Windows 7 Update

Windows Update exists to help make it easy to keep Windows 7 up to date with the latest patches and service packs. How easy depends on how Windows Update is configured to download and apply updates.

Here's How:

1. Click on the Start button, followed by Control Panel.
   
2. Click on the System and Security link.
   
   Note: If you're viewing Control Panel by Category, you'll see this link. If you use the Large icons or Small icons view, just choose Windows Update and then skip to Step 4 below.
   
3. In the System and Security window, click on Windows Update which is one of the bigger links and located about mid-way down the list.
   
4. With Windows Update now open, click the Change settings link on the left.
   
   This will open a window with the heading Choose how Windows can install updates.
   
5. The settings on this page give you a fair amount of control regarding how Windows 7 will receive and install updates from Microsoft. However, most users either want updating to occur automatically in all cases, or want to disable automatic updating completely:
   
   Check, Download, & Install
   To fully enable automatic updates, choose Install updates automatically (recommended) from the drop-down box under Important updates. Select Every day and then a time that your computer is typically on but not in use. You should also check every other box on the page.
   
   Don't Check At All
   
   To completely disable automatic updates choose Never check for updates (not recommended) from the drop-down box under Important updates. Not only will updates not download or install, you won't even be notified when new ones are available. Leaving the other checkboxes on the page checked is fine and has no bearing on automatic updating.
   
   Note: See Tip #1 & #2 below for two more, arguably better, ways to configure Windows Update in Windows 7.
   
6. Once you've made your changes, click the OK button.