Keeping your Windows computer updated with Windows Update
Installing critical updates
- Log onto your computer as administrator. If you don't know about this most likely you don't have to worry about it. Also windows update will tell you if you are not administrator when you load the page.
- Start Internet Explorer (Netscape won't work).
- Go to http://update.microsoft.com, click "Yes" or "OK" if asked whether to load latest windows update software.
- When page is done loading click "Scan for updates".
A category list of possible updates appears, the critical updates are all ready selected. To install the critical updates:
- Click "Review and install updates".
- Click the "Install Now" button.
The updates should download and install and most likely you'll be asked to restart your computer.
Installing recommended updates
Installing all recommended updates has usually worked fine for us here in biology. At the moment I'm recommending installing all updates except "Journal Viewer" and "Microsoft.NET framework".
- Start Internet Explorer (Netscape won't work).
- Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com, click "Yes" or "OK" if asked whether to load latest windows update software.
- When page is done loading click "Scan for updates".
A category list of possible updates appears.
- Display possible updates by clicking operating system (ex. "Windows XP") link and "Driver Updates" link (directly below "Critical Updates and Service Packs" link). Note: If the number next to these is 0 there won't be any updates.
- Click "Add" button for all updates you want to install.
- Click "Review and install updates".
- Click the "Install Now" button, updates should download and install.
- Restart your computer if asked to.