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Updating Windows XP
Securing Your Computer" in Chapter 12) if you choose anything weaker.
Installing Service Pack 2Figure 1.1 in the introduction). PCs purchased in the fall of 2004 or later come with SP2 preinstalled. If you have an older computer, Automatic Updates has probably offered to install SP2. If not, you can go to Securing Your Computer" in Chapter 12). Log off everyone but yourself if you're using Fast User Switching (see "Logging On and Logging Off" in Chapter 1). If you're lucky, SP2's far-reaching changes won't break anything on your computer, but problems range from negligible to serious, such as not being able to start your PC. Microsoft has a few to-the-rescue articles: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=842242, "Some Programs Seem to Stop Working After You Install Windows XP Service Pack 2" http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=884130, "Programs That Are Known to Experience a Loss of Functionality When They Run on a Windows XP Service Pack 2-Based Computer" http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=885626, "Your Computer Stops Responding When You Restart to Complete the Installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005" As a last resort, you can uninstall SP2. It's listed in Control Panel's Add or Remove Programs list (see Figure 19.7 later in this chapter). Microsoft even has an article for that: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=875350, "How to Remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from Your Computer." |
To set up Automatic Updates:
1. | Choose Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System (or press Windows logo key+Break); then click the Automatic Updates tab (Figure 19.1 ). or Double-click Automatic Updates in Control Panel (if you use classic view). or In Security Center, click the Automatic Updates icon. or Choose Start > Run; type wuaucpl.cpl and then press Enter. |
2. | Choose one of the options described in Table 19.1 . |
3. | Click OK. |
Automatic (Recommended) | This set-and-forget option downloads and installs all patches automatically, according to the schedule you choose. This option is appropriate if you have an always-on internet connection (DSL or cable) and you trust Microsoft not to screw up your PC with the update. |
Download Updates for Me, but Let Me Choose When to Install Them | The download happens in the background, silently and without interfering with anything that you might be downloading yourself. After download, Windows shows an icon in the notification area (system tray) to get your permission to install the update (Figure 19.2 ). This option lets you research the patch before you install it; try Google or www.annoyances.org to see if it's giving people trouble. |
Notify Me but Don't Automatically Download or Install Them | Windows displays a notification-area icon (refer to Figure 19.2) when it detects an update on the Microsoft web site. Click it to download the updates (Figures 19.3 and 19.4 ). When the download completes, the icon reappears, asking to be reclicked to install the updates this time. This option is a good choice for on-the-go laptop users. |
Turn off Automatic Updates | No updates occur. Choose this option if you want to update Windows manually (described next) or if you're on a workplace or school network and you update from a network server rather than from Microsoft directly. |
Figure 19.2. This yellow-shield-and-! icon appears when Windows finds an update. Click it to start the update process.
Figure 19.3. When you click the icon in Figure 19.2, you're offered a choice: You can just take what Microsoft gives you (first option) or get a description of what you're about to install (second option).
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Figure 19.4. If you chose Custom Install in Figure 19.3, this dialog box appears, describing the update(s) in sometimes painful technical language. Review the list; uncheck specific updates (if you like); then click Download (or Install) to proceed.
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Tips
 | When an update completes successfully, Figure 19.5 appears. Figure 19.5. Some updates require you to restart your computer. You don't have to right away (click Close instead of Restart Now), but the updates won't kick in until you do.Setting up User Accounts" in Chapter 16). If you decline to install an update and change your mind later, click Offer Updates Again That I've Previously Hidden at the bottom of the Automatic Updates tab (visible in Figure 19.1). Figure 19.1. Windows can download and install updates without your intervention (first option), ask for your permission (second or third options), or leave everything for you to do manually (fourth option). If you ignore Automatic Updates when it's ready to install an update and try to shut down, Windows shows you the Install Updates and Shut Down option as the default choice in the Shut Down Windows dialog box (Logging On and Logging Off" in Chapter 1). Figure 19.6. Microsoft won't let you escape easily from updates. This shut-down option appears on computers with Service Pack 2 installed and Automatic Updates turned on. Removing Programs" in Chapter 6.) |
Figure 19.7. The program list in the Add or Remove Programs dialog box groups updates. Note that Service Pack 2 appears as a separate, ungrouped entry.
If you've turned off Automatic Updates because you don't want your PC to contact the mother ship without your permission, you can use Windows Update to visit the Microsoft Update web site and update manually.
To update Windows manually:
Tips
| Typically, you can install a critical update only by itself, separately from noncritical ones. Run Windows Update again to install the noncritical updates. Windows Update works with only Internet Explorer. The General tab of Control Panel's System dialog box will tell you the edition, version, and Service Pack of your Windows XP copy. If you're an administrator who has to update several computers on a network, click the Administrator Options link when you first arrive at the Windows Update web page. |
Updating Device DriversWindows Update can provide new device drivers for your PC's hardware. Unlike the other types of updates, this one should be approached skeptically, because Windows Update has a habit of recommending the wrong drivers for some hardware. I recommend that you install Microsoft drivers for only Microsoft hardware, such as mice, keyboards, and game controllers. For other products, download drivers from the manufacturers' web sites directly. And don't be surprised if the sites don't offer an updated driver; it means only that Windows Update guessed wrong about your equipment. For details, see "Installing a New Device" in Chapter 8. |
