Every operating system needs to be updated regularly to make sure the latest vulnerabilities and bugs are handled. Here we will look at how to make sure these updates are happening to your computer. Covered here are two most popular operating systems in the world: Microsoft Windows XP and Vistas.

Click here to jump to directions for Vista

Windows XP

I put this one first because XP is the most widely used operating system in the world and because of it's age there are LOTS of critical security updates for Windows XP. Below are the simple steps necessary to make sure you have all the latest updates and make sure you continue to get them:

1. If you click on the "Start" button and then go to "All Programs" there should be a link at the top of the list to "Windows Update". However, if there is not, follow this link to activate and download all the updates you might be missing: http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate

You may need to restart your computer and go back to this link several times to make sure you have all the necessary updates.

2. Now lets make sure your computer gets updated automatically from now on:

• Click on the Start button and then Control Panel
• Click Security Center, and then click Automatic Updates (picture at left)
• Choose Automatic which will download the updates and install them automatically without you ever having to do a thing! (picture at right)

Vista

Vista is the latest operating system from Microsoft and is inherently more secure than XP, but it also needs to be updated periodically to ensure security vulnaribilities are are patched. Automatic updates are turned on by default, but just to make sure follow these steps from Microsoft:

• Click the Start button, point to All Programs, and then click Windows Update
• In the left pane, click Change settings.
• Select Install updates automatically (recommended)
• Under Recommended updates, select the Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates check box, and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.