Windows Updates

I recommend always downloading all critical updates, since Windows is famous for many security holes.


NOTE:  you can also setup your PC to receive automatic updates, but I choose to deselect that (To turn on or off automatic updates, goto Control Panel/System/Automatic Updates tab)

Method 1 - Automated

Search Your System and recommend updates that are not Installed (then the updates will be automatically installed and the Install files will not be saved anywhere for later re-installation:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com


Method 2 - Manual (saves the installs to your hard drive)

Save the Install files to your hard drive.  This is perfect to add all the updates to another PC - or to reinstall all the updates if you ever need to do a clean reinstall of Windows.  This site works for all versions of Windows:

1)  goto http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/default.asp
2)  click "Find updates for Microsoft Windows operating systems"   or  "Find Driver updates for Hardware Devices"
3)  select your Version of Windows and click "Search"
4)  click the category - such as "Critical Updates and Service Packs"
5)  in the list of updates, click "Add" for each one you want to download - this adds them to your "Basket" (Caution - this will add many Megabytes to the basket - so you may want to add only a portion at a time - and then download more later
6)  click "Go to Download Basket"