It seems like every day some new security flaw is identified in Microsoft Windows, doesn't it? In this lesson, you'll learn how to use Windows Update to get automatic or manual updates, as well as how to find and install updates to your other software and to essential hardware devices, such as video and sound cards.

What's Windows Update?

Windows Update is a feature in Windows XP that enables you to update it via the internet, so you can receive any security patches and fixes that Microsoft releases without having to buy a new copy.

You can run Windows Update either automatically or manually. If it runs automatically, it's called AutoUpdate. This lesson covers the automatic version as AutoUpdate and the manual version as Windows Update, even though technically they're both Windows Update.

Configure AutoUpdate

Shortly after you install Windows (or start using a new computer with it preinstalled), a globe icon appears in the notification area (to the left of the clock) with a blurb over it that says Stay Current with Automatic Updates. Click it, and it walks you through a one-time setup process via an Automatic Updates Setup Wizard. Just follow the prompts.

Your choices in this Setup Wizard are as follows:

• Download the updates automatically and notify me when they are ready to be installed: This is the default option. The updates are downloaded but you must give your permission each time for their installation. This option is good for systems with high-speed, always-on internet connections.
• Notify me before downloading any updates and notify me again before installing them on my computer: With this option, you select when updates are downloaded as well as installed. This can be useful if you don't want downloads interfering with your internet speed on a slow connection.
• Turn off automatic updating. I want to update my computer manually: Select this if you don't want AutoUpdate. If you do this, you need to use Windows Update as described later in this lesson.