Microsoft KB Archive/294386

= A Description of the Automatic Updates Feature =

Q294386

Formal product support for Microsoft Windows XP will be available from Microsoft beginning October 25, 2001. Until then, you can consult with your counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) by using our online newsgroups. Access to the Microsoft newsgroups is available from the following Microsoft Web site: "http://communities.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.asp"

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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SUMMARY
This article describes the Automatic Updates feature.

MORE INFORMATION
The Automatic Updates feature can automatically deliver to your computer the critical updates that are available on the Windows Update Web site by means of your Internet connection. If an Internet connection does not exist, you are unable to use this feature.

This feature is designed to check for updates every 24 hours. If updates are not available, this feature is reset, and then it checks again in 24 hours for any new updates after the Internet connection is established. If a download operation is interrupted, this feature resumes at a later time when the Internet connection is re-established.

This feature can be configured by using the Automatic Updates tab in the System Properties dialog box. To access the System Properties dialog box, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

On the Automatic Updates tab, you can click one of the following three settings:


 * Download the updates automatically and notify me when they are ready to be installed.
 * Notify me before downloading any updates and notify me again before installing them on my computer.
 * Turn off Automatic updating. I will update my computer manually.

The default setting is: Download the updates automatically and notify me when they are ready to be installed.

The first time that you run the Automatic Updates feature, a small icon that resembles a globe is displayed on the right side of the taskbar. If you click this icon, a wizard starts and prompts you to read and accept the End User License Agreement. When you accept this agreement, the Automatic Updates feature is activated.

NOTE: If you do not accept the End User License Agreement, you must connect to the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site to manually install the critical updates: "http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com" When the update package is ready to be installed, an image that resembles a balloon is displayed above the right side of the taskbar. If you click this balloon image or if you click the Automatic Updates icon, a dialog box may be displayed that contains the following three buttons:
 * Details: Provides a description of the packages that are available.
 * Remind Me Later: It enables you to install the downloaded package at a later time.
 * Install: Immediately installs the packages.

After you install the packages, you may be prompted to restart your computer. Additional query words:

Keywords : kbtool

Issue type : kbinfo

Technology : kbWinXPProSearch kbWinXPHomeSearch kbWinXPSearch

Last Reviewed: September 5, 2001

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