Windows updates. You know them, you hate them, and their annoying little popup on your screen every other day prompting you to install the latest released updates from Microsoft. Always wondering if it’s worth the hassle and bother of having to download the updates, install them, and restart your entire PC. Well, the long and short of it; it is worth it. And you can even set them up to be nearly entirely unmanaged.
Windows updates may be a bit bothersome, but they have their purpose. A vast majority of updates are quite small, taking only a short time (so long as you have decent internet that is) to download and install. Most released updates either fix security flaws, keeping your system and more importantly your data, as secure as possible, or update the software that runs the backbone of your computer; things you never even think about like how your PC talks to webpages to receive information, how you send information, how your email works, and so much more. Some even fix major issues that, if left unaddressed could cause massive system issues in the future, or be a huge hassle to fix. Such a hassle in fact that some big-box companies don’t even support Windows Updates any more, going as far as blocking the update service entirely to ‘preserve bandwidth’ and leaving the folks who bring their PC in for maintenance out in the cold with a non-updated system!
But what about that annoyance of having to manually click the button and restart every time? Well, with nearly all versions of Microsoft Windows, you can actually set your updates to download and install automatically; All you’ll be prompted for is the restart! After all, Microsoft doesn’t want to push updates as your busy managing your finances, business, or schoolwork and restart your PC before you have the chance to save everything. Windows 10 does have the additional option of updating your Apps, installed from the Windows store, and these can be set up the same way.
While it may be a bit of a bother, updating your system is a major must-do. Between the security fixes and general improvements, an updated system is a secure system, a secure system is a happy system, and a happy system leads to a happy users. Because there is nothing worse than fighting your computer in order to try and do what you want.
Below, you will find several links, including step-by-step guides to managing your Windows Updates (For Windows XP, Vista/7, and 8/8.1) directly from Microsoft’s support forum, a how-to on trying to fix a PC stuck doing updates, and even a video and step-by-step guide on two different ways to manage your Windows 10 machine’s updates.
• How to Configure and Use Automatic Updates in Windows
• What to do When Windows Update Gets Stuck or is Frozen
• Two Ways to Control Windows 10 Automatic Updates
So remember, even if they are a bit of a bother, Windows Updates are well worth it. And if you are ever having issues updating your PC, we're always here to help!
As always, let’s be careful out there!
-The PJ Networks Family
