Description of the Automatic Updates Feature in Windows
SUMMARY
Description of Automatic Updates in Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
Description of the Windows Critical Update Notification Utility
MORE INFORMATION
HOW TO: Configure Automatic Updating in Windows XP
HOW TO: Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows 2000
How to Configure Automatic Updates by Using Group Policy or Registry Settings
HOW TO: Schedule Automatic Updates in Windows XP and Windows 2000
You can specify how and when you want Windows to update your computer. For example, you can set up Windows to automatically download and install updates on a schedule that you specify. Or you can have Windows notify you whenever it finds updates available for your computer; it will then download the updates in the background. This permits you to continue working uninterrupted. After the download is complete, an icon appears in the notification area with a message that the updates are ready to be installed. When you click the icon or message, you can install the new updates in a few simple steps. If you do not install a specific update that has been downloaded, Windows deletes its files from your computer. If you change your mind later, you can download it again by restoring declined updates.
Notes
- To modify Automatic Updates settings, you must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.
- Windows may prompt you to restart your computer after certain components are installed. Restart your computer when prompted; otherwise, your computer may not work correctly.
-
You can always install specific updates from the Windows Update Web site. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
- The Windows Update Catalog is available for advanced users and administrators who want to download updates to install later or install on one or more computers that run Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 across a home or corporate network. For additional information about how to download updates from the Windows Update Catalog, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
- For information about how to troubleshoot Windows Update issues, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site: