Updating Windows System Files

When you first upgrade to Windows Vista or purchase a computer with Windows Vista already installed, the operating system files installed on your computer are the ones available to the manufacturer when your installation media or computer was manufactured. Over time, Microsoft will undoubtedly release Windows Vista updates, either to provide additional functionality or to protect your computer from new security threats. It's important to install these updates as soon as possible after they're released.

Microsoft Windows Update is a utility that scans your computer, confers with the Microsoft Update online database, and recommends or installs any updates that are available for your operating system, your software programs, or your hardware. Quite apart from knowing that you have the "latest and greatest," by using Windows Update, you can be sure that your computer is updated whenever necessary. You can access the Microsoft Update site at windowsupdate.microsoft.com, as well as from the Start menu, Control Panel, and Windows Help And Support.

During the update process, Windows Update collects the version numbers of your operating system, Web browser, and other installed software, as well as information about the hardware devices that are connected to your computer. It then compiles a list of updates that are available for your system. Updates are classified as follows:

• Critical updates are selected for installation by default. If you do not want to install a critical update, you can remove it from your list of selections.

• Optional updates are listed, but you must select the ones you want to install.

When the update process is complete, the version and ID information that was collected from your computer is discarded.

During the Windows Vista installation process, you are asked to indicate whether you want Windows to automatically update your system as updates become available on the Windows Update site. Automatic updating is very convenient if you don't want to bear the responsibility of remembering to manually update your system, or if you want to be sure you have updates as soon as they become available.

If you chose not to update automatically when Windows Vista was installed, you can change your selected update option at any time through Control Panel. The options are to have Windows Vista do one of the following:

• Download and install updates automatically.

• Download updates and notify you when they are ready to be installed.

• Simply notify you when an update is available.

In this exercise, you will check your update settings, install any available updates, and make sure your computer is set to automatically install any available critical updates. There are no practice files for this exercise.

1.	Click the Start button. Then on the Start menu, click Control Panel. Start
2.	In the Control Panel window, click Security, and then click Windows Update. See Also For information about other Windows Vista security features, see Chapter 10, "Managing Computer Security." Windows Update displays information about your computer's update history and settings. Depending on the edition of Windows Vista installed on your computer, additional information about Windows components might also be shown here. [View full size image]
3.	If a View available updates link appears in the update status box, click it. (Otherwise, skip to Step 6.) Then in the list of available updates, select the check box for any update you want to install. [View full size image] The Windows security icon on the Install button indicates that administrator permission is required to use that command.
4.	Click Install. In the User Account Control dialog box, if you are logged on as an administrator, click Continue. Otherwise, enter an administrator password and then click OK. A progress bar in the Windows Update window reports on the update activities as Windows downloads the selected update(s), creates a restore point, and then installs each update. After installing the selected update(s), Windows Vista might prompt you to restart your computer. This is an indication that Windows is currently using some of the system files that need to be updated.
5.	If Windows Vista prompts you to restart your computer, close any open files, and then click Restart now. After your computer restarts, log on and then repeat Steps 1 and 2 to return to Windows Update.
6.	In the left pane, click the Change settings task. The Change Settings window opens. You can change the frequency, time, type, and scope of automatic updates. [View full size image] Microsoft recommends that you automatically install updates each day at 3:00 A.M. An obvious problem with this setting is that your computer might not be on in the middle of the night. You can change the update time and frequency by selecting from the lists.
7.	If the Install updates automatically option is not already selected, select it now.
8.	In the second Install new updates list, select a time at which your computer will usually be on and online. It's best to select a time outside your core work hourssay at the beginning or end of your workdaywhen connecting to the Internet and installing updates won't impact your ability to work by monopolizing your computer's resources. Tip If you prefer to have more control over the update process but still enjoy the benefit of automatic updates, select the Download Updates But Let Me Choose Whether To Install Them option. Windows Vista will then download available updates to your computer and displays a security icon in the notification area. You can click the icon to review and approve or reject the installation of each update.
9.	With the Include recommended updates and Use Microsoft Update check boxes selected, click OK. In the User Account Control dialog box, if you are logged on as an administrator, click Continue. Otherwise, enter an administrator password, and then click OK. Windows Update displays your selected settings.

Switching Quickly Among Users Fast User Switching makes it possible for multiple people to be logged on to their user accounts on a single computer at the same time. For example, if you want to read your e-mail or access a file stored in your Documents folder, but another person has been working on the computer you want to use, you can log on to your account without requiring that the other person close the programs and files she or he is working with. Fast User Switching was an optional feature in Windows XP but is always on in Windows Vista. To log on to your user account while another account is active: 1. On the Start menu, click the Shut Down Options button, and click Switch User. The Welcome screen appears. 2. Click the user account you want to log on to, and enter the password if one is required. Multiple user accounts can be logged on to a computer at one time without interfering with the activities of each other. If you want files to be available to all user accounts, store them in the Public folders rather than the folders within your user profile.