WEBINAR ARCHIVE
Little Rock, AR (October 22, 2004)
Introduction
Much like updating your virus definitions, updating your operating system
with the latest security patches is a good way to defend your system. Not
only do Windows updates strengthen your operating system with the latest security
and critical updates, but it also updates old drivers for your hardware, provides
new versions of Microsoft applications like Internet Explorer, Windows Media
Player and more. Updating Windows regularly is a great idea, but unfortunately
many users do not update enough, if at all. This lesson will show you some
of the benefits of updating Windows as well as provide a guideline to help
you update your operating system yourself.
Benefits
Microsoft is constantly working on ways to fix any problems (or "bugs")
that users may run into while using their Windows operating system and the
applications that come with it. Windows update scans your computer system
for information on hardware, software, drivers and Windows applications to
give you a system specific update that will improve the performance of your
system. When you scan your computer Windows Update will provide you with a
list of available updates for your system. Any updates that are marked as
Critical Updates are usually very important and should be downloaded to you
computer.
Microsoft has recently released a new version of Windows Update that coincided
with the release of Service Pack 2. Users now have the option to select updates
through an express Installation or a Custom Installation, which we will discuss
below.
Walkthrough
Network users: You may want to contact your network administrator
before you visit the Windows Updates site. Your network administrator may already be
pushing the updates to your computer from the server or they may be testing how your
company's software reacts to the updates before allowing individuals to download and
apply them.
1. Windows Update can be found in the Start menu. Click on start and look at the top of the initial menu and you will see Windows Update. You can also get to windows update by visiting the following site:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
2. Once Windows Update loads, it will scan your system to see verify you have the latest version of Windows Update. Once the initial scan is complete you will be presented with two options: "express Install" and "Custom Install". Express installation will automatically install all available updates for your system, you have no choice but to download and apply the updates. Custom Install allows you to choose which updates you would like to download to your system. This is a good choice if there is an update out that you are not sure if you would like to apply to your system.
For example, if you are not sure how some of your software might react to Service Pack 2 and you are not ready to install it, you would want to select Custom Install so you can choose the option to skip downloading the service pack.
3. Once you choose Express or Custom Install, Windows update will then scan your hardware drivers and operating system software to search for any available updates. If you selected Express Installation you will see a list of the updates you will be downloading. Next select "Install" and you download will begin.
If you selected Custom Installation you will be given a list of various updates that fall into three categories: High Priority updates, Optional software updates, and Optional hardware updates.
The high priority updates are usually quite important and should be downloaded. The optional updates are not necessary, and should be downloaded if you feel they are necessary. You may want to contact a network administrator if you are cautious about an update of any kind. After you have selected the updates you wish to install, click on "Go to install updates" to review your list of selected updates and proceed to the installation.
4. Next a new window will open to show you the progress of your update. All of your updates will be downloaded first, and then Windows Update will install them one by one.
5. After all of the updates have been downloaded and installed, you will see a message informing you of the success of your update. If you have an unsuccessful update you may need to visit the Windows Update site again. If your update was successful, Windows will most likely ask to restart so they changes will take effect. Click on the Restart Now button to restart your computer.
You have now successfully updated your operating system. It is recommended that you regularly visit the Windows Update site or that you turn automatic updates on so your computer stays up to date.
