Microsoft Update
RIVER BENDER - September, 2010
It is surprising to find so many people not taking advantage of Microsoft's free update software, especially critical high-priority security patches to prevent malicious software from running in your PC. If you haven't been updating on a regular basis and your PC has become sluggish, there is a good chance you may have already picked up some malicious bugs and will now have to spend time trying to figure how to get rid of them. Everyone using Microsoft software should make sure they have all the latest security updates. It's sort of like making sure you have oil in your car.
Microsoft Update Webpage http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us).
This site replaces the old Windows Update site to now include security updates for all Microsoft products, not just Windows. When you visit it, updating software will identify which version of Windows and other Microsoft products you use. The site shows you only the updates that apply to your computer. Security updates are usually released once a month, unless a widespread virus occurs that Microsoft issues an urgent patch for.
Getting started with automatic Microsoft Update:
The first thing you need to decide is whether you wish to manually go to the above update site or have Microsoft update your computer automatically. It is highly recommended that you use automatic updating; otherwise, you could miss important critical security updates. To set up automatic updating go to Start/Settings/Control Panel and click on the Security Center. If Automatic Updates is already shown "on" all is OK, otherwise, click on Automatic Updates at the bottom and turn it on. You might want to set the time for the update. (I use 4 PM when my PC is online and I'm usually taking a nap). You can also decide on other options shown on the updating procedure.
Updating your Windows computer manually:
Go to the above Microsoft updating website and put an icon on your desktop by selecting File/Send/Shortcut to Desktop. Notice on the right side of the site it will tell you if you have automatic updates on or off (see above if you wish to turn it on). Now click on Express tab and Microsoft will scan your computer and let you know if you are missing critical updates. This could take a few minutes. If you select Custom instead of Express, high-priority and optional updates are presented for you to select what you want to install one by one but optional updates are not really needed. If you've been on automatic updating, it will probably end up telling you that no high-priority updates are available. If there are updates it will tell you what they are, how large and let you choose to install them. Notice too on the left side of the page you can review your update history. If you have questions about updating click on FAQ (frequently asked questions).
All past computer articles by Dave Wallace since 1998 are posted at http://pages.suddenlink.net/davew/dwindex.htm