Microsoft Windows Updates

How-To Keep our computer's Microsoft Windows operating system (OS) up-to-date

~ original update: December 22, 2003 (jb)

    The majority of desktops in the world use Microsoft Windows as their operating system (OS). The other two significant operating systems for desktops are Mac OS, from Apple, and Linux, which has a number of producers, including Red Hat, SuSE, and Mandrake. All three operating systems use updates to keep the operating system running efficiently and to eliminate bugs or errors within the computer code. Since Microsoft Windows is the most commonly used desktop operating system, we will look at some basic steps to keep our computer’s Windows operating system up-to-date.

    Microsoft Windows has been around for many years now. The first widely used Windows desktop OS was Windows for Workgroups or Windows 3.1. Since then, Windows has evolved from Windows 95, to Windows 98, to Windows ME (Millennium), to Windows 2000, to today’s popular OS Windows XP. The next OS, codenamed Longhorn or LH, is planned for release sometime in 2005/2006.

Here are the basic steps to keep our computer's Microsoft Windows operating system (OS) up-to-date:

1. The Microsoft Windows Update web site

2. Scanning our computer for Updates

    Once you are at the Microsoft Windows Update web site, the web site will quickly check to see if your computer has the latest version of update software to update your computer. If your computer does not have the latest version, it might ask if you would like to update to the latest version. This will prompt for a Yes/No question with some licensing information. Be sure to read through the licensing info and click Yes, if you would like to continue to update your Windows OS.

    Next, you should be at the Welcome to Windows Update screen with an option to click that says '-> Scan for Updates.' When you click on '-> Scan for Updates', your computer will talk to the web site and look for available updates. There is a percentage amount to show how long it will take. They are 0%, 33%, 66%, and 100%. The slower the connection is to the Internet, the longer it will take to get from 0% to 100%.

3. Which Updates to Install?

  Once your computer looks for updates, you will see a list of updates in the left-hand column that tell how many updates are available for your computer. Under ‘Pick updates to install’, you will see ‘Critical Updates and Service Packs (#)’, ‘Windows (OS, such as 98 and 98 Second Edition or XP) (#)’, and ‘Driver Updates (#)’. These are the three main updates the web site scans for, with the # sign representing how many of each update there are.

    Critical Updates and Service Packs are the most critical of the updates, hence the name. These updates are often security patches and updates to the operating system code that allows the system to be safe from hackers and run more efficiently. By default, the Windows Update web site asks to install these as a priority.

    Windows (OS) updates are based on your system’s operating system. If you have Windows XP, it will say Windows XP here. If you have Windows 98, it will say Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition here. These updates are often recommended updates for your system, but may not be necessary. Some of the updates here are for Wireless Security and the new IP6, which is a more, advanced networking protocol. Technical support personnel traditionally use these updates.

    Driver Updates are the last category of updates listed in the left-hand column. These are Microsoft approved drivers for your system. Your system may have newer drivers for its components, such as the modem, network card, video card, sound card, etc. We often advise folks to backup their system before installing these newer drivers, as these updates may not work correctly and could keep your computer from working. Also, we advise that you do not have to install these driver updates unless you are required to. Typically, we use the old adage of ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

4. Review and Install Updates

Now that we know which updates we need to install, it is time to install them. If there are Critical Updates and Service Packs to install, the system should display a link to click on for installation that reads ‘Review and Install Updates.’ Click on the link and you should see a list of available updates to install.

    If all Critical Updates and Service Packs are installed, the screen will display ‘There are no critical updates available at this time’ and you can feel safe your system is up-to-date. If your system is up-to-date, please skip ahead to Step 5, where we discuss how often to run these updates.

    Updates will be listed as the name of the update, how big the download size is, estimated time of download for your computer, and what the update does. You may see an Add/Remove button below the update, so you can customize which updates to download and install.

    Updates with an asterisk (*) after their name, mean that these updates are special updates and need to be downloaded and installed individually or by themselves.

    Once you are ready to download all of the updates listed, click on the Install Now button. This will prompt the system to begin downloading the updates. Next, you will see a Microsoft legal prompt, asking you to read the information listed and understand that Microsoft is not liable for anything bad that happens. Click Accept to accept the agreement with Microsoft and continue with the downloading.

    After the system downloads all of the needed updates, it will then install them. When it is finished downloading and installing, most of the time, you will be prompted to re-boot your system for the updates to take effect.

    Once you have re-booted, make sure to install any additional updates that are needed, or check to see if any additional updates are needed. If no additional updates are needed, you can feel confident that your system is up-to-date and your operating system (OS) is safe from hackers for the time being.

5. How often do I check for Critical Updates?

    According to Microsoft, they are trying to come out with Critical Updates and Service Packs on a monthly basis. However, new updates are discovered almost every week.
This is due to the fact that many people are out there right now trying to find a way to get around the security of Windows XP or any other Windows operating system (OS). Every Operating System (OS), including Windows XP, is a continual work-in-progress, as new bugs are found in the code and new pieces of hardware fail to work with the program on a daily basis.

    We typically recommend that folks check for Windows Updates on a weekly basis. Once the updates are installed, then the risk of the computer being hacked or not working correctly is greatly reduced.

    If your computer has Windows XP as the primary operating system (OS), then the computer can be set to update itself automatical

6. Automatic Updates - For Windows XP

  If you have the Windows XP operating system, then you may be able to set your computer up to automatically update itself. This is typically recommended if you have a high-speed Internet connection and are always connected to the Internet, but this will also work with a dial-up Internet connection as well, just a little slower.

    First, we need to open the System Properties window. To do this, right-click on My Computer and left-click on Properties or simply press the WINDOWS + BREAK keys at the same time.

    In System Properties, click on the Automatic Updates tab at the top of the window. Here, you can check the box that reads ‘Keep my computer up to date…’ and select one of three options to update with:

1.    ‘Notify me before downloading any updates and notify me again before installing them on my computer’ – This option is the recommended option, as you are notified when updates are available with a little earth and windows icon in the system tray in the lower-right hand corner of your system. Plus, you can choose to download them now or later, depending on when you want to download updates. This option allows the user to choose what they are installing and requires complete user interaction.

2.    ‘Download the updates automatically and notify me when they are ready to be installed’ – This is a helpful option for businesses and organizations. Here, technical support personnel are able to set computers within their organization to download updates automatically, and then instruct computer users or program the computers to update on a computer-by-computer basis. This option tells the user what they are installing and requires some user interaction.

3.    ‘Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify (with date and time options)’ – This is also a handy option for technical support personnel, as they can set computers to automatically update themselves at specific times during the week. This option would be best for a computer lab and requires no user interaction.

    These six steps discuss the complete process of Microsoft’s Windows Update process. Hopefully this information can give you a little insight as to what to expect in updating a computer’s operating system (OS).

Resources:
Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com
Microsoft's Windows Update web site - http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
Apple ~ Mac OS - http://www.apple.com
Red Hat ~ Linux - http://www.redhat.com
SuSE ~ Linux - http://www.suse.com
MandrakeSoft ~ Linux - http://www.mandrakesoft.com