Windows 8 : Automatic Updates as Security - Managing Updates (part 2) - Changing how updates work, Reviewing and removing updates

Changing how updates work

You can modify times when updates of Windows are downloaded with your computer. For example, which if your computer is not turned above and on line at 3:00 during the morning? Will you miss on something important? At all. For a thing, there is no time on updates. After an update is announced, it remains announced for always. Thus you can download it and install constantly.

To change how automatic updating works, use the following steps:

1. In the left column of the Windows Update page, click Change Settings. The Choose Your Windows Update Settings page appears.

2. Click Updates Will Be Automatically Installed During the Maintenance Windows link to see when automatic updates are downloaded. Figure 2 shows the preferred (and most secure) time, which has Windows checking for critical updates daily at 3:00 a.m.

FIGURE 2 Windows Updates automatically runs at a specific time.

3. Use the Run Maintenance Tasks Daily At drop-down list to select a different update time.

If your computer isn’t on and online at 3:00 a.m:

• Your computer will check for updates and download them in the background as soon as you do go online. (“In the background” means “without interfering with whatever you want to do yourself.”)
• If you shut down the computer before the scheduled time, Windows will offer to check for updates before you shut down. So, you don’t have to worry about missing out on anything important.
• You also can click the Allow Scheduled Maintenance To Wake Up My Computer If It Is Plugged In At The Scheduled Time option, which will turn on your computer and download the updates automatically.
• Of course, you’re free to choose a different schedule if you prefer, such as weekly at noon. But daily at 3:00 a.m. is fine.

4. Click OK after you make changes to the Automatic Maintenance options and to return to the Change Settings screen.

On the Change Settings windows, you can modify the types of updates that are downloaded. As an alternative to fully automatic updates, you can choose one of the other options shown on the Important Updates drop-down list. For example, you can:

• Have Windows download the updates but ask your permission before actually installing them.
• Alert you to available updates. You can then choose whether you want to download or install them.
• Choose to turn off automatic updating altogether. If you choose that option, the only way to get updates is to click Check For Updates at the left side of the Windows Update page.

By default, important and recommended updates are downloaded and installed. An important update is one that’s needed to protect your computer against current Internet threats. Choosing Give Me Recommended Updates The Same Way I Receive Important Updates on the Change Settings screen extends that to less-critical updates that aren’t directly related to security. Recommended updates are usually things such as minor bug fixes or improvements to Windows and other Microsoft products.

Click OK after making any changes to your settings, or click Cancel to leave all settings in their original state.

Reviewing and removing updates

The fact that well over 200,000 hardware and software products are available for Windows means that once in a while an update could cause problems with a particular device or program. Typically, you fix that problem by going to the product manufacturer’s website and finding out what it recommends. If the manufacturer hasn’t fixed the problem yet, and you need immediate access to the device or program, you might want to temporarily remove the conflicting update, especially if it isn’t a critical security update.

To review your history of installed updates, follow these steps: