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How to make sure your up to date.
We will look at how you can manually update first. I would recommend manually checking for updates once a month, to see if there are any new driver, or other software updates that you may want.
To do this the first step is to goto the windows update website.

Step 1:
Goto start -> "All Programs"
Then -> "Windows Update"
(which should be located at the top left of the "All Programs" screen)

This will bring up the Windows update web site.
Step 2:
Once inside the windows update web site you should click on "Custom" instead of "Express" install.
If you have never gone to this web site before, once you click on "Custom" you may immediatly be prompted to install an "Active X" extension, please do so. You may also be prompted to install several other things before getting to the main page, you may also have to restart (it is all just dependent on when you did this last, or when you purchased your computer). After install all software that you are required to (you should allways accept software installations from windows update) you will be confronted with this page:

To install the non-critical updates you must go to this web site. Once here you need to click on "Software, Optional" and "Hardware, Optional" and check all the updates that are available, or all the updates that you want. The Critical updates should be installing automatically, but the optional updates will not install automatically.

Part 2: Setting up Automatic Updates
This is a relativly quick procedure. To do this:
"Right click" on "My Computer" and select "Properties"

Once the System Properties page loads, click the "Automatic Updates" tab
Here you see all the options for automatic updates. I usually prefer "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them." option because that way I know that the updates have installed and that I am protected. What this option looks like is, when your computer downloads the critical update, you will be notified down by your clock in the bottom right of your screen. It will say "Updates are ready to be installed" all you have to do is click on that, and following the prompts that come up. You should do this IMMEDIATLY when it pops up, because it will only be popping up critical updates, or updates that fix possible virus exploits.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me personally. keith@the-it-connection.com