E-mail :: 
Print
Many computers connected to the internet are not kept up to date. Charter’s support website recommends running windows update as an important part of the three-step process for protecting yourself from risks on the internet.
Step 1: Install a personal Firewall
Step 2: Download Critical Updates
Step 3: Use up-to-date antivirus software.
Computers that are not updated regularly are more at risk of being affected by a virus, worm, or exploit.
Running Windows Update
- After opening your browser (for example Internet Explorer or Firefox) navigate to http://www.windowsupdate.com/
The Microsoft webpage will determine your Operating System and will start to check for Updates.
- The images shown below are for a computer with Windows XP, if you are running another version of Windows, the screen choices change accordingly.
- In the center of the page, select Scan for updates.
- The website will display the progress of the update scan.
- You will then be given the option to review updates that Windows wants to install. Select Review and Install Updates.
- You will be shown a list of critical updates. Scan to determine which updates you wish to install, and select install now.
- You will be asked to review and accept the licensing agreement. Please read and then select Accept.
- You should see a dialog box displaying the download and installation progress for your updates.
Note: At this point Windows may say that one of the updates has to be installed alone. This means that if there are 37 updates to install, only 1 will install the first time and then you will have to rerun it and install the rest. When you are done installing the patches you will probably be asked to restart your computer. Restart it at this point. If you get a message that not all of the updates were installed then go back to the top and start again. This will happen when there are a lot of updates to install and some must be installed before others. Operating systems like Windows XP should prompt you to download new updates as they become available from Microsoft. You can finds technical support for Microsoft products at http://support.microsoft.com.
If you have any issues or questions while running Windows Update, your computer manufacturer is a great resource. If your computer is out-of-support, or wasn’t built by a retailer that provides technical support, the Microsoft Windows support line can also be a valuable asset to the update process. Microsoft support can be reached at (800) 936-5700. This is a fee-based service.
Windows Update must be performed on a periodic basis as product updates are produced when a security vulnerability or product enhancement is delivered. The first time Windows Update is run, it may take as long as an hour, if you have not used any of the automatic update functions within your version of Windows. After the first run of updates, keeping your operating system current will not take much time. It is a good idea to run Windows Update on a weekly or biweekly basis.
You only need to install the updates that are shown as being critical updates and service packs
back to top »
Please visit Charter Internet Help for continuing assistance with your account.