Make sure your computer is set for automatic Microsoft Update notifications.

When you first turn on your computer you may receive a message indicating that there are Microsoft Updates available for your machine. You will be presented with a choice to install now or be reminded later. It is advisable to shut down all open programs and click "Install Now".

On some machines you may receive a box with the message "Do you want to run and install Microsoft Update?" Choose "Yes".

When the Microsoft Update screen appears, click "Scan for Updates". Always do this first.

On the left of the screen, after you run the scan, you will be presented with three categories of updates:

1. Critical Updates
2. General Updates
3. Driver Updates

Click the box to the left of "Critical Updates and Service Packs".

A list of critical updates will appear. Look for any items which must be installed separately. Click one item of this kind. Microsoft Update will install this first. A dialogue will appear indicating you must restart your computer. Click "OK".

After restarting, follow the same procedure to install the remaining updates. Updates which do not need to be installed separately can be installed all at once.

Be sure to install all critical updates.

You may have to run Microsoft Update a few times to get all the updates, as there are times when all updates cannot be installed at once.

Keep running Microsoft Update and rebooting until you have no more critical updates to install.

After installing a service pack, the next scan may show more critical updates than the original scan. This is not unusual.

Some computers have difficulty restarting Windows after a Microsoft Update is installed. Make sure you have given the computer sufficient time to restart.

If your computer hangs, press Ctrl, Alt, and Delete. A dialogue box will appear. Click "Restart Computer".

Once the computer has restarted, follow the guidelines for running Microsoft Update again. Repeat this procedure until all critical updates are installed.