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The Windows Update feature notifies you of the latest updates and bug fixes for the Windows XP operating system directly from the Microsoft Web site. To launch the Windows Update, you click the Start menu, point at the All Programs button, and then click Windows Update in the Programs menu.
As soon as you click select Windows Update on this menu, Windows gets you online and connects you to the Windows Update Web page on the Microsoft Web site.
To have your computer checked out to see whether you're in need of some updated Windows components, follow these steps:
1. On the Microsoft Windows Update Web page, click the Express Install (Recommended) hyperlink.
When you click this hyperlink, the Windows checks your system for critical and security updates. After checking your system, the number of updates appears in the list of High Priority Updates in the pane on the left side of the window.
2. To have the Update Wizard install particular updates in one or more of the various categories, click the check boxes in front of each update name and description.
3. After you have all the updates that you want selected, click the Review and Install Updates hyperlink in the pane on the left side of the window.
4. Click the Start Download button on the Download Checklist page.
A license agreement dialog box then appears. Choose the Yes button to sell your soul to the devil (just kidding) and start the download.
After you click the assent to the license agreement, the Microsoft Windows Update page downloads and installs the updated files for the component(s) you selected. When the download and installation are complete, the message Download and Installation Successful appears on the Windows Update Web page.
5. Click the Close box in the upper-right corner of the Microsoft Windows Update Web page to close this browser window.
 | Just in case you're the type who would never think to use the Windows Update command on the Start menu, Windows XP prompts you to turn on the AutoUpdate feature when you first install Service Pack 2 on your computer. If you click the Help Protect My PC by Turning On Automatic Updates Now option button, the system then automatically checks the Windows Update Web site when you go online, searching for critical and security updates, which it then automatically downloads and installs on your computer. |
To modify how often Windows checks for and installs updates, specify that updates be automatically downloaded but not installed or automatically notify you of updates but neither download nor install them, or even turn off the AutoUpdate features (definitely not recommended in this day and age of constant virus and worm attacks), follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button and then click Control Panel.
2. If the Classic View is not shown, click the Switch to Classic View button at the top of the Control Panel navigation pane on the left side of this window.
3. Double-click the System icon to open the Systems Properties dialog box.
4. Click the Automatic Updates tab and then click the option button for the setting change you want to make.
• Click drop-down buttons under the Automatic option button to change the day and time when Windows checks for, downloads, and installs critical and security updates.
• Click the Download Updates for Me but Let Me Choose When to Install Them option button to have Windows automatically check for and download critical and security updates and then display an Install Reminder icon in the Notification area of the taskbar that prompts you to install them.
• Click the Notify Me but Don't Automatically Download or Install Them option button to have Windows automatically check for critical and security updates and then display an Install Reminder icon in the Notification area of the taskbar that prompts you to both download and install them.
• Click Turn Off Automatic Updates option button to disable this feature entirely.
5. Click OK or press Enter to close the System Properties dialog box.
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