Windows Update Settings

The Windows Update tool will allow you to configure how Windows 7 deals with important updates, such as allowing standard users to install updates, frequency at which updates are checked, etc. To be able to configure Windows Update you need administrative privileges and to load the tool click on the Change Settings item from control panel. The available settings are explained below:

Install updates automatically – this is the recommended settings and Windows Update installs updates automatically at the time specified. This is the default setting for Windows Update.

Download updates but let me choose whether to install them – Updates are downloaded to the computer, and the user is notified that the updates are available for installation.

Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them – the user is notified that the updates are available for download and install.

Never check for updates – this is not recommended but may be useful in environments where updates need to be tested prior to installation on critical machines. Windows Update does not check for updates, but updates can still be checked for and installed manually.

Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates – this means that recommended updates are treated in the s same manner as important updates, Optional updates still need to be installed manually.

Allow all users to install updates on this computer – this option is enabled by default and if you disable it, only user accounts that are members of the local Administrators group can install updates.

For more information about Windows Update go here and here.