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You can usually find the utility listed right on the main Start Menu. However, if it's not listed on your Start Menu, you can run it by selecting "Windows Update" option from "Tools" menu within Internet Explorer.
When you first run the Windows Update utility, you may be prompted to download and install the latest version. Do so if you're prompted.
The latest version of this utility will prompt you to run one of two modes: "Express Install" or "Custom Install". If you pick "Express Install", it will install all high priority updates. This is the safest way to use the utility, and most users should use this method.
If you pick "Custom Install", you will see all of the updates available for your computer in three different categories: High Priority Updates, Optional Software Updates, and Optional Hardware Updates. Make sure that you install all of the "High Priority Priority" updates.
Be very careful if you pick anything out of the "Optional Hardware Updates" section. These are usually driver updates. On more than one occasion, I've have a driver update (especially a video driver) hose up my computer so that it wouldn't properly anymore or cause other problems. You are better off using driver updates from the hardware manufacturer. However, if you do chose to install any of these driver updates from the "Optional Hardware Updates" section, install each update separately and reboot after one has been installed even if you aren't prompted to reboot. This way you will know which update caused the problem should something unexpected occur.
If you do run into a problem during a driver update, you can try to boot to the "Last Known Good Configuration" option from the boot menu. You can get the boot menu by hitting the <F8> key when you try to boot the computer. The "Last Known Good Configuration" option will only fix your problem if you haven't successfully logged into the computer since the driver update was installed.
If the "Last Known Good Configuration" option doesn't do the trick, try booting to "Safe Mode" by selecting it from the Boot Menu. If you can boot to Safe Mode, you should try to uninstall the newly installed driver by removing the related device from Device Manager or uninstalling the driver from the program list within the "Add/Remove Program" utility in the Control Panel, if the driver happens to be listed there.
If you are unable to boot to safe mode, you have a worst case scenario. You'll probably want to obtain the help of an experienced technician at this point. Ultimately, you may end up having to restore your operating system from a backup. The bottom line is that you should you use the "Express Install" option in the Windows Update utility if you're not comfortable troubleshooting severe computer problems. |