Windows Update

1. Back up any important files or documents you could not afford to lose first. While Microsoft tests their updates before releasing them, it's always better to be safe than sorry!
2. Review these instructions and print them off if necessary so you can refer to them while Windows Update is running.
3. In Internet Explorer, go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com. (Windows Update will not work with other web browsers, and you may have trouble if you have an older version of Internet Explorer.) Most versions of Internet Explorer also have a link to Windows Update under 'tools'.
   
   
4. The main page will say 'Checking for the latest version of the Windows Update software...' This may take a while. You may get a security warning pop-up message that says 'Windows Update V4 Control' at the top. Just click 'yes' on it and any other messages that pop up.
5. The page will now say 'Welcome to Windows Update', below the welcome message is a green arrow box that says 'Scan for Updates.' Click it.
   
   
6. The page will now say 'Looking for Available Updates' followed by a percentage showing you how complete it is. After it reaches 100% it will say 'Pick updates to install'
7. There will be a list of updates, each with a 'remove' button after it. We recommend you install all of the updates, so just click the 'install now' button at the top of the page.
8. If any of the updates are exclusive updates (updates that must be installed on their own) it will prompt you, click 'okay' to just install that update, you will need to run Windows Update again to get the others.
9. The update(s) will automatically download and run. You will be given the choice to not restart your computer, otherwise Windows Update will restart your computer for you. The Updates will not take effect until you have restarted.
10. If you did not install all of the updates, go back to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and get the rest.
11. Run Windows Update one more time to make sure there are no more updates.
12. You're done!

You can set Windows Update to run automatically. To do this in Windows XP:

1. Go to Start and select Control Panel.
2. Double-click on System.
3. Click on the Automatic Updates tab. Make sure that the "Keep my computer up to date" box is checked. If it is not checked, check it by clicking once on it.
4. Click on the "Automatically download the updates and install them on the schedule that I specify" selection. Select the frequency with which you want the updates to be downloaded and installed. We suggest daily.
5. Select the time at which you want the updates to be downloaded and installed. This should be a time when your computer is turned on and connected to the Internet.
6. Click on the OK button.