Think of Windows as a work in progress. Patches, hotfixes, and service packs often fix bugs and performance issues within the OS, so it’s a good idea to enable Automatic Updates or visit the Windows Update Web site (up date.microsoft.com) for the newest patches. If you haven’t ever updated your OS, you should at least install the service packs, which address the most pressing stability and vulnerability issues.
To enable automatic updates in WinXP, right-click My Computer, select Properties, choose the Automatic Updates tab, and click the Automatic (Recommended) radio button. In Vista, click the Start button, select Control Panel, choose System And Maintenance, and click Windows Update. Next, select the Change Settings link in the left-hand pane and click the Install Updates Automatically (Recommended) radio button.
To enable automatic updates in WinXP, right-click My Computer, select Properties, choose the Automatic Updates tab, and click the Automatic (Recommended) radio button. In Vista, click the Start button, select Control Panel, choose System And Maintenance, and click Windows Update. Next, select the Change Settings link in the left-hand pane and click the Install Updates Automatically (Recommended) radio button.