Using Windows Update in Windows 2000

Using the Windows Update Tool

Windows Update is the online extension of Windows 2000 that helps you get the most out of your computer. Using the Product Updates section of Windows Update, you can scan your computer for outdated system files and automatically replace them with the most recent versions.

To Use Windows Update

1. Establish a connection to the Internet.
2. Click Start, and then click Windows Update.
3. On the Windows Update home page, click Product Updates.
4. The first time you go to the Product Updates page, click Yes when prompted to install any required software or controls.

To add features from Microsoft Windows Update

1. Open Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
2. Click Add New Programs, and then click Windows Update.
3. Follow the instructions on the Web site to locate and add new Windows features, system updates, and device drivers.
4. To open a Control Panel item, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the appropriate icon.

To update or change a device driver

1. Open Device Manager
2. Double-click the type of device you want to update or change, right-click the device, and then click Properties.
3. On the Driver tab, click Update Driver to open the Update Device Driver wizard, and then follow the wizard instructions.

   Note: You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in order to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.

   The following permissions and privileges are required in order to install a driver. Administrators are granted these permissions:

   • The Load\Unload Drivers privilege.
   • The permissions needed to copy files to the system32\drivers directory.
   • The permissions needed to write settings to the registry.

     Being logged on to your computer with these privileges may make your computer’s security vulnerable. You should not use administrator privileges unless absolutely necessary.

4. To update all drivers at once, use Windows Update. If you are not an administrator or a member of the Administrators group, you can use Run as to perform certain administrator functions.

To remove a file installed from Windows Update and restore an earlier version

1. Click Start.
2. Click Windows Update.
3. Click Product Updates.
4. Click Device Drivers, and then click Restore.

Using Update Wizard Uninstall

The Update Wizard Uninstall is a tool found in System Information that you can use to remove a patch, driver, or system file that you installed from Windows Update and restore the previous version of the file.

You can also remove a patch, driver, or system file and restore the previous version of the file by connecting to Windows Update on the Web and following instructions to uninstall. However, if you do not have an Internet connection when you want to restore a previous version of the file, you can use Update Wizard Uninstall to accomplish the task instead.

To start Update Wizard Uninstall

1. Click Start, click Run, and type msinfo32.
2. In System Information, click Tools, click Windows, and then click Update Wizard Uninstall.

To add or remove a Windows 2000 component

1. Open Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. Follow the instructions in the Windows Components wizard.

   Note:

   • You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in order to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.
   • To open a Control Panel item, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the appropriate icon.
   • Certain Windows Components require configuration before they can be used. If you installed one or more of these components, but did not configure them, when you click Add/Remove Windows Components, a list of components that need to be configured is displayed. To configure a component, click Configure, and then follow the instructions on the screen. To add a new component, click Components, and follow the instructions in the Windows Components wizard.

To change or remove a program

1. Open Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.
2. Click Change or Remove Programs, then click the program you want to change or remove.
3. Click the appropriate button:
   • To change a program, click Change/Remove or Change.
   • To remove a program, click Change/Remove or Remove.

     Caution: When you click Change/Remove, some programs may be removed without prompting you further.

Comments: Control Panel

• To open a Control Panel item, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the appropriate icon.
• When using Add/Remove Programs, you can remove only programs that were written for Windows operating systems. For other programs, check the documentation to see if other files (such as .ini files) should be removed.
• When you open a program, or try to perform a task within a program, you may see a dialog box indicating that the program is being installed or updated by Windows Installer. This can occur if your administrator has set up the program to install this way, if program files have been deleted or corrupted, or if you are trying to use a program feature that was not installed during setup. If the program was installed from a CD-ROM, or if you are no longer connected to the network, Windows Installer may ask you for the CD-ROM. When Windows Installer finishes, the program or feature you are trying to use starts.
• You can sort programs by selecting different options in Sort by.

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