Step 2: Get Software Updates

Updates help protect your computer from viruses, worms and other threats as they are discovered.

Windows XP has an Automatic Updates feature that you can use to download the latest critical and security-related updates automatically. In this step, we'll tell you how to turn on Automatic Updates for future updates. We'll also tell you how to bring your computer up to date with previously released software updates.

There are two ways to turn on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP:

Let us do it for you with our quick online tool

Follow the manual steps below

Important: Before you begin to update your computer, back up your files and information. If you need help, see Backing Up Your Computer Files (US)

Turn on the Automatic Updates Feature

Important: The Automatic Updates feature you are about to turn on will only download future Microsoft updates. You will still need to use Windows Update to get up to date after you have turned on Automatic Updates. (We'll tell you how at the end of this step.)

Click Start, and then click Control Panel

Tip: If the Performance and Maintenance category is not visible, click Switch to Category View.

Click Performance and Maintenance

Click System

Click Automatic Updates and then select Keep my computer up to date

Select a setting. Microsoft strongly recommends selecting Automatically download recommended updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify and setting a daily update time.

Important: You can schedule your Automatic Updates download for any time of the day. Remember, your computer must be on at the scheduled time. (We recommend choosing a time when you will not be using the computer for other tasks.)

If you choose to have Automatic Updates notify you in Step 5, you will see a notification balloon when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.

Now Get Up to Date with Windows Update

Now that you have Automatic Updates turned on, you will receive all critical updates automatically. Automatic Updates does not download previously released updates or non-critical updates, however. You can use these instructions to bring your computer up to date with previous security updates now, and to get non-critical updates in the future.

Bookmark this page

Go to Windows Update

Follow the directions on the Windows Update site to review and select downloads

Tip: Some downloads will require you to restart your computer after installation. Be sure to return to Windows Update after restarting and check for additional updates. You might have to do this several times to ensure you have all the latest updates.