Configuring Automatic Updates feature is very simple. All you have to do is decide your convenience and priority to run updates. Let us now undertake the following steps and learn to configure Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP.

1. Move the mouse-pointer over the My Computer icon and click the right mouse-button. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Inside the shortcut menu. move the mouse-pointer over the Properties option and click the left mouse-button.

3. A System Properties dialog box appears with various tabs and General tab appearing in front

4. Move the mouse-pointer over the Automatic Updates tab and click the left mouse-button. Options present under Automatic Updates tab appears. Before proceeding ahead. let us understand options present under the Automatic Updates tab.

• Automatic (recommended): This option lets you set a weekday and time to run updates on your computer. If your computer is turned off during a scheduled update. Windows will install the updates the next time you start your computer.

• Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install them: When you are connected to the Internet. Windows finds and downloads updates in the background-you are not notified or interrupted during this process and the updates do not interfere with other downloads. After downloading is complete. the Windows Update icon appears in the notification area and an alert pops up. letting you know that the updates are ready to be installed. To review and install available updates. click the icon or the alert. You can install all or some of the available updates.

• Notify me but do not automatically download or install them: When this option is selected. Window.schecks for important updates and notifies you if any are available; updates are not delivered or instalfed on your computer until you choose to do so. When Windows finds updates for your computer. the Windows Update icon appears in the notification area and an alert pops up. letting you know that updates are ready to be downloaded.

After you click the icon or the alert. you can select some or all of the updates to download. Windows downloads the updates in the background-you are not notified or interrupted during this process and the updates do not interfere with other downloads. When downloading is complete. the Windows Update icon appears in the notification area again. this time to let you know that the updates are ready to be installed. You can choose to install all or some of the available updates.

• Turn off Automatic Updates: This option turns off the Automatic Updates options and as a result no updates can be downloaded or installed on your computer.

5. Select the most appropriate option according to your convenience. To do so, move the mouse-pointer over radio button beside desired option and click the left mouse-button.

6. After selecting the desired option, move the mouse pointer over Apply button and click the left mouse button. In same way, click over the OK button. Your computer is now safeguarded against any threat.