Windows Automatic Updates
Article by Marc Liron -
Microsoft MVP
Windows Automatic Updates Overview
|
|
|
With Windows Automatic Updates,
Windows routinely checks for updates that can help protect your
computer against the latest viruses and other security threats.
These high-priority updates are available through the Windows Update
Web site and include security updates, critical updates, or service
packs.
When you turn on Automatic Updates, you don't have to search for
updates online or worry that critical fixes might be missing.
Windows automatically downloads and installs them for you, using a
schedule that you determine. If you prefer to download and install
updates yourself, you can also set up Automatic Updates to notify
you whenever any high-priority updates become available. |
Why Use Scheduled Windows Automatic Updates?
If you have not turned on Windows Automatic
Updates, your computer is more vulnerable to viruses and other
security threats. When you turn on Automatic Updates, Windows
routinely checks the Windows Update Web site for high-priority
updates that can help protect your computer against attacks.
High-priority updates include security updates, critical updates,
and service packs.
Scheduled updates offer:
Convenience
You don't have to remember to visit the Windows Update Web site or
other online security sites to get updates. And you don't have to
choose which updates are most important for protecting your
computer—Automatic Updates looks for security updates, critical
updates, and service packs, and installs them on the schedule that
you set.
Reliability
Updates are downloaded behind the scenes whenever you're connected
to the Internet. The downloading process doesn't interfere with
other downloads or interrupt you while you work. If you disconnect
from the Internet before updates are fully downloaded, the download
process will continue the next time you connect to the Internet.
Don't forget, however, that updates must be installed to take
effect. When you schedule updates, Windows automatically installs
them for you, unless you choose to be notified and then install them
yourself.
Up-to-date software
You set the schedule for Windows to install new updates. This means
that Windows is routinely checking for and installing any important
updates that your computer needs. Even if you choose to be notified
and install updates yourself, you still learn about important
updates as they are released. By scheduling updates, you can quickly
and easily keep your computer up to date—without thinking about it.
How Do Windows Automatic Updates Work?
When you turn on Windows Automatic Updates,
Windows routinely checks the Windows Update Web site for
high-priority updates that can help protect your computer from the
latest viruses and other security threats. These updates can include
security updates, critical updates, and service packs. Depending on
the setting you choose, Windows automatically downloads and installs
any high-priority updates that your computer needs, or notifies you
as these updates become available.
When you connect to the Internet, Windows sends
data to the Windows Update Web site about the way your computer is
set up so the service can determine which updates your computer
needs. (Windows does not use your name, address, e-mail address, or
any information that can be used to identify you or contact you!)
It makes no difference whether you use a dial-up or broadband
connection; important updates are downloaded behind the scenes and
do not interfere with other downloads. If you disconnect from the
Internet before updates are fully downloaded, nothing is lost.
The download process will continue the next time you connect to the
Internet.
Installation:
You do not have to be connected to the Internet for Windows to
install new updates. But updates must be installed, not just
downloaded, before they can help protect your computer. If you use
the Automatic (recommended) setting, new updates are installed at 3
A.M. However, you can change the time or frequency of scheduled
updates to best suit your needs.
If your computer is turned off during a scheduled update, updates
are installed the next time you start your computer. You can also
choose to have Windows notify you when new updates are available,
and then install them yourself.
You might be asked to accept an End User License Agreement (EULA)
before certain updates can be installed. Other updates might require
you to restart your computer before the installation process can be
completed. If you are an administrator for your computer, you can
delay the restart. Otherwise, Windows notifies you and then restarts
your computer for you so the updates can begin to help protect your
computer. It is always a good idea to save your work frequently, and
to remind other users of your computer to save their work,
especially before scheduled installation times.
Options for setting up Windows Automatic Updates
on your computer...
To choose when and how updates will be delivered
to your computer, you have four options:
Windows XP SP2 Automatic Updates
1) Automatic -
Recommended Option
When you are connected to the Internet, Windows
finds and downloads updates in the background—you are not notified
or interrupted during this process and the updates do not interfere
with other downloads. If you do not change the default schedule,
updates that have been downloaded to your computer will be installed
at 3 A.M.
If your computer is turned off during a scheduled update, Windows
will install the updates the next time you start your computer. If
you need to help complete the installation process, Windows will
notify you. For example, you might need to accept an End User
License Agreement (EULA) before some updates can be installed. If
you need to restart your computer for an update to take effect,
Windows will notify you and will restart your computer at the
scheduled time.
2) Download updates for me, but let me choose
when to install them
To receive alerts, you must be a member of the
Administrators group for your computer. When you are connected to
the Internet, Windows finds and downloads updates in the
background—you are not notified or interrupted during this process
and the updates do not interfere with other downloads.
After downloading is complete, the Windows Update icon appears in
the notification area (bottom right of screen) and an alert pops up,
letting you know that the updates are ready to be installed. To
review and install available updates, click the icon or the alert.
You can install all or some of the available updates.
3) Notify me but don't automatically download
or install updates
To manually download and install updates, you
must be a member of the Administrators group for your computer.
Windows checks for important updates and notifies you if any are
available; updates are not delivered or installed on your computer
until you choose to do so. When Windows finds updates for your
computer, the Windows Update icon appears in the notification area
and an alert pops up, letting you know that updates are ready to be
downloaded. After you click the icon or the alert, you can select
some or all of the updates to download.
Windows downloads the updates in the background—you are not notified
or interrupted during this process and the updates do not interfere
with other downloads. When downloading is complete, the Windows
Update icon appears in the notification area again, this time to let
you know that the updates are ready to be installed. You can choose
to install all or some of the available updates.
4) Turn off Automatic Updates
|
|
|
You will never be notified when important updates
are available for your computer, and you will never be asked to
download or install them. This means that your computer can be
vulnerable to security threats and harmful viruses that can damage
your computer or your files. Viruses can also spread over the
Internet to other people with whom you exchange e-mail, share files,
or work with on a network.
New viruses and security threats are continually developed by
attackers, so helping protect your computer is an ongoing process.
If you do not turn on Automatic Updates, I recommend that you
regularly install updates from the
Windows
Update Web site. |
How To Check Your Windows Automatic Update Settings...
NB - These instructions
assume you have Windows Service Pack 2 installed.
To do this:
Step One:
Click the START menu.
Step Two:
Click the CONTROL PANEL
icon.
Step Three:
Click the SECURITY CENTER
option.
Step Four:
Click the AUTOMATIC UPDATES
option.
Step Five:
Manage your Window Updates in the
window that pops up (see the screenshot above.)
The
How To Play Your DVD's
In Windows Media Player!
The DVD XPack instantly adds DVD playback to
Windows Media Player 9, 10 and 11. It Installs the
same theatre-quality video and audio decoders
proven by over 45 million users of WinDVD -
the world's leading software DVD player!
Why Use It? BECAUSE:
It's FAST, low-cost, easy to use AND Microsoft approved!
The
InterVideo DVD XPack
 Plugin
(The
above link not working?
Click Here )
NOW works with
Windows Vista too!
|
|
|
If you have found
this article useful, then why not sign up for my
FREE Windows XP Newsletter service?
Enjoy the rest of site and
remember if you have a query about this site or a comment to make
then drop me a line at the
Contact Page
|
Kind Regards
Marc Liron -
Bio
Microsoft MVP
Your Guide to using Windows XP
A Unique Windows Newsletter?
Sign Up Now!
- Make sure you get your
FREE tips and advice...
Other Websites By Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP
News and Articles on Windows Vista:
www.instantvista.com
My Techie Blog:
www.marclironblog.com
My Windows Technology Newsletter
www.marctalkstech.com
|
