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| Windows Update - Part 2 |
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PC support #12: Windows Update, part 2
3rd June 2003
C O N T E N T S
----- INTRODUCTION
1. What this note is about
2. Can I use automatic Windows Update?
3. Should I use automatic Windows Update?
----- WINDOWS XP
4. How do I enable Automatic Updates on Windows XP?
5. Which of the update options should I select?
----- WINDOWS ME
6. How do I enable Automatic Updates on Windows Me?
----- CONTACT DETAILS
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----- INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------
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-- 1. What this note is about
The last support note introduced Windows Update, and explained why it is important to keep your computer up to date. It also explained how to download updates manually, which is the best method if you do not spend long periods on the Internet.
This support note explains how to use the automatic version of Windows Update.
-- 2. Can I use automatic Windows Update?
This is only available to users of Windows Me and Windows XP. If you are using one of these versions of Windows you can use automatic updates.
-- 3. Should I use automatic Windows Update?
It's most suitable if you have a broadband (always on) connection to the Internet. However, if you use the web a lot (say at least once a week, and for 1/2 an hour at a time) you can certainly give it a try and see if it suits you.
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----- WINDOWS XP ---------------------------------------------
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-- 4. How do I enable Automatic Updates on Windows XP?
(a) Open the control panel by clicking the "Start" button, then clicking "Control Panel" on the Start menu.
(b) The next steps vary depending on how your computer's control panel is set up.
(i) If the words "Pick a category" appear at the top of the control panel, look for the "Performance and
Maintenance" icon and click it once. On the next screen, click the "System" icon (near the bottom of
the Control Panel window) once.
(ii) If instead the control panel just shows a large collection of icons (without the words "Pick a
category"), look for and double clock the "System" icon.
(c) A tabbed dialogue box should now appear. One of the tabs is called "Automatic Updates". Click on it.
(d) On the Automatic Updates page, there is a tick box with the words "Keep my computer up to date..." by it. If it is already ticked, automatic updates are already enabled. If not, click to tick it.
(e) Select which of the three types of automatic update you would prefer by clicking one of the three options in the lower part of the dialogue box.
(i) The first one will notify you with a pop up message whenever it realises that there are new updates
ready to be downloaded.
(ii) The second one will download the updates automatically, and save them on your computer. Once
the updates have been downloaded and are safely stored on your hard disk, it will pop up a message
asking you if you would like to install them.
(iii) The third option will automatically download and install updates on a timed schedule, assuming that your computer is on and connected to the Internet.
-- 5. Which of the update options should I select?
(a) If you don't normally spend more than (say) 15 to 20 minutes on the web at a time, select the first option. This is because you may not be connected for long enough for the updates to be downloaded automatically.
With this option, a pop up message will tell you when there are updates ready, and an icon (a world and a flag) will appear in the system tray at the bottom right. You can either answer "yes" to the pop up message to download the updates immediately, or you can click on the icon in the system tray to download them later if it is not convenient.
Once the update is downloading, you can continue using the computer if you wish, but don't switch off or disconnect from the Internet. Wait until another message tells you that the download is complete and ready to be installed, then follow the prompts to install the updates.
(b) If you have a broadband connection, or you regularly spend an hour or more connected to the Internet, you can choose the first or the second options.
If you select the second option, the updates will automatically be downloaded onto your computer. You will then be prompted via a pop up message when they are ready to be installed - follow the prompts to install them.
(c) The third option is only really suitable if your computer is normally on and connected to the Internet. It allows you to pick a regular time (normally when you are not using the computer) for updates to be downloaded and installed.
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----- WINDOWS ME ---------------------------------------------
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-- 6. How do I enable Automatic Updates on Windows Me?
This is quite similar to Windows XP, but a little simpler.
(a) Open the Control Panel from the Start menu.
(b) Double click the "Automatic Updates" icon. A dialogue box
will appear.
(c) Select which of the update options you prefer. The first two are the same as the Windows XP options - see 5 (a) and
5 (b) above. The third option disables automatic updating.
The rest is more or less the same as for Windows XP.
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----- CONTACT DETAILS ---------------------------------------
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Chris Livingstone
e-mail: mailto:chris-l@ntlworld.com
web site: http://www.pcparamedic.org.uk |
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