Windows Update

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Automatic Updates)
Jump to: navigation, search
Windows Update interface in Windows Vista
Windows Update interface in Windows Vista

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.

Contents

Windows Update version 3 in Windows 98
Windows Update version 3 in Windows 98

The Windows Update site was first introduced with the launch of Windows 98. Since then the site has gone through several revisions. In 2002, Microsoft released Software Update Services, a server component that could be installed on Windows 2000 Server systems to enable downloading and distribution of security patches for an entire company through a central server. Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 included BITS to facilitate a new client-side component first seen in Windows Me called Automatic Updates, making it possible to download and install security updates in the background.

Windows Update in Windows ME
Windows Update in Windows ME

In late 2004, Microsoft released Windows Update 5 for Windows XP, which includes Service Pack 2 and several major changes to the update application. Users without broadband access can order a CD of XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) from the Microsoft website; while the CD was at one time completely free of charge, as of July 2006 there is a small charge for shipping (the packaging encourages sharing the CD with other users of Windows XP). After installing SP2, one should then go to the Microsoft website to check for newer updates—dozens have been released since SP2.

In 2005, Microsoft introduced the first beta of the optional Microsoft Update, delivering updates for supported operating systems, plus Microsoft Office (Office XP and Office 2003 all-user installations only), Exchange and SQL Server, in response to customer requests for an easier way to check for and obtain all the applicable Microsoft product updates for a particular system[citation needed]. Over time, the list has expanded to include other Microsoft products, such as Windows Defender and Virtual Server.

In Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, the web site is no longer used to provide a user interface for selecting and downloading updates. It has been replaced with a Windows Update control panel that provides similar functionality.

Revised Restart dialog box in Windows Vista
Revised Restart dialog box in Windows Vista

Updates requiring a reboot would pop up a dialog box requesting that the user reboot their machine every number of specified minutes.[1] 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 file system feature introduced with Windows Vista, 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]

  1. ^ Jeff Atwood (2005-05-13). XP Automatic Update Nagging. Coding Horror: .NET And Human Factors. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.
  2. ^ NTFS Beta Chat Transcript. The Filing Cabinet. TechNet Blogs (2006-07-12). Retrieved on 2006-09-22.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Update"
Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.