Configuring automatic Updating

Windows 7 organizes updates into the following broad categories:

• Important updates Includes critical updates, security updates, update rollups, and service packs for the operating system and programs that ship with the operating system
• Recommended updates Includes updates to drivers that are provided with the operating system and recommended optional updates
• Microsoft product updates Includes updates for other Microsoft products that are installed on the computer as well as new optional Microsoft software
• Point and print drivers Includes updates to drivers that provide client-side rendering capability

Note By default, Windows Update includes updates to Web compatibility lists from Microsoft. Sites listed are displayed in Compatibility view automatically. You can configure this feature by using administrative Templates policies for Computer Configuration under Windows Components\Internet explorer\Compatibility View.

When you are using Home, Ultimate, or professional editions of Windows 7, Windows Update continues to search for compatible point and print drivers if it fails to find any on the computer itself or on the Windows Update site. If the computer does not find a match, it attempts to create a mismatch connection by using any available driver that supports the hardware. However, when you are using Windows 7 enterprise edition, you must explicitly enable the extend point and print Connection To Search Windows Update policy to obtain the same behavior. This policy is found in administrative Templates policies for Computer Configuration under printers.

By default, Windows 7 is configured to automatically install important updates. You can configure automatic updates on a per-computer basis by completing the following steps:

1. In Control Panel, click System And Security. Click Windows Update. This displays the Windows Update page.
2. In the left panel, click Change Settings. This displays the Change Settings page.
3. Specify whether and how updates should occur.
4. If you've enabled updates and also want to install drivers and optional updates, select the Give Me Recommended Updates The Same Way I Receive Important Updates check box.
5. If you want to allow standard users to install updates, select the Allow All Users To Install Updates On This Computer check box.
6. If you want to get updates for Microsoft products and optional Microsoft software, select the Give Me Updates For Microsoft Products And Check For New Optional Microsoft Software When I Update Windows check box.
7. Click OK.

In an Active Directory domain, you can centrally configure and manage automatic updates by using the Administrative Templates policies for both Computer Configuration and User Configuration under Windows Components\Windows Update. Table below summarizes the key policies.

Policies for Managing Automatic Updates

Be aware that it is still possible that an update could damage your system. Windows Update creates a restore point for your system before installing the available updates. If a problem does occur, you can always roll back a system to its state before the update (see "Installing and Removing Software," later in this tutorial).