Windows Vista® Step by Step Deluxe Edition

Quick Reference

1 Getting Started with Windows Vista

To activate Windows manually

1. In Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and then click System.

2. In the System window, in the Windows activation area, click Activate Windows now.

3. In the Windows Activation dialog box, click Activate Windows online now. Then after Windows verifies that your copy of Windows is genuine, click Close.

To automatically download and install critical updates

1. In Control Panel, click Security, and then click Windows Update.

2. In the left pane, click the Change settings task. Then select the Install updates automatically option, if it is not already selected.

3. In the second Install new updates list, select a time at which your computer will usually be on and online. If you want ...