Windows 7 / Vista update

To check microsoft updates click on the start button on the bottom task bar then select all porgrams and select Windows Updates near the top of the program list as described below.

You will be greeted by a Windows Update window, if you click on the link on the left side of the menu to check for updates, it will perform an action to check whether you have the latest up to date updates for your machine.



If you do have updates that need to be downloaded and installed you will be presented with a screen much like below.



If you do not have any updates to download, Windows Update will inform you that you are up to date. If by chance your windows updates are out of date and requiring you to download the latest updates

Windows XP Update

Viruses, worms and trojans often exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft operating systems. When such a weakness is identified, Microsoft issue a 'patch' which can be downloaded and installed to protect your computer. Visiting the Windows Update website is equally as important as having anti-virus software. To carry out a Windows Update go to:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

You will reach this page:

Click on the Scan for updates button and wait whilst your machine is being scanned. When it has finished, the updates your computer needs are listed on the left hand side. It is essential to install all Critical Updates and Service Packs.

Do so by clicking on Critical Updates and Service Packs and follow the download/installation procedure.

You can set your computer to automatically download and install Windows updates. For Windows XP, right click My Computer, go to Properties and select the Automatic Updates tab:

Click the first check box 'Keep my computer up to date ...' and then the last radio button 'Automatically download the updates ..', choosing a time of day when your computer will be on.

Whether you set this option or not, if you are reminded to download/install updates as you are working on your computer, always take the moment's trouble to do so.

Office Update

In a similar manner, users of Microsoft Office should periodically check for Office Updates, some of which might just be useful or cosmetic, but some of which will patch serious holes in the Office suite which could allow infected documents to infect your machine.

Microsoft Update

Microsoft have now helpfully combined the two update mechanisms described into a single "Microsoft Update" at http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/