Windows update

Windows Update is a Microsoft web site that allows you to update Windows and keep it current.

Windows Update allows you to install high priority updates (released by Microsoft when they discover problems), software updates (to Microsoft programs such as Windows Media Player), and hardware updates (providing you with the most up to date software for your hardware).

To use Windows Update, load up Internet Explorer and either type in windows update.microsoft.com in the address bar (no www at the beginning) or click Tools, then Windows Update.

Windows Update automatically installs a small piece of software on your computer to find out which version of Windows you are running, and how up to date it is. If this is the first time you’ve used Windows Update, you’ll have to update this software to the most recent version. You will also have to go through the Windows Verification process for Microsoft to make sure you’re not running an illegal copy of Windows.

Once of this is done (it may involve a restart of the computer), you’ll be asked if you want Express or Custom mode.

The easiest way to install Windows updates is to use Express mode, which means that only high priority updates are installed automatically, but using Custom mode will give you more options.

If you click on Custom, your computer will check for the latest updates for your computer… and then show a page like this:

In the example above there are eight different upgrades available. The three high priority ones are automatically selected. To select the others, click Software, Optional (4) and Hardware, Optional (1) on the left, then tick any extra items you want.

Once you have selected all you want, click Review and Install Updates. You’ll get a screen like this:

Click on Install Updates, and wait. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, some updates can take a long time. Once installed, you will be told that the update has worked, and, if required, that you’ll need to restart the computer.