Windows Update Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Windows Update?
Windows Update is the online extension of Windows designed to help your computer continue to work better and run better. Windows Update has a central catalog called Product Updates that includes new product enhancements such as system files, device drivers, service packs, and new Windows features. These enhancements will be recommended to you based on what is needed for your specific computer.
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What are Product Updates?
The Product Updates page is a catalog of fixes, updates, and enhancements to Windows and many programs that work with Windows. The catalog allows you to "shop" for components that will make your computer work better. You can browse through the catalog, select as many components as you would like, and download and install them straight from the Web to your computer.
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How do I install components from the Windows Update product catalog?
For instructions on installing a component from the Windows Update catalog, please click the "Read this first" link located under the mini-description of the specific component.
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What is the best resolution for viewing the Windows Update site?
The Web pages on the Windows Update site were designed to be viewed at a 800 by 600 or higher screen resolution. To set this resolution, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Then double-click the Display icon, and click the Settings tab.
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Why do I get a message every time I go to the product catalog asking me if it can check my computer for installed components?
Each time you go to the Product Updates catalog, we download a control (ActiveX)
that checks for updates specific to your computer. This check is done locally on
your computer to help protect the privacy and security of your data, and does
not send any information to Microsoft.
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What is an ActiveX Control?
ActiveX Controls are reusable software components that incorporate ActiveX technology. These components can be used to add specialized functionality, such as animation or pop-up menus, to Web pages, desktop applications, and software development tools. Windows Update uses ActiveX controls to check what software is installed on your computer in order to provide you with a correct list of updates and other software you may want to download.
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Why can't I use the left navigation bar while I am downloading a component?
This is to ensure that your download happens successfully. When the download is complete, the navigation bar is re-enabled.
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Why can't I download Updates from the Windows Update Web site and save them to disk so I can install them later or on another computer?
The decision to combine component download and installation on the Windows Update site was driven by the desire to create a seamless, hands-free update process for home users. However, we agree that there is a need to be able to download files without installing, so that they can be installed at a later date or redistributed within an organization. To address this issue, we have created the Windows Update Corporate site, geared towards IT Managers and other users who need access to downloadable and redistributable components.
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If I re-install my operating system, do I need to re-install the components I have downloaded from Windows Update?
Yes. If you reinstall Windows, you will need to re-install any components you had previously downloaded from http://Windowsupdate.Microsoft.com.
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