Windows Vista Update Options


To satisfy the needs of different Windows Vista users in home and office environments, Microsoft makes security updates and Service Packs available through a number of different distribution mechanisms. You can update Windows Vista systems to include the latest security updates and Service Packs using two primary methods:

  • Using the Windows Vista Windows Updates feature

  • Manually downloading and installing updates

Each of these methods is explored in more detail in the following sections.

Using Windows Update

The primary method by which critical security updates and Service Packs are distributed to Windows Vista systems is through the Windows Update feature. Born of the Automatic Updates feature found in Windows XP as of Service Pack 2, Windows Update makes the download and installation of important updates entirely seamless from the user's perspective. In fact, simply leaving the feature's default settings intact ensures that updates downloaded and install automatically as they become available.

Of course, putting the critical update process on "auto pilot" in this manner doesn't work for all users, which is the reason why you can change Windows Update settings to meet different user needs or preferences.

The Security Center tool in Control Panel lets users know whether Windows Update is turned on, and whether the Windows Vista system has firewall antispyware, and antivirus software installed and enabled.

Cross Reference 

Chapter 7 explores Firewall software for Windows Vista. Chapter 9 discusses antivirus software in more detail.

Follow these steps to check the status of the Windows Update feature on your Windows Vista system:

  1. Click Start Control Panel Security Center to open the Windows Security Center screen, as shown in Figure 8-2.

    image from book
    Figure 8-2: The Windows Security Center tool.

  2. If the Automatic Updating title includes a green icon, your system is already configured to download and install updates automatically. If the icon is red, Windows Update has been disabled. If the icon is yellow, your system has custom Windows Update settings configured.

You can modify Windows Update settings through the Change Settings screen, as shown in Figure 8-3. To access this screen, click the Windows Update link in the upper-left corner of the Windows Security Center screen, click Change Settings, and then choose one of the following options:

  • Install updates automatically (recommended). This option downloads updates automatically, and installs them at the time specified. If your computer is turned off at the specified installation time, updates are installed the next time you restart your computer. In some cases, you may still need to accept an End-User Licensing Agreement before you can install a particular update.

  • Download updates but let me choose whether to install them. This option downloads updates automatically. When the download process is complete, the Windows Update icon appears in the notification area for administrators, prompting them to install the updates.

  • Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. When you select this option, the Windows Update icon appears in the notification area of the taskbar to alert administrators that new updates are available for download. Once the update download process is complete, the Windows Update icon appears again, prompting you to install the updates.

  • Never check for updates (not recommended). When you select this option, Windows Vista never checks for critical updates, leaving your PC vulnerable to security threats.

image from book
Figure 8-3: Configuring Windows Update settings.

The Change settings screen includes an option that enables you to specify whether you also want to include recommended updates as part of the Windows Update process. This option is selected by default.

In cases where updates have been downloaded but not installed, the Windows Update icon appears in the notification area of your taskbar when updates are ready for you to install (see Figure 8-4).

image from book
Figure 8-4: The Windows Update icon notifies you that updates are ready to install.

When you click this icon, the Windows Update screen opens and outlines the updates that are available to install, as shown in Figure 8-5. To view more details about the updates, click View Available Updates. To download important or critical updates immediately, simply click the Install Updates button.

image from book
Figure 8-5: Installing downloaded updates.

Depending on the nature of the update being installed, you may be prompted to restart Windows Vista to complete the update process, as shown in Figure 8-6.

image from book
Figure 8-6: Prompt to restart Windows Vista after some updates are successfully installed.

Installing Service Packs and Security Updates Manually

Although Windows Update makes the process of patching and protecting Windows Vista systems easier than ever before, downloading and installing these updates the old fashioned way is still a popular option. There are still plenty of users out there who prefer to download and install updates manually, rather than to rely on any automated process to do the job for them.

Note 

Administrators of networks that include a Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 system can effectively create their very own Windows Update server in-house by installing Microsoft's free Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) software. When installed, this software acts as a local Windows Update server from which systems like Windows Vista can obtain critical security updates and service packs. Effectively, the WSUS system downloads updates once, and then allows administrators to approve individual security updates and Service Packs for distribution on the network. For more details on WSUS, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/updateservices/default.mspx.

In the vast majority of cases, this preference has nothing to do with the work involved in finding, downloading, and then installing individual updates. In a corporate or small office environment, the administrator's job is to ensure that all systems function correctly and are properly secured. As such, many administrators prefer to download and install updates on a test system first, and then deploy the update after it has been proven to be stable and secure. This puts the administrator in control over how individual desktop systems are updated, and minimizes the risk that an update could result in system downtime. In a nutshell, many administrators have learned that it's usually better to be safe than sorry.

Sometimes, the decision to go the manual update route has more to with practicality than control. A great example is the case of an administrator responsible for managing a network of Windows Vista systems where only a slow dial-up Internet connection is available. If a method like Windows Update were used in an attempt to update systems in this environment, the Internet connection would quickly come to a grinding halt, impacting other services like e-mail and web browsing in the process. It's much more practical for the administrator to download each security update or Service Pack once, and then use that download to update each computer on the network individually.

For more details on downloading the latest updates and patches for your Windows Vista system, visit http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/default.mspx.

Tip 

If you prefer downloading and installing Windows Vista updates manually, you can easily keep on top of things by subscribing to Microsoft Alerts, a free service that notifies you when new updates are posted to the Microsoft Security web site. These alerts can be sent to MSN Messenger, your e-mail program, or even a mobile device. To sign up for this service, visit http://www.signup.alerts.msn.com/alerts/login.do?PINID=3274.

Although most security updates and Service Packs install without issue, you may occasionally find that Windows Vista experiences problems after patches are applied. Thankfully, in the same way that you can install updates and Service Packs manually, you can also uninstall most, if necessary.

Follow these steps to remove an installed security update or Service Pack:

  1. Click Start Control Panel Programs.

  2. Under Installed Programs, click View Installed Updates.

  3. To remove an update, select it from the list and click the Remove button as shown in Figure 8-7. Follow the prompts associated with the update to complete the process.

    image from book
    Figure 8-7: Removing a security update using View Installed Updates.



PC Magazine Windows Vista Security Solutions
PC Magazine Windows Vista Security Solutions
ISBN: 0470046562
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 135
Authors: Dan DiNicolo

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