Updating Microsoft Windows with critical updates

Microsoft Windows is a complex piece of software and there are those who look for ways to exploit this complexity and use it to gain information from your PC or to damage the software installed on your PC. As security issues are identified, Microsoft publishes updates to counteract the vulnerability that could compromise your PC.

It is imperative that you keep Windows up-to-date with any critical updates to ensure the security of your data.

Updating Microsoft Windows

Microsoft never emails users with security updates, so if you have any mails claiming to contain a security patch from Microsoft it is likely to be a virus in disguise. Delete such emails immediately.

Microsoft release their updates on the second Tuesday of every month (Pacific Standard Time). Microsoft Windows should be updated as follows:

Microsoft Windows Automatic Update (Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003)

N.B. The automatic update facility will not work on the main campus network, but we have our own Microsoft Update server which your departmental IT supporter will have set up for you. It will work on the readingConnect network and PCs connected to the internet at home.

Windows Update is an automated facility in Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003 which enables a PC to automatically check, download and install necessary updates.

The following settings will set Microsoft Windows Update to download any updates that are available.

1. Click on Start
2. Right click on My Computer
3. Click on Properties
4. Click on the Automatic Updates tab
5. Tick the box Keep my computer up to date.....
6. Select the option Download the updates automatically and install them
7. Select a time at which these should be installed. (If you haven't used this feature previously, downloading and installing these can take an hour or more.)

Microsoft Windows Update using Internet Explorer

This allows you to query the Microsoft Website for any Windows Updates that may be necessary on your computer. The first time you run this service, some software from Microsoft will be downloaded from the Internet.

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. From the Tools menu select Windows Update
3. Click Scan for Updates
4. Click Review and install updates
5. Click [Install now]
6. Follow the on-screen instructions

Microsoft Update (home PCs only)

As well as the Windows Update service, Microsoft have a similar service named "Microsoft Update". This is effectively the same as Windows Update, except that it also updates your other Microsoft software (e.g. Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project). You may use this on home PCs as a single convenient location to update all of your personal Microsoft software.