From the KnowledgeBase
Windows Update: How to manually update your operating system and configure Automatic Update feature
Solution:
All Windows computers should utilize the Windows Update feature
for important security reasons. Here's how you can bring your computer
up-to-date with security updates that are available from Microsoft, either
manually or automatically. You can also use these instructions to keep up
with the latest non-critical updates.
To manually bring your computer up-to-date right now
Windows 7/Windows Vista: How to manually update your computer
- Log in to your computer as an Administrator
- Click Start, point to All Programs, and select Windows Update
- On the left hand side of the screen, click on Check for updates
- If updates are available for your system, you will see a button appear labeled Install updates
- Click Install updates to begin the update process. You may need to restart your computer after installing updates.
Windows 8: How to manually update your computer
- Open the Charm bar
- Click on Settings
- Click on Control Panel
- Click on System and Security
- Click on Windows Update
- Click Check for Updates in left Column
Join the Princeton Domain to utilize the Software Update Service (WSUS)
Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) is a way for campus computers to use the native Windows Update service but get the patches and have them installed automatically from a Princeton server. See www.princeton.edu/domain for instructions on joining your Windows computer to the Princeton domain, which provides centralized services including file sharing, printing services, and system updates.
Individual workstations can also now participate in automatic SUS Updates. OIT has user installable settings to allow machines that are not part of the Princeton domain to participate in OIT's Software Update Service. See Solution 9769 for more information.
How to Turn on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows
Windows 7/Windows Vista: How to Turn on the Automatic Updates feature
- Log in to your computer as Administrator
- Click Start, point to All Programs, and select Windows Update
- In the menu on the left, click Change Settings
- Click the radio button for Install updates automatically
- Click OK
Important: You can set the automatic download time for any time, day or night. Just be sure your computer is on at that time. (To avoid slow-downs, we recommend a time when you will not be using the computer yourself. The computer will need to be turned on, however.) If you set up Automatic Updates to notify you, or if you forget to leave your computer on, you will see a notification balloon. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates. Be sure to click the balloon to install new update!
Windows 8: How to Turn on the Automatic Updates feature
- Open the Charm bar
- Click on Settings
- Click on Control Panel
- Click on System and Security
- Click on Windows Update
- Click Change Settings in left Column
- From the drop down menu, choose Install updates automatically (recommended)
Important: You can set the automatic download time for any time, day or night. Just be sure your computer is on at that time. (To avoid slow-downs, we recommend a time when you will not be using the computer yourself. The computer will need to be turned on, however.) If you set up Automatic Updates to notify you, or if you forget to leave your computer on, you will see a notification balloon. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates. Be sure to click the balloon to install new updates!
