Windows Update. Windows Server Update Services settings How to find out which updates are installed in Windows

Any operating system, like software products, some time after installation should be updated. Updates are released for:

elimination in the security system;
ensuring compatibility with newly appeared computer components on the market;
program code optimization;
improve the performance of the entire system;

If the Center windows updates is enabled, and some software components of the system that are related to the operation of the update service need to be updated for its operation, these updates must be installed before checking, downloading and installing any other updates. These mandatory updates fix bugs, provide enhancements, and maintain compatibility with Microsoft servers that support the service. If the update service is disabled, you will not be able to receive updates for the operating system.

Updates are additions to software that prevent or fix problems and improve the performance of your computer. Security updates for Windows help protect against new and existing threats to your privacy and computer stability. The best way to get security updates is to turn on Windows Automatic Updates and stay up to date with the latest security issues and let the operating system take care of its own security. This article will focus specifically on Windows Update.

It is advisable to update your computer as often as possible. In this case, using Automatic Updates, the Windows operating system installs new updates as soon as they become available. Failure to install updates may expose your computer to a security risk or cause unwanted problems with Windows or programs. Every day, more and more new malware appears that uses Windows vulnerabilities and other software to damage and gain access to your computer and data. Updates to Windows and other software can fix vulnerabilities soon after they are discovered. Postponing the installation of updates may make your computer vulnerable to these threats.

Updates and software from Microsoft to Microsoft products are a free support offer, so you don't have to worry about being charged extra to keep your system secure. To find out if other software updates are free, contact the respective publisher or manufacturer. Downloading and installing updates for various programs may incur standard local or long distance charges depending on your Internet connection. telephone conversations, as well as fees for using the Internet. Because updates apply to Windows and the programs installed on the computer, regardless of who uses them, after the updates are installed, they will be available to all users of the computer.

All updates are divided into: important, recommended, optional and major. The following is a description of them:

Important updates provide significant security, privacy, and reliability benefits. They should be installed as soon as they become available and can be installed automatically using "Windows Update".
Recommended updates may fix minor issues or improve your computer experience. Although these updates are not intended to correct major deficiencies in the operation of your computer or Windows software, installing them can result in noticeable improvements. They can be installed automatically.
Optional updates include updates, drivers, or new Microsoft software that makes your computer more convenient to use. They can only be set manually.
Other updates include all updates that are not included in Important, Recommended, or Optional updates.

Depending on the type of update "Windows Update" the following possibilities are offered.

Security updates. These are open source fixes for vulnerabilities in certain products. Vulnerabilities vary in severity and are listed in the Microsoft Security Bulletin as Critical, Critical, Medium, or Low.
Critical updates. These are open source fixes for certain problems that are related to critical errors not related to security.
Update packages. Tested kits software tools, which includes hotfixes, security updates, critical and regular updates, and additional fixes for issues found during internal testing after the release of the product. Service packs may contain a small number of design changes or user-requested features.

Introduction to Windows Update

"Windows Update" can be opened in the following ways:

Click on the button "Start" to open the menu, open "Control Panel" and from the list of control panel components select "Windows Update";
Click on the button "Start" to open the menu, open "All programs" and select from the list "Windows Update";
Click on the button "Start" to open the menu, in the search field or type wuapp.exe and open the app in found results.

You can also create an icon and place it on your desktop. To do this, we will do the following:

On the desktop, right-click to display the context menu. V context menu choose a team "Create", and then "Label".
In field "Specify the location of the object" enter cmd /c wuapp.exe and press "Further";
Name the shortcut "Windows Update" and click on "Ready";
Go to the properties of the object and in the drop down list "Window" select "Collapsed into Icon";
Click on the button "Change icon" and in the field "Search for icons in the following file" enter %SystemRoot%\System32\wucltux.dll;
Click "OK".

The first screenshot shows the Windows Update dialog:

checking for updates

To check for updates, do the following:

As you can see in the previous screenshot, both important and optional updates can be displayed. If, with only optional updates available, the button "Install updates" is not displayed, you need to select an item "Optional updates: xx pcs. available" where xx is the number additional changes. Then press the button "OK". Important updates help improve the security of Windows and your entire computer and should be installed. Optional updates are most often updates to device drivers or programs that do not significantly affect their operation. You can install optional driver updates if they have new features (such as additional languages) or if existing drivers or programs are unstable.

You can specify how often to check for updates. With the help of the following tweak, you can specify the time interval in hours between searches available updates. The true wait time is determined by subtracting 0 to 20 percent from the specified time. For example, if this policy is set to discover at 20 hour intervals, then all clients to which this policy applies will check for updates at 16-20 hour intervals.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "DetectionFrequencyEnabled"=dword:00000001 "DetectionFrequency"=dword:00000014

Get updates for other Microsoft products

Along with operating system updates, you can also receive updates for other Microsoft programs, including updates for Microsoft office, and notifications about new Microsoft software. In order for the update center to inform about the appearance of updates for other programs, you need to do the following. In the left area "Windows Update" select "Settings". Then, in the Microsoft Update section, check the box next to "When I update Windows, provide updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software". If to receive updates automatically Windows already used "Microsoft Update", the update center will automatically open and display the update status.

In the event that the checkbox is unchecked, then the next time you start setting the parameters, this option will no longer be available. To make this option available, follow these steps:

After that, the option "When I update Windows, provide updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software" will appear back in the Windows Update settings settings.

Some programs, for example antivirus programs and detection software spyware, contain a link that allows you to check for updates while in the program itself, or they offer subscription services and notifications when new updates are available. We recommend that you first check for updates for security-related programs, as well as for the programs and devices you use most often.

Choosing how to install updates

Microsoft provides the user with a choice of how updates are installed. In the operating room Windows system 7, as well as in the Windows Vista operating system, there are four modes. To change how updates are installed, open "Windows Update", in the left area select "Settings" and in the dropdown dialog "Important updates" choose the method that suits you the most.

How to install updates:

Install updates automatically

In order for Windows to install important updates as they become available, you must turn on automatic updates. Important updates provide significant benefits, such as improved security and reliability. You can also set Windows to automatically install recommended updates to fix minor problems and make your computer more efficient. Optional updates are not downloaded or installed automatically.

If automatic updating is not enabled, you should regularly check for new updates.

If selected auto mode, updates are installed at 3:00 by default. If the computer is turned off at the scheduled time, you can install updates before turning it off. If your computer is in power-saving (sleep) mode at the scheduled time and is connected to a power source, Windows will wake it up long enough to install updates. However, if the computer is running on battery power, Windows will not install updates. Instead, Windows will attempt to install them during the next scheduled installation.

The following registry setting can be used to determine whether "Windows Update" use the power management capabilities of Windows to automatically wake the system from hibernation if there are updates scheduled for installation. Windows Update will only automatically return the system to normal mode if it is configured to install updates automatically. If the system is in hibernation when the scheduled install time arrives and there are updates to be applied, then "Windows Update" will use the power management capabilities of Windows to automatically wake up the system and install updates.

The system will not wake up from hibernation if there are no updates to install. If the system is running on batteries when "Windows Update" wakes it up from hibernation, no updates will be installed, and the system will automatically return to hibernation mode after 2 minutes.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "AUPowerManagement"=dword:00000001

To set a time automatic installation Windows updates need to do the following:

Open "Windows Update", in the left area select "Settings";
In dialogue "Choose how you install Windows updates" in the drop down list "Important updates" select mode ;
In drop down lists "Install updates" choose the time that suits you:

Or use the registry tweak:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "ScheduledInstallDay"=dword:00000002 "ScheduledInstallTime"=dword:00000008

where parameter ScheduledInstallDay is responsible for the day of the week, and the parameter ScheduledInstallTime- during the installation of updates.

If automatic updates are configured, there is no need to search for updates on the network, and you can also be sure that you have not missed important Windows fixes. Windows will automatically check for the latest updates for your computer. Depending on which Windows Update options you choose, Windows may install updates automatically or only notify you when they are available.

You can also specify whether Automatic Updates installs certain updates without interrupting Windows services and without Windows restart. If you apply the following registry setting, then Automatic Updates will immediately install such updates when they are downloaded and ready to be installed.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "AutoInstallMinorUpdates"=dword:00000001

Download updates, but I decide to install

If you select this mode, updates will be automatically downloaded, but you will decide whether to install them. After choosing this Windows mode recognizes an Internet connection and uses it to automatically download updates from a website "Windows Update" or . When a download starts, an icon appears in the notification area on the taskbar. When the download is complete, a message appears in the notification area. After the message appears, left-click on the component icon "Windows Update" or in the body of the message. To refuse to install the downloaded update, click the button "More" and uncheck the box next to the relevant update. To install the selected updates, click the button "Install". You can also set Windows to automatically install recommended updates to fix minor problems and make your computer more efficient. Optional updates are not downloaded or installed.

Look for updates, but the decision to download and install is made by me

This method is convenient for advanced users who monitor updates and install them selectively. Windows recognizes the presence of an Internet connection and uses it to search for updates on the website "Windows Update" or on the website "Microsoft Update Center". When a required update is found, a message and a component icon appear in the notification area on the taskbar "Windows Update".

To view the updates found, you need to click on the icon or on the message. To refuse to download a specific update, you need to uncheck the box next to it in the dialog "Select updates to install" as shown in the following screenshot.

To download the selected updates, click the button "OK" and then in the dialog "Windows Update" you have to press the button "Install updates". Immediately after clicking on the install updates button, Windows Update starts downloading the selected updates.

Component icon in progress « Automatic update» hides from the taskbar and moves to the notification area. If you hover your mouse pointer over it, a download status message will appear. After the updates are downloaded, the system creates a restore point in case the updates cause the system to crash or to be able to roll back to the updates being installed.

When the restore point is created, the update center will begin installing the downloaded updates.

When the download is complete, a message will appear in the notification area stating that the updates are ready to be installed.

Do not check for updates

Also, to select the method for installing updates, you can use the registry tweak, the listing of which is given below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "AUOptions"=dword:00000002

where parameter AUOptions is responsible for the mode of how updates are installed. To select a mode "Install updates automatically" the value of the parameter must be specified 00000004, for the mode "Download updates, but I decide to install" must be set to 00000003, to select "Looking for updates, but the decision to download and install is up to me" value must be 00000002, and for "Do not check for updates"- value 00000001.

Installing updates manually

Updates that the operating system downloads from the Microsoft update server are located in the %SystemRoot%\ SoftwareDistribution\ Download folder as *.cab files, and updates are not permanently stored there, since the folder is automatically cleared from time to time. In the event that you like to install all updates in manual mode, in most cases you won't need this folder at all. But sometimes you have to install updates from cab files. To do this, you can use a small bat-file, the listing of which is given below:

@echo off setlocal Set "TempDir=cabtmp" Set "Log=Log.txt" mkdir "%TempDir%" For %%i In (*.cab) Do (expand "%%i" -f:* "%TempDir% " && Echo>> "%Log%" %Time:~0,-3%^>^> "%%i" expansion - OK || Echo>> "%Log%" %Time:~0,-3% ^>^> "%%i" expansion - FAIL Echo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Echo Installing %%i%. Please wait. pkgmgr /ip /m:"%TempDir%" && Echo>> "%Log%" %Time:~0,-3%^>^> "%%i" installation - OK || Echo>> "%Log%" %Time:~0,-3%^> ^> "%%i" installation - FAIL del /f /s /q "%TempDir%") rd /s /q "%TempDir%" Echo - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Echo Operation completed Echo Log file created as %Log% Echo System log can be found at %WINDIR%\logs\cbs\Cbs.log Echo Now you may close this window pause

It is enough just to place this bat-file in the same directory where the cab-file with the update is located, and run it for execution. To complete the update, you just need to press any key after the installation is complete. A log file is created in the current directory, in which you can see which cab updates have been installed.

Reboot after installing updates

After installing some important updates, you need to restart your computer. For example, before checking the availability of updates, you may need to install an update to the service itself. "Windows Update". Such updates cannot be installed while Windows is running, so to complete the update process, you must save the files, close all open programs and restart your computer. If you install a similar update and reopen "Windows Update", then even when clicking on the link "Search for Updates" located in the left area, we will still see the following dialog content:

Also, after installing such updates, a notification will be displayed every 10 minutes indicating that you need to restart the computer to complete the installation of the updates.

The waiting period before displaying a new scheduled reboot prompt can be changed using the drop-down list, as well as using the registry tweak. If this option is disabled or not set, the default interval of 10 minutes is used (depending on this example- 30 minutes):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "RebootRelaunchTimeoutEnabled"=dword:00000001 "RebootRelaunchTimeout"=dword:0000001e

The following registry tweak allows you to set the automatic update service to wait before performing a scheduled reboot. When you specify a value for this tweak, a scheduled reboot is performed the specified number of minutes after the installation is complete. If this setting is disabled or not set, the default timeout interval of 15 minutes is used.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "RebootWarningTimeout"=dword:00000019 "RebootWarningTimeoutEnabled"=dword:00000001

You can also choose to prevent Automatic Updates from automatically restarting your computer during a scheduled installation if you are logged on. Instead, the user will be prompted to restart the computer. This can be done using the following registry tweak:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers"=dword:00000002

When there are updates waiting to be installed, on the finish button Windows work a shield icon appears, which can be seen in the following screenshot.

The following registry setting allows you to specify whether a setting is displayed in a dialog box "Shut down Windows". If you apply this tweak, then the parameter "Install updates and shut down" will not appear in the dialog "Shut down Windows" when selected from the menu "Start" commands "Shutdown" even if there are updates available for installation.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "NoAUShutdownOption"=dword:00000001

Usually, if you do not apply the previous registry tweak, the parameter "Install updates and shut down" selected by default in the dialog box "Shut down Windows" when selected from the menu "Start" commands "Shutdown" when there are updates available for installation. But with the help of the following tweak, in the dialog box "Shut down Windows" selected by default will display the option selected the last time it was turned off (etc.), regardless of whether the option is available "Install updates and shut down" in the list.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "NoAUAsDefaultShutdownOption"=dword:00000001

Immediately after starting the computer, if "Windows Update" did not run a scheduled installation, a previously skipped scheduled installation runs immediately. You can specify the number of minutes after the computer starts to run a previously skipped scheduled installation. This can be done with the following registry tweak (in this case set to 15 minutes):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 "RescheduleWaitTimeEnabled"=dword:00000001 "RescheduleWaitTime"=dword:0000000f

Conclusion

This article discusses a standard component of the operating system - Windows Update, designed to prevent or fix problems and improve computer performance. The ways of installing updates on a computer and some settings responsible for the operation of the update center are considered. The next part of the article will cover the installation of driver updates, software notifications and signatures. Windows Defender and Microsoft antivirus software Security Essentials, view the update history, and remove updates installed on your computer.

Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates to Microsoft Windows operating systems and its components, including Internet Explorer. Updates are provided not only for the operating system and Internet Explorer, but also for other Microsoft software such as Microsoft Office, Windows Live, Microsoft Security Essentials, and Microsoft Expression Studio.

Security updates are delivered every other Tuesday, but may be delivered at other times when these updates are critical and necessary to avoid virus outbreaks. Windows Update can be configured to install updates automatically, this ensures that the computer always has Latest updates and will not be vulnerable to computer worms and other malware.

Office Updates

Microsoft Office Update- a pre-existing free Internet service with which the user could find and install updates for the Office products he needed. This service supported updates for Office 2000, Office XP, Office 2003, and Office 2007. On August 1, 2009, Microsoft retired this service. Now users could download updates for Office only through Microsoft Update. However, Microsoft Update does not support Office 2000 and Office 2000 users no longer have the ability to automatically detect and install updates. But this is not so important for users of Office 2000, because the product is no longer supported and new updates are not released. However, this may cause restrictions for those users who want to install Office 2000 again.

Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Windows 8

A common situation that many face after reinstalling windows 7 or resetting a laptop with a pre-installed seven to factory settings - the subsequent download and installation of all released Windows 7 updates, which can take a really long time, prevent you from turning off the computer when necessary and fray your nerves.

However, there is a way to download all updates (almost all) for Windows 7 once as one file and install them all at once within half an hour - Convenience Rollup Update for Windows 7 SP1 from Microsoft. How to use this feature - step by step in this manual.

Preparing for installation

Before proceeding directly to installing all updates, go to the Start menu, click right click click on "Computer" and select "Properties" from the context menu.

Make sure you have Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed. If not, you need to install it separately. Also pay attention to the bitness of your system: 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64).

If SP1 is installed, then go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369 and download the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update for Windows 7 and Windows Sever 2008 R2 from there.

After installing the servicing stack update, you can proceed to install all Windows 7 updates at once.

Download and install Windows 7 Convenience Rollup Update

The Windows 7 Convenience Rollup is available for download from the Microsoft Update Catalog site as KB3125574: http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=3125574

Here it should be borne in mind that you can open this page in a working form only in Internet Explorer (and latest versions, that is, if you open it in IE, preinstalled in Windows 7, you will first be prompted to update the browser, and then enable the add-on to work with the update catalog).

In case, for some reason, downloading from the update catalog is difficult, below are direct download links (in theory, the addresses may change - if it suddenly stops working, please let me know in the comments):

After downloading the update (which is one single file of the standalone update installer), run it and just wait for the installation to complete (depending on the performance of your computer, the process may take different time, but in any case - significantly less than downloading and installing updates one at a time).

In the end, all that remains is to restart the computer and wait for the settings for updates to turn off and on, which also does not take too long.

Note: this method installs Windows 7 updates released before mid-May 2016 (here it is worth noting that not quite all - some of the updates, the list is on the page https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3125574 , Microsoft for some reason did not include it in the package) - subsequent updates will still be downloaded through the Update Center.

Microsoft Update Catalog is a Microsoft service that provides a list of software updates that can be distributed across an enterprise network. Using the Microsoft Update Catalog can be a single point of contact for finding Microsoft software updates, drivers, and patches.

Microsoft Update Catalog

Download and save Windows updates

March 2020 update:

We now recommend using this tool for your error. In addition, this tool fixes common computer errors, protects you from file loss, malware, hardware failures, and optimizes your computer for maximum performance. You can quickly fix problems with your PC and prevent other programs from appearing with this software:

Step 1: Download PC Repair & Optimizer Tool(Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista - Microsoft Gold Certified).
Step 2: Click " Start Scan' to find problems Windows Registry, which can cause problems with the PC.
Step 3: Click " fix everything' to fix all problems.

1 Visit the Microsoft Update Catalog website here

2 Check for Windows Update Catalog updates Enter your search terms in the search box. You can complete full text search using keyword, knowledge base article, FRSC bulletin, driver manufacturer, driver model, driver version, product and classification. Choose the right one Windows version. Search or click Advanced Search to refine your search. The list is displayed. Select the updates you want to download. Click "Add" for each selection to add it to your download cart.

3. download updates. You may be prompted to install an Active-X download control to download files from this website.

4 Double-click downloaded updates to install them.

Administrators can download updates from the Microsoft Download Center or the Windows Update Catalog and install them on multiple computers.

(1), definition updates and important drivers can be configured to automatically sync with your server. You can still import these updates into your application via the catalog Microsoft updates, but depending on how you configured WSUS, SCE, and SCCM, you might not need to import updates.

Install driver updates, software notifications, and signatures for Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus software

Installing driver updates

If you have a device that does not work properly with your computer, you may need to update the driver. Driver is computer program, through which another program (usually the operating system) gains access to hardware some device. In general, to use any device (both external and internal) you need a driver. Some devices (such as a graphics card or printer) may require special drivers, usually provided by the device manufacturer. There are three ways to update the driver.

Windows Update. May need to be installed automatic download and installing recommended updates from Windows Update.
Installing software from the device manufacturer. For example, if a disc is included with a device, it may contain software that installs a driver for that device.

You can check Windows Update at any time to see if updated drivers have been found for your hardware, especially if you've recently installed a new device. You can then install these updated drivers. To install them, follow these steps. To do this, open the update center, in the left area, click on the link "Search for Updates". If there are updates available, you should click on the appropriate links for more information about each update. Windows Update tells you if an update is important, recommended, or optional. Each type of update may include drivers. In dialogue "Select updates to install" you need to view updates for available devices, check the boxes for all drivers that should be installed, and click on the button "OK". Please note that driver updates may not be available. On the page "Windows Update" you have to press the button "Install updates". Some updates require you to restart your computer when installing.