Changing Windows Update To Microsoft Update in Windows XP
(Originally Posted May 9, 2008)
Nobody writes perfect software and programs are constantly being updated an patched to fix security vulnerabilities. One of the most essential ways to harden you computer against attacks such as malware is to make sure that the software on your computer is up to date. All modern operating systems offer mechanisms for updating themselves. Windows uses Windows Updated to automatically search for new updates and install them. Due to the explosion of spyware, virus, trojans, and all kinds of malicious junk it is very important to stay current with all the critical security patches.
While Windows Update does a decent job patching your operating system, windows is not the only software that needs to be patched. While third party programs such as iTunes and Adobe reader have their own update program, Other software from Microsoft, such as Microsoft Office, can use Windows Update. Except you have to change Windows Update to Microsoft Update.
Step by Step Installation of Microsoft Update
The first step to turning on Microsoft update is to run the windows update tool. I did this by selecting Windows Update from the Start menu. If it is not on your start menu you can also find it by selecting “Run” from the start menu and typing in “wupdmgr.exe”.
Once you have Windows Update open, click on the “Upgrade to Microsoft Update…” link on the right hand side of the page.
Next hit the “Start Now” button, pretty self explanatory.
In the next step, you are instructed to read the license agreement. Once again you can just click the button and proceed.
At this point you may be prompted to install the ActiveX Control to run Microsoft Update. Click on the yellow bar at the top of the page and select “Install ActiveX Control”.
From there the only thing left to do is to push the “Install” button to confirm the installation of Microsoft Update.
Congratulations you are done. Also, make sure that Automatic Updates is set to on so that you get updates as they come out.
