| When was the last time you updated? Microsoft Windows needs to be updated at least once a month in order to stay current with all the security vulnerabilities. Even if you KNOW that Windows automatic update is turned on, you should read on. | ||||
| Microsoft Automatic Updates | Service Pack 2 for Windows XP | |||
| Is your Automatic Updates set to "Automatic"? (Only in Windows XP) To find out, go to the "My Computer" icon located either on the desktop, or in the Start menu. Right click it and select "Properties". Click on the "Automatic Updates" tab and make sure it is set to Automatic. For all other Windows products you should use manually update from the Microsoft website. | Although SP2 can have negative effects on computers when installed, it's still a good idea to do it anyways. SP2 addresses many security vulnerabilities and should be installed on ALL computers running Windows XP. As long as you remove all viruses, spyware and adware from your system, SP2 will install just fine and provide you with the protection that you desperately need. Service Pack 1 is simply too old and poses a security threat when being run on the internet (even with dial-up). When you do decide to update to SP2 be sure to give yourself plenty of time for it to complete. Depending on the speed of your computer it will take anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours to complete using high-speed internet. If you don't have high-speed internet then you might want to take your computer in to your local computer shop and have them update it for you. Using dial-up to install SP2 is not a good idea for many reasons including the length of time in order to do it. | |||
| Manual Updates for Microsoft Windows | ||||
| Just because you have Automatic Updates turned on doesn't necessarily mean that it's working properly (this is Microsoft we're talking about!). It's always a good idea to check for updates manually once in a while as part of your full system maintenance routine. First, go to Microsoft's website and click on "Microsoft Update" located on the left side of the page under "Resources". Simply follow the instructions given to you in order to download updates that are needed for your Windows installation. NOTE: If you are prompted to install Service Pack 2 in XP, please make sure your system is free from viruses, spyware and adware before you update. Service Pack 2 (SP2) is a major update and should not be taken lightly. Always do a virus and spyware scan before you update to SP2. | ||||
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