Windows update

[Tracy]

Hi all,

My son's computer hasn't been updated for a long time.
When he ran a scan today many files in both critical
updates & service packs and Windows XP showed up. But
when he clicked the critical updates all files said "this
item has been selected" and the only option was
to "remove" them.

He had "Notify me before downloading any updates and
notify me again before installing them on my computer"
checked, but, unlike mine, has never received an
automatic update notification when he logged on. He is in
college having T1 connection. Notebook is a P-3,
purchased June/02. I am unsure which Window XP he is
using (it came with his Toshiba notebook). Wording in
Automatic Updates under System Properties is different
from mine. There was no "keep my computer up to
date...." option on his.

Please help regarding these issues.
Thank you all in advance.

 

[Roger Abell]

The differences may be due to his machine not yet
having service pack 1 installed.
Advise him to turn on the built-in firewall, or instead
his third-party firewall if any, and then to visit WU
and start letting his machine get updated.
Criticals are always pre-selected (and should be
downloaded and installed).
If he has been running with the system that far out
of date on service it would be good to scan the machine
with a couple quality anti-virus and malware detectors.

 

[Tracy]

Thank you for your help. He's downloaded service pack
one last night and installed it. We are both running
TrendMicro's Pc-cillin 2004 and have person firewall
enabled.

I noticed the only critical update I need also has the
same message and remove was the only option. I don't
understand why I would need updates (there were 12
updates for my computer in Windows which could be the
ones I declined to install previously) since my computer
prompt me whenever I get online.

Thank you again for any help you can give me.
Tracy

 

[Roger Abell]

Criticals are alway pre-selected.
Keep watch on what WU is recommending.
WU has something of a history of sometimes loosing
track due to corruption in its database, or due to loss
of sync after a restore point is used.
If you see that it is the same critical update time after
time, then WU troubleshooter page can help get it all
straightened out.

 

[Tracy]

Thank you again. When he comes home for winter break we
will try to get his computer updated.