Automatic Updates Check

Issue

Automatic Updates can keep your computer up-to-date automatically with the latest updates from Microsoft by delivering them directly to your computer from the Microsoft Update site, Windows Update site, or from a local Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server if you are in a managed environment). MBSA will warn users if Automatic Updates is not enabled on the scanned computer, or if it is enabled but is not configured to automatically download and install updates. Automatic Updates is available on Windows® 2000 SP3 computers and higher.

The Automatic Updates control panel settings have been enhanced in Windows XP Service Pack 2, and the steps used to configure the feature have changed from those steps documented in MBSA for prior Windows versions. These enhancements also appear in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 and above for computers that have automatically updated from Windows Update to obtain the latest Automatic Updates client version.

Solution

Enable and configure Automatic Updates to automatically download and install the latest updates from Microsoft. For more information on Automatic Updates settings, please refer to the Knowledge Base article on scheduling Automatic Updates in Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows Server 2003.

Instructions

You must be logged on as a computer administrator to complete this procedure.

1. Open System, and then click the Automatic Updates tab.
   

   – or –

   If you are running Windows 2000, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Automatic Updates.

2. Click Automatic (recommended).
3. Under Automatically download recommended updates for my computer and install them, select the day and time you want Windows to install updates.

Notes

• To open System, click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.

• Automatic Updates provides high-priority updates, which include security and other critical updates that can help protect your computer. It's a good idea to visit the Windows Update Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/) on a regular basis to get optional updates, such as recommended software and hardware updates, that can help improve your computer's performance.

Additional Information

How to: Schedule Automatic Updates in Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows Server 2003

Description of the Automatic Updates Feature in Windows

Windows Server Update Services Deployment White Paper

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