CS5

Update Your Software

You think that because you bought a brand new computer that everything is up to date? Wrong. Whether your software is pre-installed or not, it's probably out of date. If pre-installed, it may have been in stock for a while - plenty of time for new updates and bug fixes to be released.

The availability of updates on the internet is a double-edge sword. It allows manufacturers to release known incomplete software in order to get it on the retail shelves faster and start bringing in money. The unsuspecting consumer may spend hours wrestling with buggy software and its "undocumented features" unless he knows that the first thing he should do is check for updates on the internet. The other side of that sword is that updates are at least available to download.

The Windows operating system is notorious for its security patches and bug fixes. Even a new computer with new software may need as many as 45 Windows security patches and updates applied. Downloading and applying these patches may take several hours, like 12 or 13, unless you have a broadband internet connection - DSL or cable.

Microsoft Office is another program that will need updates and patches applied. Let's expand that comment to include any Microsoft product.

Of course, your antivirus program will need to be updated immediately to get the latest virus definitions, and perhaps program updates as well. Any new antivirus program you buy off the shelf will have virus definitions that are several months out of date.

Before you start updating, backup your computer. See our previous column on backups.

To update any version of Windows, go to http://www.windowsupdate.com. Sign up for automatic update notification. Tell it to check for updates. Select all the Critical Updates. Note that some updates have to be installed by themselves. Some can be installed along with other updates. The screen will tell you this. Also note that often there are updates to updates. You have to install all the updates it will allow, reboot the computer, go back to the same site, have it check for updates again, install the updates to the updates, etc. You must keep going back to the site and have it check for updates until it says there are no more.

While at http://www.windowsupdate.com, look in the upper left corner, below Critical Updates at the Driver Updates. If there are any there, install those too.

If you have Microsoft Office installed, while at http://www.windowsupdate.com, look at the top of the page for Microsoft Office. Click there and let it check your computer to see which updates it needs. Again, you will have to install, reboot, check again, install, reboot, and check again until there are no updates to install.

You should then methodically check the websites of every piece of software installed and see if there is an update. First, open up the program and go to Help About. This is usually where you will find version information. Write down the version number, date, and any other information there. Then go to the software manufacturer's website, download and apply any updates.

You're not quite through. You need to check for virus updates every week or set your virus software to automatically update when you're online. For other software, check for updates every month or so. If you have signed up for Windows automatic notification, you'll get a popup at the bottom right of your screen when you're on the internet telling you updates are available. Go ahead and download and apply.

Some people might not want Microsoft scanning their computer. Unfortunately, it's the only way we know to be sure all the updates are applied. We have tried figuring out which updates are needed, downloading and applying individually, with little success. We weren't able to pick the right ones.

What if you don't apply the updates? With Windows operating system and Internet Explorer, you're leaving huge security holes in your system. With antivirus software, you're leaving yourself open to several new viruses and worms each week. With other software, you may just be inviting buggy operation, incompatibility with other programs, and the like.

If you're on a dialup modem, updating takes several hours. If you have a lot of updates to apply, it might be worth it to take your computer to a repair shop with DSL (or if you have a network card, to a friend who is on DSL) and get it updated all at once