Why Update Windows - keep up with critical security updates, patches, and driver updates.

* Microsoft to discontinue support for Win98 & ME

Try Microsoft Update Today - Now you can get updates for Windows, Office and other Microsoft applications all in one place. Microsoft Update is a new service that brings you all the features and benefits of Windows Update plus downloads for other Microsoft applications including Office.

• Why Update Windows

• Microsoft's Free AntiSpyware

• Eligibility for In-Place Upgrade from other Window Operating Systems

• How to Check for the Version of MS Operating System - Office

• Microsoft Office Updates - Office 97/98, ME, 2000, 2003, XP

• Microsoft Internet Explorer & Outlook Express

• Installing Windows XP

• Using Windows XP Professional

• Windows XP Professional How-to Articles

• Windows Annoyances

• Other Computer, Hardware and Device Driver Update Links

• Other Troubleshooting XP sites

Why Update Windows

Importance of Keeping Windows Updated

This Applies to MS Operating Systems 98-XP, however you need to visit Microsoft Office Updates for updates to Office 97-XP

It is paramount for protection and security to stay current with updates for all software installed.

Microsoft regularly issues patches or updates to solve security problems in their software. The critical updates are the ones you should be concerned about. If these are not applied, it leaves your computer vulnerable to hackers. Service Packs are larger updates which upgrade and fix security problems.

The Windows Update feature built into Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP can check your PC against a common database of patches. You go to a Microsoft web site and your operating system is checked against critical updates and a suggested list shows for your PC so that you may download and install these.  You should do this periodically.

More recent versions of windows have an Automatic Update feature.  This is available in Windows 2000, ME, and XP.  If you turn on this feature, your PC will check for, download and install critical updates.  This eliminates the need for you to periodically check for updates.

Do not forget to update Internet Explorer & Outlook Express

Check for and apply critical updates to Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP

1. First check in the Start Menu for a Windows Update icon and it will take you to the Windows Update website

2. If is not available then go to www.windowsupdate.com and this will automatically detect your operating system. 

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3. Next, click Scan for updates and it will scan your computer for updates. The main updates that should be checked are the critical and the security updates.

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Pick and Install Critical Updates

1. Click on the Critical Updates (1) section on left so that a suggested list of updates for your operating system is displayed.

2. A list of Recommended Updates appears for your computer. Click on the Add (2) button. Sometimes, you may only be able to choose one or two critical updates at a time.

3. To begin the download and installation of the critical updates, click on the Review and install updates link. You may be asked to click on various boxes to agree to Microsoft licensing. Click the boxes until the update is downloaded and applied to your computer.

You may have you to restart your computer after the download. REPEAT as needed so that there are no more critical updates.

How to Setup Windows Automatic Update for Me, 2000 and XP

Windows Automatic Update feature is available in with Windows 2000, ME, and XP. This is a tool that will automatically check for any new Critical updates that your computer needs and install them at a designated time.

There are several ways that updates and downloads can be applied, but we recommend the last setting so that your computer is kept up to date.

Steps:

In Windows ME: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Automatic Updates

In Windows 2000: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Automatic Updates

In Windows XP: Start > Settings > Control Panel > System > Automatic Updates

• Click on the checkbox to Keep my computer up to date.
   

• Under settings, choose the last choice, Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify. Pick a time between 11 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
   

• Click on OK.

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Windows 98 * - Install Critical Update Notification Feature

Although Windows 98 cannot install the updates automatically at a specified time, there is a Critical Update Notification which can tell you that you need to install updates. You must first install the capability to get the critical update notification

You can install Windows Critical Update Notification by using the Windows Update Web Site:

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1. Visit the following Microsoft Web site: www.windowsupdate.com

2. Click Scan for updates.

3. Under Pick updates to install, click Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition.

4. Click Add to select the Windows Critical Update Notification recommended update, and then click Review and install updates.

5. Click Install Now.

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Windows 98 * - To Install New Updates

If you’ve installed the Critical Update Notification feature, when new updates are available and are downloaded, you'll see this little icon in your system tray with this message that new updates are ready to install.

Click on the icon and you'll see this. You can choose to install it right away or if you want to check out what you are installing, click on "Details".

Now that you know what you're about install, you can click "Install".

You will see a list of updates that will be installed, click on Install.

You'll see this "Installation in Progress" message.

Once the installation is finished, you'll likely be asked to reboot your computer. Save your work and click "Yes" to reboot.

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Below is an example of Microsoft's Windows Update History of my system.  Please read the Note:

Installation History

Keep track of what you've installed from Windows Update. To sort by status, date, description, or source, click the column headers.

The items listed on this page reflect only the actions you've performed on Windows Update. If you have subsequently restored your computer, or reinstalled or uninstalled programs, some items listed here might no longer be installed on your computer.  This list is only a sample and not the entire list of updates.

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Eligibility for In-Place Upgrade

*If you have a version of the Windows server operating system, check out the Windows Server 2003 Family. The server operating systems are not eligible for upgrade to Windows XP.

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Windows 98 and Window Millennium Edition (ME)

Windows 98 and Window Millennium Edition (ME) have been continuing to receive updates from Microsoft via Windows Update, though Windows 2000, Windows XP (2002), Windows Server 2003 have all been released, and users encouraged to upgrade. More than 70 million people have resisted the call to upgrade and are still using the older releases of Windows.

No longer! After July 11, 2006, users of W98 and ME will have to fend for themselves, and Microsoft will no longer be releasing updates for those two operating systems. Microsoft had originally intended to "end-of-life" W98 and ME in January 2004, but then extended the dealing to allow users — primarily business users — time to upgrade older systems to newer releases of Windows. About two-thirds of the users are running the older Windows 98, with fewer than 25 million reportedly running the newer but less-well-received Windows ME.

Users running these older releases are encouraged to run one final Windows Update on or before July 11 to make sure that they get the latest patches there are, but I suspect that many — perhaps most — of these users don't even realize that Windows Update is still an option for them. They have a system that "just works," and either the hardware is ill-equipped to handle newer and more-demanding operating systems, or they cannot afford the upgrade cost, or they don't see the additional cost as worthwhile. These systems will run until they simply cannot run any more.

Many people — including this writer — see Windows 98 and Windows 2000 as the peak of Microsoft's operating system development, while Windows ME was awful. There are many excellent new features in XP and W2003, but I find them uncompelling, and I'm disappointed by many of the other changes that come along with them. Fortunately, support for Windows 2000 is continuing, and perhaps some of the now-abandoned W98 and ME systems will upgrade that far.

Someday support for Windows 2000 will end, and many more users will face the choice these users are facing now. As Microsoft faces continuing delays and negative coverage of their forthcoming "Vista" operating system, and as users realize that most hardware shipping today will be inadequate to the task of running the upgrade well, Microsoft may face a far larger group of users unwilling or unable to upgrade from older systems.

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Other Troubleshooting XP sites

Kelly's Korner Windows XP 

Windows 98

http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/

98-Support

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;w98

Windows ME

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsme/

Windows ME - Support

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsme/support/default.asp

Windows NT

http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/default.asp

2000 Home Page

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/

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Windows XP Professional How-to Articles for IT Pros

Windows XP Professional How-to Articles for Small Business