Keeping Windows 7 and Other Software Up to Date : Windows Update

Windows Update is an important built-in online tool that ensures your system gets all the latest software additions and bug fixes. Unlike the Windows Update version in Windows XP, Windows 7 supplies users an integrated update system that does not require the user to go to the Microsoft update website. Instead of opening a web browser, the new version of Windows Update opens in the same existing window.

Windows Update has been made to be seamless to its users. Let’s say a newly installed update requires a restart while you are in the process of doing important work. You can postpone that restart easily without any disruptions. Also a great feature to Windows Update is the way it handles updates for already running programs. If Windows Update has an update that needs to be installed on an already running program or service, Windows will safely stop the program or service, install the update, and then restart it. This doesn’t apply to every program, such as Microsoft Office applications or games, but it does cover antivirus software running continuously in the background and similar programs.

Windows Automatic Updates

Windows users all know how important critical updates are to a system. Windows Update downloads and installs updates automatically by default, guaranteeing your computer acquires all the newest important updates. The tool runs at a scheduled time daily, although you can change the setting to check once a week (which isn’t recommended). Windows Update’s default setting is to install important (critical and highest-priority) updates first, and then recommended updates. The tool lets you choose whether to install other updates that pertain to your computer but are optional, such as a driver update for your network adapter.

Upon installing Windows 7, Windows Update is configured to check for updates daily at 3:00 a.m. If you open the Windows Update tool and click Change Settings in the Tasks list, you’ll see a prominent green shield icon with a check mark alongside a menu item recommending you leave automatic updates turned on (the default). Selecting Never Check for Updates (Not Recommended) from the drop-down list displays a red shield with an X in the middle.

With automatic updates enabled, information about your computer will be uploaded to the Microsoft Windows Update Database. Then security patches, critical updates, office updates, drivers, and operating system service packs will be automatically downloaded and installed to your computer. If you decide to deactivate automatic updates, you will be bugged incessantly about it, so why fight a good thing? We believe this is good thinking on Microsoft’s part.

Allowing Windows to download and install updates automatically keeps your system current without having to remember to initiate an update check. It does not matter whether you have a broadband or dial-up connection. Windows Update downloads just the files you need, or just the parts of the files you need, thereby keeping the downloads as small and fast moving as possible. The system is made additionally efficient by ensuring the system downloads and installs the most crucial updates before less-important patches. So when the next virus outbreak hits, Windows users will immediately be protected. To additionally make the most of your connect time, if you disconnect from the Internet before your updates are finished, nothing is lost.

Letting Windows automatically update can sometimes cause your computer to automatically reboot by itself—a few important updates require a restart to successfully install. That means if you leave Windows Update at its default settings, you could potentially lose unsaved work. For example, say you leave your computer to automatically update at 3:00 a.m. every day, and the previous night you worked on important Word documents and left your computer on. While those important documents are open on your computer (and unsaved), Windows downloads and installs an update that requires a restart. Windows will restart automatically, which could cause you to lose your work. This default selection might not be the best choice for you, and you might want to change these settings.

Be aware that it is still possible that an update could damage your system. Windows Update creates a restore point for your system before installing the available updates. If a problem does occur, you can always roll back a system to its state before the update .

Windows Update Applet and Functions

As you can see from Figure 1, the user has different options for updating her system. On the main Windows Update applet, you can see the basic settings applied, the last time the system was updated, and what kind of updates (for Windows only). On the left side of the window is a list of options that the user can select.

Figure 1. The Windows Update applet.

Manually Install Updates Using Windows Update

The process to manually update Windows is easy and user friendly. By manually updating your system, you can obtain various critical and noncritical updates. To use Windows Update manually, follow these steps:

Manually updating your system allows you to decide which updates you want and lets you know which updates you need.

Other Windows Update Settings

You can also hide an update if you do not want to install it. If Windows consistently asks you to install an update and you have no desire to, just hide the update. To hide an update, right-click the update you want to hide and select Hide Update from the shortcut menu. Hiding an update is helpful because you essentially filter the list to display only those updates you’re interested in. If you want to see hidden updates again, click Restore Hidden Update in the Tasks list of the Windows Update applet. To install an update, it must not be hidden. If an update is hidden and you do want to install it, restore the update first and then install.

Also, after every update, you can view the installed updates by clicking View Update History, which visually shows you all updates that were installed (or attempted), whether the update installation was successful, the priority of the update, and the date of installation.

Windows Update also allows you to change certain settings pertaining to updating. By clicking Change Settings, you will see options for Windows automatic updating, recommended updates, and which users can install them (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Change Settings window in Windows Update.

The Important Updates section offers four drop-down menu items that affect automatic updates. The default setting is to install updates automatically at a set time. You may change this setting if you want to (1) choose which updates to install or (2) choose the updates before downloading. The ability to selectively install updates is valuable. Without choosing one of these options, Windows may automatically restart your system, in which case open or unsaved files could be damaged or lost. If you’re the type of user who always reads and responds to system messages, consider changing to one of these settings—automatic updates are important to your system, but you do not want them to ruin your important work. The last option, Never Check for Updates, is strongly discouraged by Microsoft.

When would you use the fourth option, to turn off updates altogether? In general, we’d rule that out as an intelligent option, with two exceptions:

• If you have a computer that is almost always off the Internet or a LAN, is “mission critical” (has to be up and running), and rarely if ever has new software (including email) added to it, this is a potential candidate. When we get such a dedicated system running, we don’t have much interest in tempting fate with software or system upgrades.

• If you’re running and maintaining PCs in a corporate setting. These PCs are connected to the Internet and probably on a corporate network. You want to rigorously test updates before you install them across the corporation’s PCs because Microsoft patches and updates can sometimes break your applications’ features in subtle ways.

New to Windows 7 is the Allow All Users to Install Updates on this Computer option, which is selected by default. Previous versions of Windows required the user to be logged on as Administrator to manually install updates. This new option lets standard users install all updates, including optional updates, without prompting for administrative credentials. We recommend leaving this option selected on standalone computers.

Finally, the Change Settings window also includes a Microsoft Update check box that enables you to receive updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software when you update Windows.

Viewing and Changing Installed Updates

As stated previously, some updates can cause system problems. By viewing which updates are installed on your computer you can repair critical updates and remove optional updates (see Figure 3).

Figure 3. Viewing installed updates.

To repair or uninstall an update, follow these steps: