SET  THE  DAY / TIME  FOR  WINDOWS  (AUTOMATIC)  UPDATES

To set the automatic settings of Windows Update first go to the Control Panel and double click on the Windows Update icon (as described in the previous section). This will bring up the Windows Update window (Fig 1.0 below). Look on its left-hand-side and you will see a text link called CHANGE SETTINGS. Click on it to take you to the Change Settings window (Fig 1.1).

 
Fig 1.0  Click on the CHANGE SETTINGS text link to continue


 
Fig 1.1  The Change Settings window

When the Change Settings window appears (above) the first setting to change is the DAY setting. This is the day when you would like Windows Update (the service) to automatically check the Microsoft Server (main Windows Update computer) for Important Updates - Important Files that could help protect and/or improve your copy of Windows Vista and/or your computer's hardware in general. For example. Some updates (files) can help make Windows Vista more secure and/or bug (error) free.

To change the DAY setting simply click on its drop-down menu (Fig 1.2 below) and then change the day to either a Week Day or Every Day. In this example I have changed it from the default setting of EVERY DAY to EVERY FRIDAY because I know my computer will be connected to the internet most fridays.

 
Fig 1.2  Click on the DAY drop-down menu to select either a Week Day or Every Day

The second setting to change is the TIME setting. This is the time when you would like Windows Update (the service) to automatically check the Microsoft Server (main Windows Update computer) for Important Updates. Simply click on the TIME drop-down menu (Fig 1.3 below) to change the time to a time when your computer is most likely connected to the internet. In this example I have changed the time from the default setting of 03:00 (3am) to 21:00 (9pm).

 
Fig 1.3  Click on the TIME drop-down menu to select a suitable checking Time

The two settings just set are for the checking of Important Updates (Important Files) only. Meaning. Only the Important Updates are checked for. The Recommended Updates are not checked for, and therefore not listed, unless you have the INCLUDE RECOMMENDED UPDATES WHEN....Etc setting ticked. Also. The enphasis is on the words Check and Install. Meaning, Important Updates will be downloaded onto your computer but will not be installed until your chosen DAY and TIME arrives. So if you have settings of EVERY DAY at 21:00 (9pm) any downloaded updates (Important or Recommended) will not be installed until Windows Update (the service) knows 21:00 or thereafter has arrived. This is all because the radio button is set to INSTALL UPDATES AUTOMATCALLY (RECOMMENDED).

If you want Windows Update (the service) to download any found Important Updates (and Recommended Updates, if applicable) but not to install them click on the radio button next to the setting DOWNLOAD UPDATES BUT LET ME CHOOSE WHETHER TO INSTALL THEM. This will enable you to choose if/when you want to install them.

If you only want Windows Update (the service) to check for Important Updates (and Recommended Updates, if applicable) but not to download and install them click on the radio button next to the setting CHECK FOR UPDATES BUT LET ME CHOOSE WHETHER TO DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THEM. This will allow you to see a list of possible updates.

And if you do not want Windows Update (the service) to check for, download and/or install updates at all click on the radio button next to the setting NEVER CHECK FOR UPDATES (NOT RECOMMENDED).

Note well. The above, exampled, changed settings are based on the way I use my computer with the Windows Update service and program (control panel). You should, if possible/applicable, stick to checking for updates EVERY DAY and not EVERY FRIDAY as I have done.

The USE MICROSOFT UPDATE setting is ticked by default. It means you are using the Microsoft Update service as opposed to the Windows Update service for the checking, downloading and installing of updates. This in turn means you have a Microsoft Product (such as Microsoft Office 2007) installed on your computer that requires the Microsoft Update server to recieve updates/update information. Un-ticking this setting will bring up the following message requester.

 
Fig 1.4  Click on the OK button to uninstall (disable/make unusable) the Microsoft Update service

If you click on the above message requester's OK button it will uninstall (diable/make unusable) the Microsoft Update service from your computer so that you can no longer recieve updates from it. So if you do have Microsoft Office 2007 installed for example you will only be able to get Microsoft Office 2007 updates from the Microsoft Office website.....until you re-install the Microsoft Update service by clicking on the now available GET UPDATES FOR MORE PRODUCTS link (below).

 
Fig 1.5  Click on the GET UPDATES FOR MORE PRODUCTS link to restore the Microsoft Update service

When you have finished changing the above settings click on the OK button to apply those changed settings (Fig 1.6 below). Doing so will bring up a UAC (User Account Control) security requester (Fig 1.7).

 
Fig 1.6  Click on the OK button to apply your changed settings

User Account Control (UAC) is a feature of Windows Vista that helps to prevent unauthorized changes to the computer, such as deleting a system file or changing system settings. When attempting to change Windows Update settings the UAC security requester below automatically blocks you off, because it wants to know if you are the one attempting to change the Windows Update settings and not a piece of malicious software for example. In this example simply click on the CONTINUE button to apply the changed Windows Update settings or click on the CANCEL button to leave the settings as they were.



Fig 1.7  Click on the CONTINUE button to apply the changed Windows Update settings


 
Fig 1.8  The Windows Update settings have been changed



Windows Updates Index Protection Software