Manage Windows Update

Windows Update is a feature of all modern Windows operating systems, including XP, Vista and 7. Its purpose is to keep your computer running safely and smoothly by automatically downloading and applying updates for the operating system. It is also used by Micrsoft to combat piracy and to automatically update other Microsoft applications such as Word and Excel.

Some people like to turn off Windows Update because it can slow down your computer while updates are downloading or installing. Other people don't want any updates because sometimes updates such as service packs can impact the operating system's stability or performance. However, it is not recommended that you turn off automatic updates. If you do so, you leave your computer vulnerable to malicious attacks from viruses, malware and worms and you do not benefit from any new functionality or bug fixes that the updates provide.

If you would like to change windows update settings, you can go to the Control panel by clicking on the start button, then Control Panel. From the Control Panel, choose the Windows Update feature and from there you can modify the options. For example, you could turn on the setting to "notify me but do not download or install" if you wanted more manual control over the update procedure. If you really do want to turn of Windows Update, select the "Turn Off Automatic Updates" option.