XP

1) Assuming you are using classic view

2) You need to decide how you want windows update to perform by going to start/settings/control panel/security center

3) Locate automatic updates and pick from

a) Automatic (recommended) - you pick when you want it to happen (you should keep the computer on so the computer can perform the updates when specified

b) Download for me but let me choose when to install them

c) Notify me but don’t automatically download or install them

d) Turn off automatic updates

4) explaining 4b below

5) go to system tray with insert f11 and locate Windows update (if it isn’t there you don’t have any updates to install at the moment so check back later in the week)

6) press alt d and choose express or custom (custom allows you to read about the update to see if you want to install it

7) many times updates require a restart of the computer

Vista

1) Assuming you are using classic view

2) You need to decide how you want windows update to perform by going to start/settings/control panel/security center

3) Tab to windows update

4) Tab to change settings and pick from

a) install updates automatically (recommended) you pick when you want it to happen (you should keep the computer on so the computer can perform the updates when specified

b) Download updates but let me choose whether to install them

c) Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them

d) Never check for updated (no recommended)

5) Explaining 5b below

a) From system tray

b) Insert f11 and choose New updates are available

c) Press alt d and then either

i) Spacebar on Install updates button or

ii) tab to view available updates link to read them

(1) press enter on an update and read it and then esc when done

(2) you can also check or uncheck updates

d) press the Install button when you are ready to install the updates (may need to press continue on the User Account Control dialogue box)

e) then the rest of the process should continue by itself – will probably need to restart windows when complete

Windows update can also be done from the update website also if you choose start/windows update (website is a bit more complicated to use)

Many times after updates are downloaded you can choose Install Updates and Shut Down from the Shut Down Windows dialogue box