System Updates

Keeping Your Operating System Current

Windows Update and Software Update

If automobiles had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside. - Robert X. Cringeley

 Keeping your system software updated with the latest patches can help you avoid the explosions and also keep you a bit safer from viruses, worms, and hackers. In this lesson you will learn how to do that for Windows XP, 2000, and 98 and Mac OS X. We will start with the Microsoft collection of Windows then discuss Mac OS X.

The best way to keep your windows machine up to date is to use Automatic Update. Automatic Update lets you schedule your computer to look for updates automatically. It can also be configured to download and install them for you. I will show you how to setup Automatic Update for the different Windows Operating Systems.

Let's start with Win XP. Just follow the steps below to configure Automatic Update:

  • Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.
  • On the Automatic Updates tab, click Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify.
  • Click to select Every day and a time that your computer will be on so it can download and install updates.
  • Click OK.

The steps for Win 2000 are very similar:

  • Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Automatic Updates.
  • Click Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify.
  • Click to select Every day and a time that your computer will be on so it can download and install updates.
  • Click OK.

For Windows 98, this tool is called Critical Update Notification. You can install Windows Critical Update Notification by using the Windows Update Web Site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

  • Click Scan for updates.
  • Under Pick updates to install, click Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition.
  • Click Add to select the Windows Critical Update Notification recommended update, and then click Review and install updates.
  • Click Install Now.

Once Critical Update Notification is installed it checks for updates every day and notifies you in the following manner when it finds new updates:

Microsoft Critical Update Notification

New critical updates are available for your computer. Microsoft strongly recommends that you install these updates now.

To read about and install these updates, click "View Critical Updates." The Windows Update site will guide you through the installation process.

If you would like to postpone installation for 24 hours, click "Notify Me Later." This message will appear tomorrow when you connect to the Internet. Postponing installation of critical updates is not recommended.

Lastly we will look at Mac OS X Software Update. To configure Software Update just follow these steps:

  • Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.
  • Choose Software Update from the View menu.
  • Click the radio button for Check for Updates.
  • Choose Daily from the Check for Updates pop-up menu.
  • Click on the radio button for Download important updates in the background.
  • Close the System Preferences window.

By setting up these tools you can keep your Operating System up to date. This is the first line of defense against viruses, worms, and hackers.

Best of luck, I hope we all can afford a Rolls Royce some day - one that doesn't explode, that is.

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