Windows 2000 Administration in a Nutshell

Name

Windows Update

Synopsis

Updates your computer with new Windows system files and device drivers.

To Launch

• Start → Windows Update

• Start → Settings → Add/Remove Programs → Add New Programs → Windows Update

• Internet Explorer → Address bar → http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

• Command interpreter → wupdmgr.exe

Description

Windows Update makes sure you always have the latest versions of Windows 2000 system files and device drivers. You must have an Internet connection in order to use it though, because Windows Update simply connects to the http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com web site and runs ActiveX controls for updating your system.

The first time you use this feature, go to the Product Updates page and select Yes when prompted to install the required ActiveX controls such as Microsoft Active Setup. Then follow the instructions posted on the site to update your system.

Notes

The http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com site now has a Critical Update Notification control you can install on your computer. If you install this control, each time you connect to the Internet the control will check with http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com to see if any critical system-update files have been posted that you should install.