Windows Vista Update, as shown in Figure 1.1, is a utility that connects to Microsoft’s website and checks to ensure that you have the most up-to-date version of Microsoft products.


FIGURE 1 . 1 Windows Vista Update
Some of the common update categories associated with Windows Vista Update are as follows:

• Critical updates

• Service packs

• Drivers

Follow these steps to configure Windows Vista Update:

1. Select Start > Control Panel.

• From Windows Classic View, select Windows Vista Update.

• From Windows Category View, select System and Maintenance > Windows Vista Update.

2. Configure the options you want to use for Windows Vista Update, and click OK.
The options you can access from Windows Vista Update include the following:

• Check for Updates

• Change Settings

• View Update History

• Restore Hidden Updates

• Updates: Frequently Asked Questions

• Learn About Windows Ultimate Extras

• Security Center

• Installed Updates

• Get Updates for More Products

Check for Updates
When you click Check for Updates, Windows Vista Update will retrieve a list of available updates from the Internet. You can then click View Available Updates to see what updates are available. Updates are marked as Important, Recommended, or Optional. Figure 1.2 shows a sample list of updates.

Change Settings
Clicking Change Settings allows you to customize how Windows can install updates. You can configure the following options:

• The frequency and time that updates will be downloaded to your computer.


FIGURE 1 . 2 Windows Vista Update sample list of updates

• Whether updates will be downloaded and if you want to choose to install them

• Whether you want to be notified that updates are available, but not to download or install them

• Disable checking for updates

Figure 1.3 shows the settings that can be configured for Windows Vista Update.


FIGURE 1 . 3 Windows Vista Update, Change Settings


View Update History
View Update History, as shown in Figure 1.4, is used to view a list of all of the installations that have been performed on the computer. You can see the following information for each installation:

• Update Name

• Status (Successful, Unsuccessful, or Canceled)

• Type (Important, Recommended, or Optional)

• Date Installed



FIGURE 1 . 4 Windows Vista Update, View Update History

Restore Hidden Updates
With Restore Hidden Updates you can list any updates that you have hidden from the list of available updates. An administrator might hide updates that they do not want users to install.

Update: Frequently Asked Questions
With Update: Frequently Asked Questions, you can launch Help and Support to answer frequently asked questions about Windows Vista Update.

Learn About Windows Ultimate Extras
Learn About Windows Ultimate Extras, as you might imagine, appears only in Windows Vista Ultimate, and it discusses those features that are available only with Windows Vista Ultimate.

Security Center
Clicking Security Center opens the Windows Security Center, which allows you to see the status of your firewall, automatic update settings, malware protection, and other security settings.

Installed Updates
Installed Updates allows you to see the updates that are installed and to uninstall or change them if necessary. The Installed Updates feature is a part of the Programs and Features applet in Control Panel, which allows you to uninstall, change, and repair programs.

Get Updates for More Products
Clicking this link will direct you to a website to download Microsoft Vista Update, which can be used not only to update Windows Vista but also to update other Microsoft products, such as Microsoft Office.