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Windows Update for Windows 2000


If you have not set passwords on all of the user accounts on your Windows 2000 computer, follow the documentation for Windows Passwords before continuing with these instructions.

To run Windows Update on personally-owned or faculty/ staff computers:

I. Running and Installing Windows Updates

Note: Your computer must be connected to the Internet in order to run Windows Updates. If you connect via modem, downloading the updates may take a very long time.

  1. Print this page and follow the printed instructions starting at this point.
  2. Log in to your computer as the Administrator.
  3. If your computer has any type of anti-virus program installed, close that program now.
  4. Close all open applications.
  5. Click on the Start button and then select Programs > Internet Explorer.
  6. In the Internet Explorer window, go to the Tools menu and select Windows Updates.
  7. If you are running Windows Update for the first time, when you enter Windows Update you will see a window entitled "Security Warning." It will ask you if you want to run and install Windows Updates. Do NOT check the box for Always trust content from Microsoft Corporation. Click Yes. Click Yes at the next Security Warning window to continue.
  8. If you receive a Security Warning window and are not running Windows Update for the first time, click Yes to continue. After your computer has finished updating some files, you might be asked to restart your computer at this point, click on Restart and start over at step 2.
  9. In the Internet Explorer window, click the link for Scan for updates.
  10. Windows will scan for available updates for your computer.
  11. If you receive the following error message which forces Internet Explorer to close:

    Windows Update scan error message

      1. Check the box for Restart Microsoft Internet Explorer and click Don't Send.
      2. When Internet Explorer restarts, go to the following link in order to access Windows Updates: http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp?page=
        productupdates&sec=criticalupdates        .
      3. Bookmark this link for easy referral when running future Windows Updates.
      4. Skip to step 13 after the page has finished loading.
  12. When the scanning is completed, under the Pick updates to install section on the left side of the Windows Update page, click on the Critical Updates and Service Packs link.
  13. If the right side of the page says: Windows Update did not find any critical updates for your computer, you have completed the installation of all critical Window Updates for your computer. Continue to the next section on Setting up Automatic Updates.
  14. If there are critical updates to install, click on the link for Review and install updates to install the necessary updates and proceed to the next step.

    15. Windows Update: Review and install updates page

  15. Next, you will be given a list of updates to install. You can read a full description of each item by clicking the item's Read more... link. The listed updates may include exclusive items that must be installed separately from other updates.
  16. To begin installing the updates, click Install Now.
  17. If you receive any errors about not being able to access the Windows Update site or have error downloading the updates from this point on, click here for directions for installing Internet Explorer 6 before repeating these directions for Windows Updates. Your computer may require Internet Explorer 6 in order to run Windows Updates correctly.
  18. If the list of updates includes exclusive items that must be installed separately from other updates, a Microsoft Internet Explorer window will appear asking if you wish to install the exclusive update. Click OK.
  19. A window entitled "Microsoft Windows Update - Web Page Dialog" will appear. It will ask you if you want to accept the terms of the licensing agreement. Click Accept.
  20. A download window for the update will appear. After the download is finished, it will automatically install itself.
  21. If you are downloading the Windows Update for Internet Explorer and Internet Tools, a setup window will appear.
      1. Select I accept the agreement and click Next.
      2. Click Next again to continue the download and automatic installation of the update(s).
  22. If you are downloading a Windows 2000 Service Pack, then a Windows 2000 Service Pack Setup Wizard window will appear.
      1. Click Next.
      2. Select I agree and click Next.
      3. Choose Archive Files and click Next.
      4. Windows Update will proceed to inspect your configuration, archive your old system files, and continue the download and install of the Service Pack. This process will take some time.
      5. After the download and install is completed, the title of the window will change to Completing the Windows 2000 Service Pack Setup Wizard. Click Finish.
  23. Next, you will be asked to restart your computer to complete installation. Click OK to restart.
  24. There may be more critical updates that need to be installed after your computer restarts. After restarting, repeat the instructions in this section starting at step 2 for Running and Installing Windows Updates. You will know you have completed the installation of all critical Windows Update items when you see the results listed in step 13 in this section. When you have installed all critical updates, continue to the next section on Setting up Automatic Updates. Note: If you had turned off VirusScan 4.5.1, it will be automatically re-enabled upon restarting your computer.

If you have any questions or problems, you can post to the Computing Questions conference on FirstClass at any time. For further assistance, faculty and staff members may call the Helpdesk at x3333, and students may submit a Student Computing Help Form.

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II. Configuring Automatic Updates

Once you have finished Running and Installing Windows Updates, you may configure Automatic Updates to automatically download and install future Windows Updates on your computer.

  1. If you are not logged into your computer, log in now.
    • If you are using a faculty or staff college-owned computer, log in as you would normally.
    • If you are using a personally-owned Windows 2000 machine, log in using the Administrator account.
  2. A new icon Automatic Updates icon in the system tray at the lower right-hand corner of your screen may appear. Double-click on this icon. If you do not see this icon in the system tray, skip to the next step.
    1. The Welcome to the Automatic Updates Setup Wizard will appear.
    2. Click Next.
    3. Make sure the checkbox is checked for Keep my computer up to date. With this setting enabled, Windows Update software may be automatically updated prior to applying any other updates.
    4. Select Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify.
    5. In the first dropdown box, select Every Day.
    6. In the second dropdown box, select a time that the computer will be powered on (not in standby, sleep, or hibernation modes) and will be ok to have the computer restart if needed.
    7. Click Next.
    8. Click Finish.
    9. You have completed setting up Automatic Updates.
  3. If you did not see the icon in the system tray, go to the Start menu and select Settings > Control Panel > Automatic Updates.
    1. Make sure the checkbox is checked for Keep my computer up to date. With this setting enabled, Windows Update software may be automatically updated prior to applying any other updates.
    2. Select Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify.
    3. In the first dropdown box, select Every Day.
    4. In the second dropdown box, select a time that the computer will be powered on (not in standby, sleep, or hibernation modes) and will be ok to have the computer restart if needed.
    5. Click OK.

The Automatic Updates setup is complete. Whenever there are new critical Windows Updates available, your computer will automatically download and install the updates and then restart your computer if needed.

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