REFERENCES

For additional information about how to use Automatic Updates, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

• Q306525 HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
• 327838 HOW TO: Schedule Automatic Updates in Windows XP and Windows 2000
• Q283629 HOW TO: Configure Automatic Updates to Prompt You Before You Download Updates in Windows XP
• Q283151 Disabling AutoUpdate Service in Control Panel Does Not Shut Down the Service
• Q294871 Description of the Automatic Update Feature in Windows XP
• Q323184 Automatic Updates 2.2 Client Does Not Detect Approved Updates from Software Update Services
• Q326693 How to Force Automatic Updates 2.2 to Perform a Detection Cycle
• 328010 How to Configure Automatic Updates by Using Group Policy or Registry Settings

We have Microsoft System Update Services (SUS) on the Topaz server on campus. Contact your network administrator if you are interested in using this service. For more information about Software Update Services, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS)

Why Keep Windows Updated?

Microsoft regularly issues patches or updates to solve security problems in their software.  The critical updates are the ones you should be concerned about.  If these are not applied, it leaves your computer vulnerable to hackers as you may have experienced with the Blaster and Nachi worms.  Service Packs are larger updates which upgrade and fix security problems. Service Packs are NOT applied with Automatic Updates.

The Windows Update feature built into Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP can check your PC against a common database of patches.  You can go to a Microsoft web site and your operating system is checked against critical updates and a suggested list of updates displays for your PC so that you may download and install these.  If you do not have automatic updates enabled you should do this weekly unless you are directed to update by an email notification from an IT support group.

More recent versions of windows have an Automatic Update feature.  This is available in Windows 2000, ME, and XP.  If you turn on this feature, your PC will check for, download and install critical updates over night.  This eliminates the need for you to periodically check for updates. Windows 98 has an option to notify you that you have an update available, but it does not have the ability to automatically download and install the update.

How do I check for and apply updates to Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP?

1. Check to see if you have an icon or button from the Start Menu or Start, All Programs that says Windows Update.
2. If  you do not have a link available then go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and this will automatically detect your operating system and list the updates available.
3. Next, click Scan for updates and it will scan your computer for updates. At a minimum be sure you install all of the Critical Updates and Service Packs.
   1. Click on the Critical Updates and Service Packs section on the left so that a suggested list of updates for your operating system is displayed.
   2. A list of Recommended Updates appears for your computer.  Click on the Add button.   Sometimes, it may tell you that an update has to be installed independent of other updates.
   3. To begin the download and installation of the critical updates, click on the Review and install updates link.  You may be asked to click on various boxes to agree to Microsoft licensing.  Click the boxes until the update is downloaded and applied to your computer.

    

   Note: You will be notified if you have to restart your computer after the download.  REPEAT going to the windows update site as needed until there are no more critical updates left to install.

How to Setup Windows Automatic Update for Windows Me, 2000 and XP

Windows Automatic Update feature is available in with Windows 2000, ME, and XP.  This is a tool that will automatically check for any new Critical updates that your computer needs and install them at a designated time.

There are several ways that updates and downloads can be applied, but we recommend you choose the third option "Automatically download the updates and install them" so that your computer is kept up to date. 

STEPS:

In Windows ME: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Automatic Updates

In Windows 2000: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Automatic Updates

In Windows XP: Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Automatic Updates

• Click on the checkbox to Keep my computer up to date.
• For people that want a Hands-Off configuration, Under settings, choose the last choice, Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify.  Pick a time when your computer will be on that will have the least effect on your work. If you are logged in as a user that is in the local Administrators group, you will receive a pop-up notification that the patch will be installed in five minutes. You can decline the install and defer it to a later time. If you do nothing the patch will install at the end of the five minute wait. If your computer is not powered on at the scheduled install time it will wait until the next scheduled time the computer is powered on.
• For the more advanced computer user that keeps up with computer issues daily you may want to choose Download the updates automatically and notify me when they are ready to be installed. You will be prompted when new updates are ready to install.
• Click on OK.

Note: (If you receive a window that is grayed out like the picture below, you may have already been configured for automatic updates through a group policy.)

Windows 98 - Critical Update Notification Feature

Although Windows 98 cannot install the updates automatically at a specified time, there is a Critical Update Notification which can tell you that you need to install updates.  You must first install the capability to get the critical update notification

You can install Windows Critical Update Notification by using the Windows Update Web Site:

1.      Visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

2.      Click Scan for updates.

3.      Under Pick updates to install, click Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition.

4.      Click Add to select the Windows Critical Update Notification recommended update, and then click Review and install updates.

5.      Click Install Now.

Windows 98 - To Install New Updates

If you’ve installed the Critical Update Notification feature, when new updates are available and are downloaded, you'll see this little icon in your system tray with this message that new updates are ready to install.

Click on the icon and you'll see this.  You can choose to install it right away or if you want to check out what you are installing, click on Details.

 Click on Install if you have closed all of your open programs and are ready to begin.

You will see a list of updates that will be installed, click on Install. If you choose not to install one of the updates simply uncheck the update you don't want to install at this time.

 You'll see this "Installation in Progress" message, don't close this window until it is finished.

Once the installation is finished, you'll likely be asked to reboot your computer.  Save your work and click Yes to reboot. 

If you are having trouble with this page...you probably can't read this and any contact information I put here would be useless.

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 2/12/2007