Windows Vista Vista SP1 and automatic updates question

I am still reading to figure out where I am in the update scheme of things, but I do have a pressing question --

If I have Windows Updates set to automatic, will my computer do the download and install without further ado?

Or, is this something I need to set aside time for as a manual chore?

Thanks,
Rick

 

Yes, that's all there's to it. You'll be notified if you need to keep the computer running for the job to complete.

 

In Control Panel|Windows Update, you get a couple of choices:

You can set automatic update to download and install updates without any action on your part.

You can set Automatic to download updates but let you choose when to install them.

You can set Automatic Updates to check for updates but let you decide what to download and install.

The last choice is the best choice. Sometimes updates have problems and can give you headaches. You want to know that any update you install will work. So, you do not want Automatic Update to update your computer without intervention. Also, there is no reason to download updates that you might not want, and just have them sitting there.

The best thing to do is to just have Windows Update notify you that there is stuff there. Then, wait a bit, check things like Windows Secrets (http://www.WindowsSecretes.com), where Susan Bradley comments on all updates. They publish always after the update Tuesday. Once you know everything is O.K., then you can choose to install the updates.

>>RSM