Important Notice from Microsoft: A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to remotely compromise a computer running Microsoft® Windows® and gain complete control over it. Protect your computer by installing Critical Updates from Microsoft.

Severity Level: Critical

Requirements:

• You must have high speed internet access, either on the Boston College Campus or using a DSL (i.e. Comcast, Verizon, Roadrunner) from off campus, to run Windows Updates. This is not recommended for users who connect via a modem as downloading the updates may take a very long time.

Notes: You may want to print these instructions to refer to during the download and installation of Windows Updates. This process will require you to restart your computer.

Download and Install Windows Updates

1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges. Faculty and staff using a BC owned computer should sign in with their BC username and password. Students and others using a personally owned computer should sign in with the Administrator account (the account that came installed on your computer at the time of purchase).
2. Close all open applications.
3. Click on the Start button and select Windows Updates. If Windows Updates does not appear in you Start menu:
   • Open Internet Explorer
   • Go to  http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
4. Internet Explorer will open the Microsoft Windows Update page.
5. If you receive a Security Warning window asking if you want to run and install Windows Updates (refer to Figure 1):

   
   Figure 1 - Security Warning

   1. Do NOT check the Always trust content from Microsoft Corporation box.
   2. Click Yes.
   3. If you are prompted by a second window, click Yes to continue.
6. If you are prompted to install a plugin for Internet Explorer to perform Windows Updates:
   • Click Yes.
7. If you are prompted to Restart following the Security Warning:
   • Click on the START icon and select Restart.
   • After your computer has started up, repeat the previous steps
   .
8. From the Welcome to Windows Update screen, click on the Scan for updates link (refer to Figure 2).


Figure 2 - Welcome screen

9. Windows will scan for updates available for your computer.
10. If the section on the right side of the windows displays the message: Windows Update did not find any critical updates for your computer, you have completed the installation of all critical Window Updates for your computer. Continue with setting up your Windows computer for Automatic Updates.
11. When scanning is completed, look under the Pick updates to install link on the left side of the window. You will see a Critical Updates and Service Packs link followed by a number in parentheses (refer to Figure 3). This indicates how many updates you computer requires.


Figure 2 - Critical Updates Found

12. If there are critical updates to install, click on the link for Review and install updates.
13. A list of updates to be installed will appear. You may see a red notice at the top of the list indicating that an exclusive item must be installed separately from the other updates (refer to Figure 4).

    
    Figure 4 - Exclusive Item

    1. Click Install Now
    2. A window will appear asking if you wish to install the exclusive update. Click OK.
    3. A "Microsoft Windows Update - Web Page Dialog" window will appear. Click Accept
    4. A download window for the update will appear. After the download is finished, it will automatically install itself.
14. If you are downloading a Windows XP Service Pack, then a Windows XP Service Pack Setup Wizard window will appear.
    1. Click Next.
    2. Select the I agree radio button and click Next.
    3. Select the Archive Files radio button and click Next.
    4. Installation of the Service Pack will take a while
    5. After the download and install is completed, the title of the window will change to Completing the Windows XP Service Pack Setup Wizard. Click Finish.
15. You will be asked to restart your computer to complete installation. Click OK to restart.
16. There may be more critical updates that need to be installed after your computer restarts. After restarting, repeat the previous steps to Download and Install Windows Updates. Continue with ALL installations until you receive the message Windows Update did not find any critical updates for your computer on the right side of the window. Once you have installed all of the critical updates, continue Setting up Automatic Updates.

Problems downloading and installing Windows Updates? Faculty and staff, contact your TC. Students call 2-HELP or use the problem report form.