Good afternoon dear friends! Today I want to tell you how to update Windows. The procedure is simple, but very important. Many of the programs we work with require additional libraries that can only be installed by updating Windows. For example, to get into a taxpayer’s personal account, you need an internet explorer browser, preferably the latest version. This is where Windows updates come in handy. Let's get started!

How often should you update Windows?

If you are unable to solve this problem yourself, then you can go to the section and our specialists will help you.

A little off topic. Personally, I install Windows updates only when a specific program requires it. Most of the time, my updates are disabled. Since the update process consumes the resources of your computer and loads the network. If a program asks for some library or system component, then only in this case do I run updates. You may have updates installed automatically, it all depends on your Windows settings.

Let's assume that updates are not installed automatically for you or you do not know whether they are installed at all or not.

I’ll say right away that updates for all versions of Windows are installed the same way. That is, there is fundamentally no difference whether you have Windows 7 or 8, 8.1, 10. The procedure is the same everywhere.

How to check for Windows updates

From words to deeds. Open the “Start” menu and select “Control Panel”.

Now select “Windows Update”.

Now we find ourselves in the “Windows Update” section. To check if there are available updates, click on the “Search for updates” button.

The search for updates will begin.

The search process is not fast, please be patient. Nothing froze, nothing broke, it just took a long time, this happens to everyone, wait. While the updates are loading, I’ll tell you just in case. All sorts of different sites offer to download an update package so as not to wait for Windows to find them. I would not trust such sites; the likelihood of catching a virus is extremely high. It's better to wait.

As a result of the download, we will see a window like this.

We see that there were 49 important updates and 99 optional ones (you may have a different number of updates).

How to choose the right Windows updates

Let's move on to the next stage. As we can see, there are mandatory updates and optional ones. It is important. Basically, you can click on the “Install updates” button. Then you will have all important updates installed immediately.

But I want to teach you how to install updates selectively. This will be very useful to us in further work with our programs. Especially with people like:, and others.

In order to install updates, we selectively go to each of the points. Let's start with the important updates. Click on the line “Important updates”.

We will see a window in which we are asked to choose which updates we will install. The updates you want to install must be checked. I selected 2 updates and marked them. After making your selection, be sure to click the “OK” button.

Now let's do the same with optional updates. Here I will select one update. Accordingly, I check the boxes next to the required updates. Then you need to press the “OK” button again.

As a result, we get the following message. We have selected 2 important updates and one optional one. This is exactly what the update window tells us. Click “Install updates”

All! The update installation process is complete. For the final installation we will need to restart the computer.

During the reboot process, the computer will write to you that updates are being installed. Don't worry, this is how it should be. Just wait until the computer completes all the settings and turns on itself. Be patient!

How to update Windows

If you need the help of a professional system administrator to resolve this or any other issue, go to the section and our employees will help you.

That's all! Now you know how to update Windows and install the updates you need. This information will be useful to you in the future for correct work with many programs.

If you have any questions, ask them in the comments! Good luck and good luck to everyone!

To be the first to receive all the news from our website!

Updates make changes to the performance of Windows 7, eliminate various errors and glitches, and also add new features. Microsoft is still releasing security patches and fixing system issues.

Update centre

The Windows 7 Update Center is responsible for downloading the latest “seven” patches. The icon for opening it can be found in the program list Start or in Control panels. There you can install the latest versions of system components.

Settings

In Update Center, open the menu " Settings».

Initially, the system operates in auto-update mode. But this function can be disabled, in which case it will be necessary to use the manual function. To do this, activate the search for the latest versions.

The dialog box will display a list of components for which any changes have been made. They are divided into three groups.
There are three groups of updates:

  1. Important. This group includes significant or critical system changes related to data security and the functioning of various Windows components. Any innovation from the “Important” group should be installed immediately when it is released. This will keep your computer and its data in better condition.
  2. Recommended. This includes fixing non-critical PC problems, but still quite significant. Their installation will make the operation of your PC more comfortable, eliminate existing problems or avoid their occurrence in the future. Both auto-update and manual download are available.
  3. Optional. This group includes those innovations that do not make significant changes to the functioning of the computer and do not correct serious problems. They are designed to make the system more user-friendly, but are not considered important or critical. They cannot be installed automatically; downloading is available only in manual mode.

Read about ways to disable auto-update of the system in ours.

An important nuance: anyone can update Windows 7 for free. No board is required to load any system components from the list. But you should understand that the procedure consumes Internet traffic. This fact must be taken into account by users with limited connections.

Selecting Components to Install

The user has a choice of components to install. For example, if you have a third-party antivirus installed, there is no need to download the latest version of Windows Defender.

In the same way, you can disable the installation of other components. But if you are not sure of their significance or do not know the function, it is better to leave everything as is.

In any case, it is highly recommended to download updates from the first group, from the second, too, but from the third, if desired.

Recommendation: if automatic mode is disabled on your computer, it is advisable to update the system yourself. This will support the latest version of Windows 7, which includes new features as well as fixes for old problems.

Possible problems and their solutions

Various problems may occur when trying or during the process of updating Windows 7. Let's look at the most popular of them.

Problem 1: Auto-update does not work

Initially, the system is configured in such a way that it automatically downloads all new versions and installs them when the computer is restarted. But in some situations this feature is disabled or does not work.

In the first case, you need to enable auto-update. This is done through a special service:


In the second case, you need to update the OS manually.

Problem 2: Cannot update the system manually

When installing new versions of Windows 7, various problems may occur. First of all, you should check your Internet connection. Installation files are downloaded from Microsoft servers, and if there is no Internet connection, downloading them is impossible.

When trying to update the operating system, you should disable any anti-virus programs and computer protection tools. It is advisable to close all unnecessary programs.

If you want to download a specific Windows component, but this cannot be done, you can download the installation package yourself from the developer’s servers.

Official Microsoft Download Center page - https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/download/default.aspx

There is a search area at the top of the page. Enter the name of the required component into it and click on the icon in the shape of a magnifying glass.

Problem 3: The system has crashed

If, as a result of the update, the computer began to work worse or any problems arose, then you should roll back Windows to its previous state. The corresponding function is located in the control panel. Read more about this in our article “Windows 7 System Restore”.

Windows 7 today is actually the most popular and in-demand operating system, and even the vast majority of users of the legendary XP are seriously thinking about how to upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7. Unfortunately, you will immediately have to upset them, since the update and transition are direct from XP to “Seven” will not be possible. It is recommended to perform a clean installation of Windows 7, since this is the most expedient of all the few methods, since updating, for example, step-by-step through Windows Vista is a long and labor-intensive process. You should also remember about the system architecture, since you need to take into account that you cannot switch from a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit one.

Step by step instructions

Stage 1: Find out the required bit depth of the operating system

The main advantage of a 32 bit OS is the ability to run on all computers. The main advantage of 64 bit is the ability to work with a significant amount of memory, but not all PCs can function in it.

In order to determine the bitness of the working version of Windows XP on your computer, you need to do the following simple steps:

Stage 2: Analysis of the compliance of all PC components with the “Seven”

The algorithm of actions to perform the required analysis is as follows:


Note: the saved report, if available, will indicate predicted difficulties in the computer’s hardware and installed applications that complicate the installation, update and subsequent operation of Windows 7. This report will also provide the user with specific suggestions for taking appropriate measures.

Stage 3: creating a backup copy of all data from the system disk with Windows XP

In order not to lose and fully ensure the preservation of all data stored in Windows XP on the system drive, you must use a freely distributed program that will save all Windows settings data, transferring them, for example, to external media with the appropriate amount of memory, and after switching to Windows 7, it will allow you to transfer them back to the new system after the update.

To complete the task, you need to take several successive steps:


Stage 3: Installation of Windows 7

You need to do the following:


Ready! The update with the transition from XP to “Seven” has been completed.

Note: This guide allows you to migrate (update) to a new operating system without losing old settings and files, but all previously installed applications will need to be installed again in Windows 7.

Quite often, many users wonder how to update Windows 7 for free without getting into trouble. Today we will discuss this topic. In addition, we will also figure out what pitfalls you may encounter and how to get around them.

Data Security

The first thing you need to do before updating Windows 7 is to prepare properly. What do you need for this?

First of all, if you have already used your computer, it is best to prepare some kind of significant drive onto which you can later transfer all your personal and important data. The thing is that while working with operating systems, various failures occur, the consequence of which, as a rule, is a complete reinstallation. Nobody wants to lose their data. So it’s better to play it safe once again before upgrading to a newer version of Windows 7.

It would be a good idea to stock up on a reinstallation disk with the operating system just in case. This will help reduce your time and effort if a fatal error occurs during work that could ruin the system. No one is immune from this. Now that you have the drive and all your data has been transferred to a safe location, there are a few more things you need to know before you start updating. What exactly?

Collecting information about your computer

There are a few more points that you need to know to answer how to update Windows 7. Its maximum version requires quite impressive computer resources. This means that your computer must meet all the system requirements that one or another “axis” puts forward.

To do this, your best bet is to look up information online. You can view information about your computer in the “My Computer” section. Usually people are aware of what “systems” their computers have. So, if you are thinking about how to update Windows 7 (professional or any other), then compare how well your computer matches your ideas. If everything is in order here, then you can think about what to do next. There is very little left until the process itself.

Looking for updates

Now let's see how to update Windows 7. The initial preparation has already passed, it’s time to think about where to get all the necessary update files. There are several options for the development of events. Let's look at both of them in order.

We'll start with the most difficult method - searching for updates on the Internet. A search engine will help you with this. True, such manipulations can sometimes fail miserably, since under the guise of updates there can be various viruses and spies that infect the operating system and then begin to destroy it. Not the most pleasant outcome.

So be careful when searching. It is best to use the official Microsoft website for these needs. All files on it have already been checked for viruses. This way you can be confident in quality and reliability. Searching for updates on the Internet is one of the options for updating Windows 7. But there is another, simpler method.

Automation

With Windows 7, Microsoft made sure to provide its operating systems with all possible updates and at the same time allow people to choose whether to install them or not. The so-called "Update Center" helps with this. He will help you answer how to update Windows 7.

With this program, if you can call it such, each user has an excellent opportunity to see what updates are now available for his system, and then choose which ones to download and install. All this is done automatically, quickly and free of charge. However, not everyone uses this method.

If you decide to update your operating system using Update Center, first check all available updates. For this purpose, there is a corresponding button in the service itself. To work you need the Internet.

When the process comes to an end, the operating system will tell you what updates and how many of them were found. This helps the user avoid getting confused and downloading something they don't need (for example, an Arabic language pack). All that remains to be done is to mark the required update and download it. After this, it will be possible to talk about the process of updating the operating system itself.

Caution won't hurt

But be careful. Before you update Windows 7, carefully watch what you download. As mentioned above, you can run into a computer virus. The consequence of this may be a complete loss of all data and access to the system as a whole. There are such “worms” and “Trojans” that begin to send your personal data that you enter to their owner.

We are talking about passwords and accounts. So, instead of the long-awaited update, you will lose all your data, and even ruin your computer. Typically, a similar situation occurs when searching for updates on your own on the Internet. So it is highly recommended to use Windows Update. But even here you need to be very careful.

The thing is that you can stumble upon an update file that checks the system for authenticity. And now, as you know, many people use hacked versions. So don't check anything that starts with "K" in your list of available updates. For example, K2065845. So, if you download a verification update, you will get problems instead of an update. When you are completely ready, it's time to start reinstalling.

How to update

It doesn't matter which method you used. The main thing is that your update is already on your computer and is waiting for you to start the process. Run the "update" file. A window will appear in front of you that resembles a regular reinstaller. Read everything that is written in the box. Now click "Next". Eventually, once your computer is shown to be compliant, the update process will begin. It will complete automatically, after which the computer must be restarted. After this it will all be over. You can rejoice at your successes.

Operating systems are imperfect; experts find vulnerabilities in many every month. While the period of use of any version of the OS is about two years. To close security holes, developers release update packages on average every 6 weeks. They must be installed on your computer for it to work properly and be reliably protected. In addition to system files, drivers and user-installed programs also need periodic updating.

The XP version is no longer supported by developers, so it is recommended to replace it with a more current operating system. The built-in Windows Update will help you update Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. To do this, open the Start menu and select the Control Panel section. Next, select the “System and Security” group. Find the “Windows Update” category in it and go inside. To call this section in Windows 8, move the cursor to the upper right corner of the desktop. When the floating settings panel appears, select the “Computer Information” section. In it you will see a link to “Update Center”, click it. Inside the section there is information about the latest update checks and their installation. There, if necessary, you can configure settings for subsequent updates. Before installation, the necessary updates are searched for. To do this, click the “Check for updates” button. You can automate this process in the same section by going to the “Settings” category. With regular checking and good Internet connection speed, searching for files for an update takes about 5 minutes. If an error occurs during your search, use a utility from Microsoft called “Microsoft Fixit”. Download it from the official website of the developer. To do this, press the “Run Now” button. When the program downloads, launch it by double-clicking the left mouse button. It will begin scanning and searching for damaged files. Once Microsoft Fixit determines the cause of the problem, it will fix the problem and report it. Then start searching for updates again.


After finishing the search, the system will prompt you to update. Press the appropriate key, then the updates will begin downloading to your computer. After that, it will automatically reboot and install new system files. Through Windows Update, you can also update other Microsoft programs, such as Microsoft Office. To do this, follow the “Additional information” link.


This will cause Internet Explorer to open the Microsoft Update page. Confirm that you accept the terms of the update by checking the box and click “Next”. To allow the installation of the latest drivers when updating the system, go through the “Control Panel” to the “Hardware and Sound” section and select the “Devices and Printers” category. In this section you will see an icon with the name of your PC, hover over it and press the right mouse button. In the drop-down list, click “Device installation options”. After this, check the “Always install the most suitable drivers” option in the window that appears and press the “Save” button.


Periodically updating the Windows OS allows you to keep the system up to date, use new features and work on your computer as efficiently as possible. In addition to making your PC more efficient, updates improve Windows security and help prevent unauthorized access to your data.