Fig 1.0 Click on the CHANGE SETTINGS text link to continue
Fig 1.1 The Change Settings window - Click on the TIME drop-down menu to select a suitable checking Time
| 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) to bring up the Windows Update window (Fig 1.0 below). From there. Look on the left-hand-side of the window and you will see a text link called CHANGE SETTINGS. Click on it to take you to the Change Settings window (Fig 1.1).
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 7 and/or your computer's hardware in general. For example. Some updates (files) can help make Windows 7 more secure
and/or bug (error) free. To change the DAY setting simply click on its drop-down menu 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.
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 (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).
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 GIVE ME RECOMMENDED UPDATES THE SAME WAY I RECEIVE IMPORTANT
UPDATES setting ticked. Also. The emphasis 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 IMPORTANT UPDATES
drop-down menu is set to INSTALL UPDATES AUTOMATICALLY (RECOMMENDED).
If you want Windows Update (the service) to download any found Important Updates (and Recommended Updates, if applicable) but not to install them, select
the DOWNLOAD UPDATES BUT LET ME CHOOSE WHETHER TO INSTALL THEM option from the IMPORTANT UPDATES drop-down menu. 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 select the CHECK FOR UPDATES BUT LET ME CHOOSE WHETHER TO DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THEM option from the IMPORTANT UPDATES drop-down menu. 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 select the NEVER CHECK FOR UPDATES (NOT RECOMMENDED) option.
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 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 receive updates/update information. Unticking this setting will bring up the following message requester.
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 receive 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 reinstall the Microsoft Update service by clicking on the now available FIND OUT MORE link (below) - GET UPDATES FOR OTHER MICROSOFT PRODUCTS.
After clicking on the FIND OUT MORE link you are taken to the Microsoft Update web page whereby you then need to click on the INSTALL button, after reading and agreeing to (ticking) the Terms & Conditions, in order to receive Microsoft Updates from within Windows Update.
When you have finished changing the above settings click on the OK button to apply them (below). Doing so will bring up a UAC (User Account Control) security requester (Fig 1.9).
User Account Control (UAC) is a feature of Windows 7 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.
When you have dealt with the UAC security requester your Windows Update settings will have been applied, giving you piece of mind that Windows Update is now working the way you want it to.....hopefully checking for updates automatically, once a day, depending on your settings of course.
Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. As stated here by the Microsoft Corporation.
