Using Microsoft Windows Update
Step 4: Updating your Operating System with Windows Update. 
Microsoft Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components. An optional feature provides updates for other Microsoft Windows software, such as Microsoft Office, Windows Live applications, and Microsoft Expression. Microsoft uses this tool to update driver components, patch security holes & exploits, and hardware/software optimizations. Basically put: You would be a fool not to use the update service.
How to use Windows Update
It is quite simply to use Windows Update, simply open Microsoft Internet Explorer, click on Tools → Windows Update. If you don’t see it listed there, it may be listed under the Safety tab. Alternatively, you could go directly to the Windows Update Website (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/). Finally, for Microsoft Vista users, you can get your updates by going to Start → All Programs → Windows Update.
But can’t I update Windows automatically? Yes. Lets see how to enable automatic updates on your computer.
To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP (SP2)
- Click Start → Control Panel
- Click Automatic Updates
- Choose Automatic (recommended) Then click OK
To change Automatic Update settings in Vista
- Open Windows Update (click the Start
button → All Programs → Windows Update) - Select the Change Settings and choose Install updates automatically (recommended)
If you turn your computer off at night, you may want to select a time during the day to install the updates. Otherwise, select a time in which your computer will be idle; Windows Updates uses system resources to install, leaving you with a slower computer during update installation.
Congratulations! You have just performed a quick 4-Step optimization, tune-up, and security update on your computer. It is the first step to preventative computer maintenance. Did you like this post? Feel free to Bookmark CompuTechs+ Website, and view our next computer repair and computer maintenance blogs.
When you are finished with Step 4, your computer will need to be restarted. Return to Windows Update to see if there are any other updates available (you may have to do this a few times). Once the computer has been restarted (and there are no recommended updates listed), follow up the optimization with another defragmentation with Defraggler.
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