By using the commands in the Update this Server area of the Initial Configuration Tasks window, you can ensure that your server receives critical software updates and enhancements directly from the Microsoft Web site.

The Windows automatic updating feature simplifies the task of updating the operating system, and saves administrators time. Other features of the Automatic Updating and Feedback dialog box allow you to participate in the Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program and Windows Error Reporting. Features on the Automatic Updating and Feedback dialog box are configurable by members of the Administrators group on the local computer.

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Downloading and installing updates

The Microsoft Update Web site runs an automated tool that identifies any software that installed as part of your Windows operating system for which there is a more current version available.

When updates are available, the site prompts you to choose the updates you want to install.

To download and install updates

  1. In the Initial Configuration Tasks window, click Download and install updates.

  2. In the Windows automatic updating dialog box, click Check for updates.

Clicking Check for updates connects to the Web-based Windows automatic updating tool, and verifies that you have the most current versions of Windows operating system components installed.

Note

Your computer must have an available Internet connection to download updates, or to configure Windows automatic updating.

Enable Windows automatic updating and feedback

On the Enable Windows automatic updating and feedback dialog box, clicking Enable Windows automatic updating and feedback enrolls your computer in the following three programs, and uses recommended default settings for each.

  • Windows automatic updating. Windows automatic updating checks the Microsoft Update Web site for available updates for your computer's operating system, and depending on your preferences, can install the updates automatically, or wait to install updates until you have approved them for installation. The recommended setting is Install updates automatically.

  • Windows Error Reporting. Windows Error Reporting allows Windows to send descriptions of problems on your server to Microsoft and look for steps you can take to solve them. Windows Error Reporting is enabled by default; the default setting is Yes, automatically send summary reports. Notify me if there are possible solutions to the problem.

  • Customer Experience Improvement Program. Microsoft Corporation collects statistical information about your system configuration, the performance of some components of Windows, and certain types of events. Windows periodically uploads a small file to Microsoft that contains a summary of the information collected. The recommended and default setting for the Customer Experience Improvement Program is Yes, I want to participate in the Windows Server CEIP.

For more detailed information about recommended and default settings for Windows automatic updating and feedback programs, see Recommended Settings for Windows Automatic Updating and Feedback.

To configure Windows automatic updating

You can configure Windows automatic updating in either of the following two ways.

Configuring Windows automatic updating settings from Control Panel

Configuring Windows automatic updating settings from the Initial Configuration Tasks window

Note

You must be logged on to this computer as an Administrator to complete either procedure.

Configuring Windows automatic updating settings from Control Panel

To configure Windows automatic updating settings from Control Panel

  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Windows Automatic Updating.

  2. Click Change Settings.

  3. By default, Install updates automatically is selected on the Change Settings dialog box. Select one of the following remaining settings to change the default setting.

    • Download updates but let me choose whether to install them. Windows automatic updating downloads updates automatically, but allows you to review downloaded updates and decide to install only those updates you want.

    • Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. Windows automatic updating checks for updates and informs you by using an alert icon in your desktop tray that updates are available, but downloads and installs only the updates you choose.

    • Never check for updates (not recommended). Windows automatic updating does not check for or install updates unless you click Download and install updates in the Initial Configuration Tasks window, or open Windows Automatic Updating in Control Panel and manually command Windows automatic updating to install updates.

  4. In the Recommended updates area, if you want Windows automatic updating to identify those updates that are recommended or most critical, select Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates.

  5. Click OK to save changes and close the Change Settings dialog box.

  6. Close Control Panel.

Configuring Windows automatic updating settings from the Initial Configuration Tasks window

To configure Windows automatic updating settings from the Initial Configuration Tasks window

  1. On the Enable Windows Automatic Updating and Feedback dialog box, click Manually configure settings.

  2. In the Windows Automatic Updating area, click Change Setting.

  3. By default, Install updates automatically is selected on the Change Settings dialog box. Select one of the following remaining settings to change the default setting.

    • Download updates but let me choose whether to install them. Windows automatic updating downloads updates automatically, but allows you to review downloaded updates and decide to install only those updates you want.

    • Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them. Windows automatic updating checks for updates and informs you by using an alert icon in your desktop tray that updates are available, but downloads and installs only the updates you choose.

    • Never check for updates (not recommended). Windows automatic updating does not check for or install updates unless you click Download and install updates in the Initial Configuration Tasks window, or open Windows Automatic Updating in Control Panel and manually command Windows automatic updating to install updates.

  4. In the Recommended updates area, if you want Windows automatic updating to identify those updates that are recommended or most critical, select Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates

  5. Click OK to save changes and close the Change Settings dialog box.

Windows automatic updating provides high-priority updates, which include security and other critical updates that can help protect your computer. It is a good idea to visit the Microsoft Update Web site on a regular basis to get optional updates, such as recommended software and hardware updates, which can help improve your computer's performance.

To configure feedback

For help participating in the Customer Experience Improvement Program, see the topic Customer Experience Improvement Program in this Help file.

For help enabling or disabling Windows Error Reporting, see the topic Windows Error Reporting in this Help file.

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