How To Update Windows Xp

Introduction

Many computer users may be confused on how to properly update the Windows XP operating system. It remains one of the most popular operating systems on the market, even as the Microsoft Corporation has released newer versions, such as Windows Vista and Windows 7. Windows XP works so well that users are reluctant to upgrade for fear that their applications and devices will not work on the operating system.

Its important, then, for users to keep the system updated as opposed to going through with a full upgrade that changes the Windows XP operating system, almost entirely. These updates might fix a service or component in the operating system, or patch a security vulnerability.

As Microsoft continues to release newer versions of its operating system, it will eventually stop supporting updates. For now, however, users can continue to get updates, providing they follow a few simple steps on how to perform this process.

 

Step 1

Open the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser on your computer. How you open the browser depends on where you have placed the applications icon in the operating system. Usually, there is an Internet Explorer icon either on the task bar, the desktop or the start menu.

The reason you must use Internet Explorer to update your Windows XP computer, and no other browser is because IE is native and fully compatible with the operating system. Mozilla's Firefox, Google's Chrome and Apples Safari all work as browsers on Windows XP.

Step 2

Navigate to the Windows Update website. How you perform this step depends on how you normally look up websites. For example, you can use the Bing or Google search engines to look up the link to the Windows Update website. Alternatively, you can navigate to the website using the following web address: Windowsupdate.microsoft.com

 

 

Step 3

Wait while the Windows Update website automatically scans your computer for necessary updates for Windows XP. How the website does this is something that happens behind the scenes. There is actually a Windows Update service utility that also runs in the background.

Step 4

Sort through the updates for Windows XP based on how the website presents the updates that are available for a download to you.

 

Step 5

Allow the updates to install. How you spend your time in the meantime can affect this installation process. You don't want to be working in the middle of a major document during the update, but you do want to sit in front of the computer just in case you need to click the "OK" or "Accept" button.

 

Tips

Learn how to set your automatic updates in Windows XP.

 

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