How to change your Automatic Updates settings by using Windows Security Center

Windows Security Center is the centralized location in Windows XP Service Pack 2 where users can learn about security and can perform security-related tasks. Security Center monitors the status of three major security functions: the firewall, Automatic Updates, and virus detection. If Security Center detects a problem with any one of these, it displays an icon and balloon message in the notification area.

By default, Windows checks to make sure that Automatic Updates is set to download and install security and other important updates to your computer automatically. If Automatic Updates is turned off, or if Automatic Updates is not set to the highest setting, Security Center provides recommendations to turn on or to adjust Automatic Updates.

To change your Automatic Updates setting, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type wscui.cpl, and then click OK.
2. Click Automatic Updates.
3. The following options are available:
   • Automatic (recommended)
     This option lets you select the day and the time that updates are automatically downloaded and installed. This can be every day, or it can be on a specific day and time.
   • Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them
     This option automatically downloads updates, but requires user interaction to install them.
   • Notify me but don't automatically download or install them
     This option notifies you that there are updates available. It requires user interaction to download them and install them.
   • Turn off Automatic Updates
     This option disables Automatic Updates. It provides a link to the Windows Update Web site where you can manually select, download, and install updates.