Computer and Software Support


How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP

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This article was previously published under Q306525
For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 327850.
For a Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition version of this article, see 268331.

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SUMMARY

If you are logged on as an administrator, the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP notifies you when critical updates are available for your computer. You can also specify the schedule that Windows follows to install updates on your computer. This article explains how to configure the Automatic Updates features in Windows XP.

Note This article assumes you are using the latest Automatic Updates feature. Automatic Updates is included with Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition, but a new Automatic Updates feature is included with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Windows XP Media Center Edition, and Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (SP1) , Windows XP Home Edition SP1, and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition SP1. This new feature is also available separately from the Windows Update site for Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition computers without SP1.

If you use Automatic Updates with Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP 64-Bit Edition, the feature may have been automatically updated on your computer. If the check box that is described in step 2 of the Turn On and Use Automatic Updates section of this article is not available, install SP1 for Windows XP to obtain the new Automatic Updates feature. For additional information about how to obtain SP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

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Change the Settings for Automatic Updating

To change the settings for Automatic Updates, use the Automatic Updates tab in the System Control Panel as described in the appropriate sections later in this article. In Windows XP Home Edition, you must be logged on as a computer administrator to install components or modify Automatic Updates settings. In Windows XP Professional, 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 prevent you from completing these procedures.

Windows may prompt you to restart your computer after certain components are installed. Restart your computer when prompted; otherwise, your computer might not work properly.

Advanced users and IT Professionals can configure Automatic Updates by using Group Policy in an Active Directory environment, or by using registry settings in a non-Active Directory environment. For additional information about how to configure Automatic Updates by using these methods, click the following link:

How to Configure Automatic Updates by Using Group Policy or Registry Settings

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Turn On and Use Automatic Updates

To turn on Automatic Updates for your computer:
  1. Open Control Panel, and then double-click System.
  2. Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click to select the Keep my computer up to date. With this setting enabled, Windows Update software may be automatically updated prior to applying any other updates. check box.
  3. Click one of the following options:
    • Notify me before downloading any updates and notify me again before installing them on my computer. After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online and uses your Internet connection to search for downloads from the Windows Update Web site. An Automatic Updates icon and message appear in the notification area of your Taskbar when new updates are available to download or install. Click the icon or message to view the updates. If you don't want to download a selected update, click to clear the check box next to that update to decline it. Click Start Download to download the selected updates. The Automatic Updates icon remains in the notification area of your Taskbar while the updates are being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the download status. To pause (or resume) the download, Right-click the icon, and then click Pause (or Resume). When the download is complete, another message appears in the notification area to inform you that the updates are ready to install. Click the Automatic Updates icon or message, and then click Install to install the updates.
    • Download the updates automatically and notify me when they are ready to be installed. After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online and uses your Internet connection to automatically download updates from the Windows Update Web site. An icon appears in the notification area of your Taskbar when the updates are being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the download status. To pause (or resume) the download, Right-click the icon, and then click Pause (or Resume). When the download is complete, a message appears in the notification area. Click the Automatic Updates icon or message. If you don't want to install a downloaded update, click Details, and then click to clear the check box next to that update to decline it. Click Install to install the selected updates.
    • Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify. If you click this setting, click to select the day and time for scheduled updates to occur. After you set this option, Windows recognizes when you are online and uses your Internet connection to find updates on the Windows Update Web site that apply to your computer. Updates are downloaded automatically in the background, and you are not notified or interrupted during this process. An icon appears in the notification area of your Taskbar when the updates are being downloaded. You can point to the icon to view the download status. To pause (or resume) the download, Right-click the icon, and then click Pause (or Resume). When the download is complete, another message appears in the status area so you can review the updates that are scheduled for installation. If you choose not to install at that time, Windows starts the installation on your set schedule. For additional information about how to schedule Automatic Updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

      HOW TO: Schedule Automatic Updates in Windows XP and Windows 2000

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Turn Off Automatic Updates

To turn off Automatic Updates for your computer:
  1. Open Control Panel, and then double-click System.
  2. Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click to clear the Keep my computer up to date. With this setting enabled, Windows Update software may be automatically updated prior to applying any other updates. check box.
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Have Windows Remind You About Pending Updates

When you configure Automatic Updates to notify you before downloading or installing updates, Windows notifies you that updates are ready to be downloaded or installed by displaying an icon and message in the notification area of your taskbar. If you do not want to download or install the update at this time, click the Automatic Updates icon or message in the notification area of your taskbar, and then click Remind Me Later in the Automatic Updates dialog box. In the Reminder dialog box, you can specify the amount of time Windows should wait before reminding you. If the reminder is for downloading, Windows reminds you only when you are connected to the Internet. If the reminder is for installing, Windows reminds you according to the schedule that you specify.

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Pause or Resume Downloading

After the download process has started, you can pause or resume downloading at any time. If you close your Internet connection or restart your computer after pausing a download process, Windows automatically resumes the download process the next time you are connected to the Internet.

To pause or resume downloading:
  1. During the download process, click the icon that is displayed in the notification area, and then click Pause.
  2. When you are ready for Windows to start downloading again, click the Automatic updating icon, and then click Resume.
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Restore Declined Updates

If you decide not to download a specific update, you can prompt Automatic Updates to offer that update again. To restore declined updates:
  1. Open System
  2. Click the Automatic Updates tab
  3. Click Declined Updates.
  4. Click Yes to restore declined updates.
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Update Your Files by Using Windows Update

If you choose not to use Automatic Updates, you can still install specific updates from the Windows Update Web site. Windows Update is a catalog of items such as drivers, security fixes, critical updates, the latest Help files, and Internet products that you can download to keep your computer up-to-date.

To update your system files with the latest critical updates by using the Windows Update Web site:
  1. Start Internet Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Windows Update.
  3. Click Yes if you are prompted to install any required Windows Update software.
  4. On the Windows Update home page, click Scan for updates. Windows Update looks for any critical updates that are available for your computer.
  5. Click Review and install updates.
  6. Click Remove if you do not want to install an individual updates (not recommended), and then click Install Now to install all available critical updates.
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