, but then again Up 2 U

You can remove the ticks so that these items are not installed

Probably a good idea to keep IE up to date, just as a backup

My main browser is FF, but occasionally pages will not load correctly

and I have to resort to IE

Do the IE updates because it updates quite a few system files used for other things.

Bing Toolbar and Silverlight - Right click and "Hide Updates".

OK, I have cone the IE updates but ignored the Bing and Silverlight requests. However there is a request for me to install IE 11. Do I need to do this?

TBH it's up to you, I have it installed but I rarely use it, Chrome most of the time. BUT it is considered the most secure version and gets good reviews. Have a read.