Information about Windows Update

This article describes the Windows Update Control Panel. For earlier, web-based versions of Windows Update, see Microsoft Update.

Windows Update is a Control Panel applet found in recent versions of Microsoft Windows that provides updates for the operating system and related components, such as definition updates to the Windows Defender antispyware product and Junk Mail filter updates for Windows Mail. Windows Update is also the means to download Windows Ultimate Extras, optional content offered to users of Windows Vista Ultimate.

Microsoft Update is an optional feature in Windows Update that provides updates not only for the operating system, but also certain Microsoft software.

History

In older versions of Windows, Microsoft Update was a web application. The move away from the web-based paradigm for Windows Update could alleviate the concerns by critics regarding the ability of a web browser to perform trusted update operations on a Windows computer.

A common irritation for Microsoft Update users was that updates requiring a reboot would pop up a dialog box requesting that the user reboot their machine every 10 minutes.^[1] This dialog box would also typically be displayed on top of whatever other applications the user was working with at the time. While Windows Update will still require reboots for certain classes of updates, this dialog box was changed to allow the user to select a longer period of time (up to 4 hours) before being prompted again. The revised dialog box also displays under other applications, instead of on top of them.

Windows Update can automatically download and install both Important and Recommended updates. Updating occurs in the background, and flexible options are provided for completing the updating process. If an update requires a restart to complete installation, the update can be scheduled for a specific time. You can also postpone a previously scheduled restart until your current work is complete. If a software update applies to a file in use, Windows Update can save the application's data, close the application, update the file, and then restart the application.

Windows Update also makes use of Transactional NTFS, a new file system feature in recent versions of Windows, when performing updates to Windows system files. This feature helps Windows recover cleanly in the event of an unexpected shut-down during an update, as the trans-actioning system will ensure that changes are committed to the file system in an atomic fashion.^[2]

Alternatives

Prior to Windows Vista, Windows Update must be run from Microsoft's own Internet Explorer. However with an official ActiveX plugin from Microsoft, Windows Update can be used from Mozilla Firefox.

WindizUpdate, which can update through Mozilla Firefox, Netscape Navigator, and Opera, is another alternative.

See also

• Microsoft Update

References

External links

• Windows Update
• Latest Computer Security Updates: Summary - Microsoft Security / RSS
• Microsoft Technical Security Notifications

•  • [ e] Windows Components
Components:	Aero • DWM • Windows Explorer • Taskbar • Start menu • Windows Shell (Shell namespace) • Special Folders • Windows Search • Saved search • Graphics Device Interface • DirectX • DEP • BitLocker • .NET Framework
Windows Applications:	Mail • Contacts • Calendar • Fax and Scan • Meeting Space • Paint • WordPad • Sound Recorder • Snipping Tool • Photo Gallery • Movie Maker • DVD Maker • Internet Explorer • WMP • Media Center • Defender • Sidebar • Control Panel (Applets) • Security Center • WinSAT • System Restore • Disk Defragmenter • Windows Update • Calculator • Character Map • Notepad • Narrator • Remote Assistance • Task Manager • Disk Cleanup • PowerShell • Cmd.exe • Windows Installer • Management Console
Kernel and core components:	Ntoskrnl.exe • hal.dll • System idle process • Svchost.exe • Registry • Windows service • WOW/WOW64 • DLL • NTLDR/Boot Manager • Winlogon • Recovery Console
Services:	Alerter • BITS • Task Scheduler • Wireless Zero Configuration • Shadow Copy
File systems:	NTFS (Junction point • Symbolic link • TxF • EFS) • FAT32 • FAT • exFAT • CDFS • UDF • DFS
Server components:	Active Directory • Group policy • Domains • Windows Media Services • Rights Management Services • IIS
Architecture:	NT series architecture • Ob • Startup process (Vista) • I/O RP • KTM
Games:	3D Pinball: Space Cadet • Chess Titans • FreeCell • Hearts • InkBall • Mahjong Titans • Minesweeper • Purble Place • Solitaire • Spider Solitaire
PowerToys:	TweakUI • SyncToy • PowerCalc