Software upgrade stability recommendations

A method and system determine a potential impact from software upgrades on a computing device. A device configuration is identified for a first computing device based on the software and hardware elements currently present. Other computing devices are identified in the network having installed the software application upgrade. A history of operating behavior associated with the software application upgrade is retrieved. The profile is analyzed for each of the other computing devices for conflicts with the software application. A determination is made as to whether the software application upgrade will potentially cause a failure in the first computing device based on the history of operating behavior associated with the software application upgrade and based on a state of similarity between the analyzed profile for each of the other computing devices and the profile of the first computing device. The end user is presented with a risk-based recommendation.