How-To allow Windows Updates to run automatically in Windows XP

In Windows XP you can configure your windows update to be done automatically.  In a past lesson we explained What is a Windows Update?

Today’s How-To Guide For the Computer Beginner we will learn:
How-To allow Windows XP Updates to run automatically.

Windows Updates For Windows XP

In Windows XP we want to click on our start button, and in the search box type in ‘windows update’. 


We are going to make sure your computer settings are set to do the windows updates automatically.

Look to the left hand side of this new window, and we want to click on ‘settings’.
Once you open t

How-To allow Windows Updates to run automatically in Vista or Windows 7

In Windows Vista or Windows Seven (7) you can configure your windows update to be done automatically.  In a past lesson we explained What is a Windows Update?

Today’s How-To Guide For the Computer Beginner we will learn:
How-To allow Windows Updates to run automatically.

Updates For Windows

In Windows Vista or Windows 7 we want to click on our start button, and in the search box type in ‘windows update’.  You will see at the top of the start menu the option for Windows update as seen below, and we want to click on windows update to open a new screen

Once the new window appears it will note the windows updates that are available for your computer.  We are going to make sure your computer settings are set to do the windows updates automatically.

Look to the left hand side of this new window, and we want to click on ‘change settings’.

What is a Windows Update?

With every version of Windows that I can remember you were always given messages about ‘windows updates’.  I was asked some rather conflicting questions about windows updates, and so as you might have guessed today’s

How To Guide for the computer beginner is

What is Windows Update?

Microsoft provides windows updates, and you normally see these on your right side of the task bar in the notification area.

If you hoover over the icon that the mouse pictures are showing it will give you a message that there is a windows update available.

There are different types of updates.  Updates are classified as Important, Recommended, Optional, and Featured.

Important Updates (or Critical updates) are updates that they ask you do download right away.  They are normally have security issues involved with them.  They are to help keep your privacy, security, and vulnerability to crooks a minimum.    It could be that Microsoft found a hole they want to patch up, or found that hackers found a way to penetrate the windows system. 

Recommended Updates are updates to various components of the operating system that should be installed for proper functionality.

Optional Updates, are new features, updates, or Ultimate Extras that are not necessary to install for proper functionality of the operating system or applications.  In the last windows update that I did for example, they mentioned my printer software had an update to download.

Featured you don’t really see anymore, but if you ever do they will give you a description of the update.  You will be able to decided if it is something that your computer will find beneficial.   In other words, its little extras if you want them.

How-To Change Your Computer Name

When you first setup your computer you are prompted to NAME your computer.  I know some computer beginners have other people set the computer up for them, or honestly don’t remember this step if they did it themselves.

Your Computer name is used to identify the computer on a network.  I noticed as well that most of the time when you setup the computer that manufacturers will have this filled with a recommendation.  Its normally the make and model of the computer.

At my home we have more than one computer.  I setup a home network, and I want to be able to identify the different computers easily.   You could name your computer by location (kitchen, basement, bedroom), or by user (bob laptop, sue tower).  If you want to rename your computer after your pet?  That is YOUR choice!

As you might have guessed Today’s How-To Guide for the Computer Beginner is:

Renaming Your Computer

How-To Rename Computer Folders

Welcome!  Last Time we spoke about Creating a Computer folder.  Today’s How-To lesson for the Computer beginner is about Renaming our Computer Folders.

We may do that to get better organized, or because we have a typo!

You will need to find the location the computer folder that you wish to rename first of all.

It can be on your desktop or elsewhere.

First thing we do is we will RIGHT CLICK on the computer folder icon itself!