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Windows Update

If you ask any IT professional what the best way is to ensure your computer doesn’t contract a virus, the answer will be; never turn it on. Of course, there is no point in having a tasty piece of IT equipment if you don’t use it, so how should you protect yourself? There are two main things you can do to protect your computer from the internet nasties.

The first is to install antivirus software. The rule is you get what you pay for with antivirus, so consider any free software as less secure and protective than any paid version.

The second is to ensure your copy of Windows is up to date.

You can access Windows Update on your computer by clicking Start> All Programs >Windows Update. Once in, we recommend clicking “Change Settings” and ensuring that ‘Important Updates’ is set to Install updates automatically (recommended).  There are all manner of updates released by Microsoft. Like the anti-virus software you have installed, Windows updates help protect your operating system and your data against malicious software (malware) and other security threats. Other updates patch security flaws which have been discovered in the operating system or upgrade existing functions and add new ones to Windows.

Every now and then Microsoft rolls a bunch of such updates together into one big download it calls a ‘Service Pack’. Windows Update does use valuable internet bandwidth so there can be times when you don’t want it to run, such as when you are playing online games or towards the end of the month when you have exceeded your internet usage.

To turn Windows Update off go back to the Change Settings panel and select Never check for updates (not recommended). This is not recommended because not having updates exposes your computer to more security risks. If you do switch Windows to ‘Never check for updates’ make sure to remind yourself to turn it back on when you have a decent internet connection.

Another option ‘Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them’ could also be useful in this situation, giving you more control over update timing. Those who like full control over their computer and what is downloaded to it can choose this option. Installing updates can require the computer to shut down and reboot. If a reboot is needed, Windows will offer you the choice of delaying until a later time, or rebooting immediately. If you aren’t at your computer, it will reboot without your input. In earlier versions of Windows, updates sometimes interfered with other software installed on the machine but this is largely a thing of the past these days.

Nevertheless, if a problem does occur, Windows will save your system state with a process called ‘System Restore’. That way if disaster strikes you can roll your system back to when the update was installed. You can find System Restore under Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools. System Restore will keep your files intact, but return your software and updates to the way they were at an earlier data, potentially curing problems you might encounter since they were installed.

2 Responses to "Windows Update"

1. Warwick jones says:

   December 1, 2011 at 5:05 pm

   Hi Wray,

   Question these updates are they not taking up valuable memory?Once these are loaded in my PC what about all those others of months, even days of past? are they not superceeded with newer updates? can I delete those that I do not required/expired?

   Warwick
2. Bill Brown says:

   December 1, 2011 at 5:13 pm

   Hi Warwick

   The updates take up very little space in general, and since they are closing security flaws, you do want to get them.
   If you are concerned about the space on your PC, consider installing CCleaner from http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner. This software can remove un-needed files from your PC and clean up your internet history as well.
   We don’t recommend removing Windows Updates or their backup files unless you are have an issues specifically related to that update.
   Superseeded updates will be cleaned up by your PC on it’s own.
   Cheers
   Bill