How To Configure Windows Update In Windows Vista Computer?

Microsoft suggests users to perform Windows Update regularly, so that your computer gets many important updates, patches and application fixes. These updates are really important for the stability and smooth functioning of your computer. Users can either perform a manual update or configure the computer to download updates automatically. Here is how you can perform Windows Update in a Windows Vista computer. Follow the Windows Vista Help guidelines to perform the update.

Installing Windows Updates manually

• Click on the Start button in the Windows taskbar. Select “All Programs” from the Start menu, and then click on “Windows Update” from the sub menu.
• You will now get the “Windows Update” window. From this window, click on the “Windows Update" tab. Locate the "Get updates for more products" button under this tab. The Windows Update service will now be launched on your computer screen. Follow the onscreen instructions on the Windows Update window to have Windows Vista check for available updates. If you haven’t done any recent updates, your system is sure going to take more time to complete the update. Windows will check for updates, and come up with necessary updates for your computer. Click “Yes” to install the updates onto your system. 
• After the updates are successfully installed in your computer, restart your system to effect the changes. 

Automatic installation of Windows Update

• Click the Start button and select “All Programs”. 
• Click “Windows Update” from the popup menu. 
• Click on “Change Settings” tab in the Windows Update window. 
• Under this tab, you have the option for changing the settings for how Windows perform the update function. Locate the button for "Install updates automatically” and click on it. 
• Click on the "Install new updates" tab and further click the drop down menu to select the option “Every day”. Selecting this option will ensure that the Windows update is performed daily. 
• To the right of this drop down menu from where you selected “Every day”, you will see the drop down list to select a time to perform the Windows Update function. 
• Once you have set this configuration, click “OK” and close the window.

Windows Vista help is available for users in case they have problem with performing the update. Visit Microsoft Support Center to get more assistance and help.

How To Reinstall Drivers Using The Device Manager Utility In Windows XP

Microsoft Windows lets you connect various hardware devices to you computer for different purposes. You can connect printers, scanners, webcam, speakers, and the usual peripherals like mouse and keyboard. Some of these devices are plug-and-play, which means your computer will automatically detect it when connected. All hardware components require drivers to be installed so as to ensure their proper functioning. A corrupted or outdated driver can make your device work strangely. Updating the driver can often fix such an issue with your hardware device. The Device Manager utility in Windows XP will help fix such driver issues related to the computer hardware components. The following Windows XP support guidelines will help you to reinstall the device drivers easily.

Reinstalling drivers using Windows Device Manager Utility

• Before you make any system changes or update the device driver, login as a user with administrative privileges.
• Click on Windows XP Start button and select “Run”. Type "devmgmt.msc" into the Open text box and press the “Enter” key.
• This will open the “Device Manager” window on your screen.
• From the top menu bar, click on “View” menu and then select "Show Hidden Devices". All the hidden devices will be displayed as grayed out icons in the device list.
• The Device Manger window will display the list of devices connected to your computer. Most probably you will need to expand the device listing by clicking on “+” symbol to view the list of devices. Suppose you want to reinstall the driver for your sound card. Then you need to click the “+” symbol next to the "Sound, video and game controllers" header, to access the sound card option.
• Locate the device for which you want to reinstall the driver. Click once on the device and then click the “Action” menu from the menu bar at the top. From the popup menu, select the option “Uninstall”. Click the “OK” button in the window that says "Confirm Device Removal".
• Once again, click the “Action” menu in the Device Manager window, and select the Scan for hardware changes option. Windows XP will now scan for available drivers and reinstalls them into your computer.
Sometimes, you might be required to install the drivers from the manufacturer CD. In such a case, you will be prompted to insert the CD into your computer’s drive. Get Windows XP support in case you run into some sort of trouble while reinstalling drivers for your hardware components.