Last week I wrote about the Mydoom virus and the need to protect your computer against viruses. This applies to any computer that is connected to the Internet or which receives data files from any other source.

I also said there are three basic maintenance tasks you as the computer user should follow scrupulously if you want to enjoy years of fruitful computer use. The first of the three tasks is to keep up with the latest version of your choice of antivirus software and then using it to scan your system for viruses. The second task is to keep up with the available Windows System Updates from Microsoft.

The third task is to install a dedicated anti-spyware program and regularly scan and remove all spyware, adware and Trojans which may have lodged themselves behind the scenes in your computer. This week we'll talk about the second of the three essential tasks, that is keeping your computer up-to-date by using the Microsoft Windows operating system update program.

Microsoft regularly issues updates for the purpose of fixing known and anticipated problems and remedying potential weaknesses as well as to plug security holes in Windows. The 'security holes' are used by worms, viruses and hackers to compromise your system. It is vital to keep Windows up-to-date with these patches and fortunately you can update Windows 'online' by following a simple procedure which we'll get to in a moment.

Very often in my day-to-day work I receive computers from clients that have never had their Windows operating system updated online, or by any other means, since the day they left the factory. However, more and more it is the case that the operating systems at the heart of today's most modern PC's were never intended to function while permanently disconnected from the updates and improvements to their most basic code made available over the Internet as it is developed.

I think the best way to view a Microsoft PC operating system is to consider it as a work in progress. After all, when Microsoft design their operating systems they cannot prepare for every permutation of use or anticipate every new threat that might be dreamed up. To give them their due, the company continually offers security updates and patches. As soon as some previously unforeseen weakness is discovered, legions of the best young minds working in the Microsoft offices (wearing their pocket protectors) are put to work devising a counterstrategy and fix for the shortcomings of the original operating system.

These are released in the form of Windows Updates. Using a simple automated process, Microsoft analyses your computer online, and then freely offers you patches, fixes and just plain improvements. If you look at it that way you'd be foolish not to take advantage of the situation by failing to download and install these offerings. The first time you complete this procedure, it may take a 'long time'. But don't be put off, this is important. Once you have updated your copy of Windows you must repeat the update proceduremonthly. Only the first one of these sessions is likely to be truly extensive, the 'monthly' updates will be quick and easy. Here's how to go about downloading and installing the updates you need online:

1. Go to:

2. Click the Scan for updates button on "Welcome to Windows Update" screen. The message "Windows Update is looking for available updates..." will appear as the Search begins.

3. Available updates for your operating system will appear under the review and install your selected updates menu ? Critical Updates and Service Packs. These are important updates mainly related to security and are the most important of the three categories of available updates and should be considered as essential.

Utility or Performance Enhancements: These are updates related to the bundled utilities and performance of the Windows operating systems. If you want more technical information about any of the updates, click the "Read this first" link. It'll give you details such as a description of the component, how to begin using the component, instructions for uninstalling, and the support policy.

Driver Updates: These are OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and third party vendor product updates and drivers kept on file at Microsoft. Microsoft may tell you that they have the latest driver available for any particular device that the Windows Update analysis has determined is installed on your computer, you can accept their offering but if you are in any doubt as to the suitability or exactly where you can find the latest version of the needed drivers, keep reading.

A good rule with driver availability is to assume the driver on the CD that you received in the box with the new device, whatever that maybe, is already out of date. Any particular item, be it a keyboard, mouse, scanner, printer, camera or any other device which needs a driver (which is just about everything), is that the latest driver is the one available on the manufacturer's web site. Frequently Microsoft do not offer the very latest driver because it may be still wending its way through the Microsoft approval process. Only after of this process does it become available for download on the Windows Update site. When in doubt accept the equipment manufacturer's word that a driver they offer is the best one.

Some of the updates you will acquire during this update process make very basic, sweeping and important changes to the operating system on your computer. Treat the download and installation process with due care and try to let it proceed uninterrupted.

Once it has begun, do not cancel the installation. If you interrupt the installation process the computer may have to deal with a partially written file. Wait while patches install ? most patches require a reboot of your system. After the downloads, but before the actual installation and incorporation into the operating system you may be asked to signify your acceptance of a legal agreement covering the use of the newly downloaded software.

This takes the form of an EULA (end-user license agreement) If you don't signify your acceptance you won't be allowed to use any of the updates you've just downloaded. When I'm sitting with my clients in the process of teaching them to feel more comfortable working with their computers, I tell them that, if they are ever in any doubt as to which of the proffered Windows Updates to pick to download and install, just accept all of them.

I think very little harm, if any, will come from any improvements that have made it as far as being offered by Microsoft for download. If you have a DSL Internet connection the various downloads don't take very long at all. Obviously, if you have a dial-up connection the whole thing is going to take much longer. In that case you may decide to do the job in segments at different times. Don't forget to grab all the critical updates first.

If you think all of this is too difficult to follow just go online to the Windows Update site listed above and read through it again. It will make a lot more sense if you do it that way. Don't be alarmed if you seem to require as many as 70 or 80 updates to download. Look at it this way, once you have completed this process your computer will once again be up-to-date, as far as your operating system is concerned, as any computer out there.